Marissa Henley

Encouraging weary women to hope in Christ alone

What Our Weary Souls Need {No Matter What Monday}

by Leave a Comment

I knew January 1st wouldn’t magically change anything. I’ve left 2020 behind, but I woke up last Friday with the same pandemic, the same struggles, the same fears, and the same temptations. I didn’t become happier, holier, peaceful, or more disciplined overnight. That first workout of the year didn’t immediately reverse the effects of several months of baking. 

So maybe the problem wasn’t the date on the calendar—maybe the problem is me. What brings me joy? What am I clinging to? The year 2020 revealed a lot about the answers to these questions, and it wasn’t always pretty. If you’re in the same boat, I’ve got good news. Psalm 63 teaches us that when we seek the Lord, we will be satisfied in Him. 

“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.” (Psalm 63:1-2)

The God who is our God is the only one who will satisfy the longing of our souls. David earnestly seeks God; he thirsts for God; he longs to be in the sanctuary, worshipping with the people of God. Do I want the same? 

Am I more disappointed by how the pandemic robbed me of vacations or how it disrupted our ability to meet together with other Christians? When I look ahead to 2021, am I hopeful that I will have more fun? Or do I long to be in the sanctuary with my church family, worshipping God, encouraging each other, and serving together? 

There’s no guarantee that 2021 won’t be just as disappointing as our old friend 2020. Many of us are weary. We’re discouraged and longing for normalcy. We won’t find answers by chasing entertainment, distraction, or control. But when we seek the Lord and turn our eyes upon His power and glory, He will be our peace, our joy, and our strength. His steadfast love will never fail. 

No matter what you face this week, the Lord your God will be like water for your dry, weary soul. 

Share

Trust God’s Plans and His Presence {No Matter What Monday}

by Leave a Comment

Remember when we used to fly on airplanes? I loved the ease and efficiency of air travel (at least most of the time!) and hope that one day soon I’ll get to enjoy it again. But for a control-freak like me, it’s a little unsettling to place my life in the hands of someone I’ve never met. I wish I could interview the pilot before each flight: How long have you been doing this? Did you get good sleep last night? Any distracting personal problems you’d like to talk through before we take off?

And yet, the truth is that no matter how sleep-deprived or distracted the pilot may be, I can count on him or her to do a better job flying the plane than I would. I definitely don’t know as much about flying a plane as the one behind the wheel. (Is there a steering wheel?! I don’t even know!)

When the plane starts barreling down the runway and the butterflies start, it helps to remember that there is One who has even more control over that plane than the pilot. Psalm 139 tell us that our heavenly Father has planned every single one of our days:

“Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:16)

There’s no need for us to interview God about His qualifications to hold our days in His hands. He is all-knowing and all-wise, and His understanding is beyond measure. He’s perfectly holy, good, faithful. He has the power to bring about all His plans for us, and nothing can thwart His purposes.

Sometimes life feels out of control, and we don’t know what’s coming next. I feel this acutely as we get ready to turn the calendar page to a new year that’s still filled with uncertainty.

But I know this: Nothing will touch my life that isn’t known and planned by my loving heavenly Father. Psalm 139 also promises His Spirit to be with us, always and everywhere (v. 7). We can have confidence in God’s good plans and His faithful presence through this next year and for eternity.

No matter what you face this week, you can trust the plans and presence of your faithful Father.

Share

The Righteous King of Kings {No Matter What Monday}

by Leave a Comment

The election was still two weeks away, but the line snaked around the building as I stood with other voters, wearing masks and spaced six feet apart. While a pandemic raged around us, we showed up and waited as long as it took to cast our vote. Millions of Americans did the same, because we believe that, especially in times of difficulty, it matters who’s in charge.

When the Old Testament prophets spoke of the Messiah, they spoke of a king. This king would reign on the throne of David forever. But this king would be different from the line of kings that followed King David, many of whom were wicked, foolish leaders. Isaiah prophesied about this Messiah-King:

“Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” (Isaiah 9:7)

“Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice.” (Isaiah 32:1)

The King of all creation humbled Himself to take on flesh, walk and talk with man, and suffer and die for His people. Christ’s life, death, and resurrection demonstrated His sovereignty over this world and His sound defeat of His enemies. Now Christ the King is exalted by the Father and seated in glory at the Father’s right hand (Ephesians 2:20-21, Philippians 2:8-9).

In Revelation 19:16, we find the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy:

“On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” (Revelation 19:16)

As we look at the chaos and challenges around us, we don’t have to wonder who’s ultimately in charge. Our good and faithful King, our Savior Jesus Christ, reigns now and forever.

This is one of the wonders of Christmas: the infant about whom we sing “Away in a Manger” is also the Savior about whom we sing, “Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne.” As we celebrate, our hope is in righteous, just, eternal kingship of the Lord Jesus Christ.

No matter what you face this week, Jesus Christ reigns as the righteous King of kings and Lord of lords. Merry Christmas, friends!

Share

Death Swallowed up in Victory {No Matter What Monday}

by Leave a Comment

In the musical “Hamilton,” Alexander Hamilton speaks these haunting words in one of the songs:

“I imagine death so much it feels more like a memory

When’s it gonna get me?

In my sleep, seven feet ahead of me?

If I see it comin’, do I run or do I let it be?”

These words acknowledge the reality we all face in a world plagued by death. Some days it’s easier to ignore than others. But in this life we can never fully escape the threat of death and the sorrow it brings. Even in the joyful celebration of Christ’s birth, we know the baby in the manger grew up to be the Savior dying in agony on the cross.

God sent His Son from heaven, where there was no threat of death, to come to a world plagued by death. Jesus Christ humbled Himself to take on decaying human flesh and experience an excruciating, humiliating death. He removed the threat of death from His people by being their substitute and paying the penalty for their sin. He defeated death when He rose again from the grave. 

We see this truth about the Messiah’s victory over death in these words of the prophet Isaiah:

“He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.” (Isaiah 25:8)

Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 15 that these words of Isaiah have been fulfilled in Christ. Paul looks forward to the day when Christ’s victory over death is fully consummated. Death will no longer have any power over us. Its threat will be fully vanquished. Death will be revealed as powerless in light of our Savior’s victory:

“When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’” (I Corinthians 15:54-55)

It may feel like the threat of death is all around us. But in Christ’s death, He took away “the reproach of his people” – our sin and guilt – and gave us the promise of eternal life. We now face death with a living hope, Jesus Christ, and know that one day, death will be defeated forever.

No matter what you face this week, Christ’s victory has swallowed up death forever.

Share