In The Quiet

Guest post by Elyshia Geldenhuys

I tilted my head towards the afternoon sky, the sun warming my face, the cool breeze quieting everything to a still. My son nestled into the carrier wrapped around me, his eyes beginning to slowly close as I talked to him. I rounded a corner, and my words started to turn into prayers, just as if I was having a conversation with the Lord, like he was walking right there next to me. Tears began to well up in my eyes, I know you are here Lord… 

I know I need to trust you more; I need to trust you more with our son. I need to release that no matter what, you are, and will always be with him. You are always with me.

Our son was born with an undiagnosed medical complication at birth, leaving one of his lungs slightly underdeveloped. In time, the doctors have told us that it should heal; however, the fear that this season of life brings can be overwhelming. Thoughts of him ending up in the ICU, on a ventilator plays over and over in my mind. Living with some of our first memories of our son, holding him all hooked up to machines, fighting for his life. My mind races, and thoughts continue to creep in, I can feel my chest tightening, tears becoming uncontrollable. God, please, don’t let this happen! I can’t live through this again. Please, God, let it be me- let me take his place.

And then I stop- He silences my crippling fear…Elyshia, my child, I have you. I have your son. 

My arms clasp a little tighter around my son, and as I close my eyes, I can feel Him walking beside me.

In my heart I know the Lord is always there, but how often do I forget that He wants to comfort me in everything I walk through? Every season, every trial, every victory, He wants to be right there.

Deuteronomy 31:8, says this promise so beautifully, “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” This promise was repeated by Moses to Joshua and Israel, after just a moment before when Moses had said it to Israel. In biblical Hebrew writing, when things are used in repetition it is meant to put an emphasis on what is being said to show its importance. The comfort behind these words was not meant to fall short on the Israelites, it was meant to bring peace to them, it was meant to bring a promise of the Lord’s faithfulness ~ The Lord is with you. The Lord will never leave you. The Lord will never forsake you. You are His child, so do not be afraid- The Lord your God, goes before you!

What an amazing promise, yet how easy it can be to forget when we get caught up in the world.

Sweet friend, I pray that whatever you are walking through right now, that you feel the presence of the Lord with you. I pray that you remember, that He is with you, that He goes before you, that He will never leave you. 

Lord, today I give you my worries and fears; I give you everything. I ask to feel your presence come around me. Your word says that you go before me, and you will never leave me, help me to remember this promise as I go through this day. I release the things I cannot control to you. Lord, go before me, be all around me. Amen.

If you’re like me, sometimes you need a song that just speaks right to your heart. Recently, I heard this song, Quiet (stripped) by Elevation Worship, it spoke to me right when I needed it, and I hope you find it encouraging as well.

Hello! My name is Elyshia Geldenhuys, and I am so excited to share what the Lord has put on my heart with you! I recently started writing to get all of my thoughts out, but what an amazing journey it’s been seeing how the Lord is working in not only my life, but the lives around me. 

From the day to day, to the unexpected journey of motherhood, and all the amazing in between! I hope you enjoy!

There are seasons of life that we walk through and when we look back, we wonder how we made it through. When our son was born, our lives changed forever. What I had dreamt up in my mind as the perfect delivery and healthy son, began to unravel before me, and I had no way to stop it. I’m not sure what season of life you may be walking through, maybe you are experiencing so much joy, or maybe you are facing trials that make it hard for you to get out of bed in the morning. Oh, sweet friend, there is so much I would like to say to you to make the hurt and pain go away. My prayer, more than anything would be that you would see the sweetness of the Lord shine through this text. I know for my husband and I, holding fast to the Lord’s word, was how we made it through one of the hardest seasons of our lives and are still walking through today. The thoughts on these pages are just a new mom, getting all of the things out that are jumbled up inside her head. For the lives we picture in our minds, and they don’t play out how we thought ~but maybe there is more beauty in the way they did …

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30

You can connect with Elyshia on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551625123249 
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/elyshia_geldenhuys?igsh=MTB2anAwbDR6MmpuZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr  
or on her blog https://newmomera.com/