What Do You Do When You Just Can’t? (Part 3)

Happy Friday!

Welcome back to the last of this week’s 3-part series, “What Do You Do When You Just Can’t?” Check out Part 1 and Part 2.

What do you do when you can’t seem to do … anything? When everyday life is a struggle because you feel like you’re sinking through mountains of sand in the middle of the desert alone? Here’s the last two ways I’ve been navigating through the desert:

3. Depend on Your “Dump” Friends

I have a friend in Ohio that I call my “dump” friend. That means that she is the type of friend who will let me just dump my kids off when I need to! I told her, “It’s not just any friend I can dump my kids off to—you’re my dump friend.” When I needed someone to take care of my girls while we were involved in funeral arrangements for my grandfather, my dump friend was there. I took my kids to her house and, honestly, I’m not sure if I had fed them breakfast or if they had their teeth brushed! I could barely function, but my friend took my kids, fed them, bathed them, and totally took care of them. For once, I didn’t worry about them; I just knew my dear friend would handle it.

We all need those friends who love you enough to see you through the tough times. Friends who insist on bringing you a meal when you need it. Friends who email and text and leave voice mails, just to remind you that they are praying for you. Friends who take in your kids, or run errands for you, or sit with you while you cry.

When you’re in a desert place, the thing you have to do is say yes when friends want to do something for you. Take them up on offers. Accept their practical ways to help. Know that these kinds of friends aren’t looking for pay backs. They just wanna love on you!

Who is your “dump” friend?

4. Let God Be Your Strength

The only prayer I could utter each morning was, “Lord, give me Your strength.” I had none of my own. I desperately needed God’s strength. The good thing was that my faith was still strong. I didn’t waver, even though I wasn’t flourishing in Bible study every day. Many who are in a desert place have dwindling faith. So I thank God that I wasn’t questioning Him or His power or plan.

God led me to a passage to affirm me during this time. I turned to 2 Timothy—which is strange, because I usually turn to Psalms for encouragement during desperate times. Not 2 Timothy! But God whispered these words to me:

“The Lord stood with me and strengthened me.” (2 Timothy 4:17, HCSB)

Before flipping to this passage, I had just uttered these words: “Lord, You are gonna have to stand right beside me and give me strength, because I just can’t do this today.”

So He said, “Okay, I am.”

Wow. Amazing. Awesome.

This is going to be my daily prayer, through good times and bad!

Do you need God to stand beside you and give you strength today? Claim the promise of 2 Timothy 4:17!

I’ll bounce back—I know I will. Writing this post helps. At least I’m taking the plunge and writing after a long hiatus! Have you ever experienced times of being in the “desert” where you feel empty and lost? What do you do to make it back to a place of fullness and abundance?

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