As a working mom juggling all kinds of family needs, Mindy Ferguson knows what it feels like to be exhausted and overwhelmed by the daily demands of serving people and the burden of her everyday responsibilities. A friend’s perfectly timed decision to share an intriguing Scripture verse encouraged her to persevere through an intense and demanding time in her life and highlights how sharing Scripture with a sister-in-Christ can alter her perspective and encourage her to persevere through challenges. It’s an absolute joy to welcome Mindy to the farm’s table today…
Guest Post by Mindy Ferguson
It was a busy Sunday morning.
I arrived at church a little earlier than usual, parked my car in the far corner of the parking lot, and hurried into the building. After grabbing my name badge, I quickly became preoccupied with setting up the registration booth for an upcoming event.
A dear friend and sister-in-Christ walked hurriedly through the foyer where I was working as she rushed to her own Sunday morning volunteer post.
The week prior, I had shared my discouragement over a recent series of crisis situations and demands on my time that had sapped my energy and shifted my focus from other important responsibilities. As she hurried past, she smiled and said, “I thought of you as I read this verse” and tucked a folded piece of notebook paper into my hand.
I smiled and thanked her as I quickly slipped that still-folded notebook paper into a pocket of my purse and began greeting women and promoting our upcoming event.
It wasn’t until the next morning that I remembered the folded notebook paper, still tucked in my purse pocket. I retrieved the note, unfolded it, and read, “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.” I sat staring at the verse for a moment, absorbing the somewhat mysterious message from my friend. I grabbed my Bible to read the surrounding verses. The full verse in context reads:
“He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:29-31, NLT)
“Yet God doesn’t ask us to serve him and attend to the needs of others in our own strength. When we seek him in our moments of weakness, he empowers us.“
I began to process my frustrating circumstances through the filter of the passage. I was feeling exhausted and discouraged by a series of urgent extended-family needs that I didn’t think I had time to handle well and felt powerless to control. Yet God doesn’t ask us to serve him and attend to the needs of others in our own strength. When we seek him in our moments of weakness, he empowers us.
When the apostle Paul begged God to remove a lingering thorn in his flesh that made him feel weak and needy, God responded, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NLT). Even strong young souls become weak and tired when they push themselves too hard for an extended period of time.
I immediately recognized that I had been pushing my less-than-young self to the point of exhaustion for months. And in my weary state, my prayer life had suffered.
As I stared at those verses from Isaiah 40, I realized that I had been so focused on ministry and handling ongoing pressing family issues that I had stopped spending time in God’s presence without an agenda. I had not been taking time to simply pray and read Scripture as a means of connecting with God.
My caring friend had no idea my connection with God was waning, but it was apparently obvious to her that I was weary and needed the Lord’s strength. God used the Scripture she shared with me to speak to me and provide clarity.
Rather than trusting God to provide the energy and enthusiasm I needed for each day’s challenges, it became clear to me as I read Isaiah 40:31 written on that notebook paper in my friend’s familiar handwriting that I had been pushing myself to the point of exhaustion for months and needed to spend some time with my Lord and my God—the one who knows me so well that “the very hairs on [my] head are all numbered” (Luke 12:7, NLT).
God was the only one who truly knew the challenges I was facing and what I needed to get through that intense time in my life.
That morning, I canceled the appointments on my calendar, turned off my phone, and spent several hours reading Scripture, journaling my prayers, and talking to God.
In the weeks that followed, I continued to be intentional about spending unstructured time with God in prayer, and over time, I did indeed “find new strength” (Isaiah 40:31). I was better able to manage the demands of my extended family and my ministry responsibilities. I also gained renewed enthusiasm for my work and service.
This summer, amid the busyness of family vacations, poolside gatherings, and messier-than-usual household chores, watch for opportunities to share God’s Word with a friend, family member, or even the postal delivery person.
Ask God to show you when and what verse to share.
Then spread God’s Word.
Isaiah 55:11 assures us “it always produces fruit” and accomplishes all that God wants it to, prospering everywhere God sends it. He just might use you to encourage the heart of a weary soul in need of a fresh dose of life-giving truth!
I can’t begin to tell how how much I love and recommend these beautiful, needful Scripture Prayer Cards! I keep mine right here beside me on my desk, for my own soul-encouragement, and to be able to give God’s Word to other’s to encourage them in the midst of their days!
If you’re looking for an easy way to carry beautiful Scripture reminders with you—either as a Scripture memory tool or to encourage others—you’ll really love the Every Woman’s Scripture Prayer Cards.
Each set of Scripture cards is bound with light adhesive for packaging, but cards easily separate to carry, display, or share—and it’s small enough to fit inside your purse. Scripture prayer cards are great for Scripture memory, praying through biblical truths, encouraging others, and for reflection. Bring power to your prayers, deepen your relationship with God, and foster a sense of sisterhood among women. Take a peek at the beautiful designs featuring photography and illustrations from the Every Woman’s Bible.
Mindy Ferguson lives in a rural area north of Houston, Texas, and currently serves as Senior Acquisitions Editor on the Bible team at Tyndale House Publishers.
{Our humble thanks to Tyndale for their partnership in today’s devotional.}
