A Fulfilling Sunday: Gentle Wake-Up Call

My Sunday started with my usual weekly routine: hopping on the train and heading to church. I always enjoy this little commute; it gives me time to settle my mind before the service. Today, Ps. Alvi preached a message titled "Lord, Open My Eyes," and honestly, it felt like a gentle (but much-needed) slap in the face.

It was week 5 of a series on navigating crisis, and the focus was on how crises can affect our relationship with God. He brought up the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24). They were walking right next to Jesus, but their grief and disappointment blinded them from recognizing Him.

Here are a few takeaways from my notes that really struck a chord with me:

Disappointment blinds us. When things don’t go our way, disappointment can make us view reality through the wrong lens. Ps. Alvi said something so profound: "Being hurt is an event, but being disappointed is a decision." Disappointment's closest cousin is suspicion.
Feelings aren't facts. Just because we don't feel God, doesn't mean He isn't there. And just because we don't understand the way He is working, doesn't mean He is just staying silent. Satan's best bait to pull us away from God is disappointment.
Change the narrative. Instead of asking "Why me?" we need to shift our prayer to, "How do You want me to see and understand this situation?" We can't open our perspective if our Bible is closed. We have to soak ourselves in His word.

He ended with a powerful reminder: It is better to not understand than to not believe.

I really needed to hear that. I wouldn't say I'm in a massive "crisis" right now, but there are definitely things heavily occupying my mind. For one, my husband hasn't taken a salary for almost two years now. We are incredibly blessed that our needs are met through other sources of income we planted years ago, but it's still a reality we navigate. On top of that, I've been feeling so anxious about my older daughter's student visa. It still hasn't been issued, and we are cutting it super close to the flight departure in just a few days!

Today’s sermon was a beautiful reminder to open the eyes of my heart. I need to look at my current circumstances through a clear lens, focusing not on my own timeline or desires, but on God's will. He is walking right beside me, even when I'm too distracted by my own worries to see Him.

The rest of the day was just pure bliss. The trip home from church was incredibly smooth and fast. I got back to the apartment around 4 PM and of course went head straight down to the poolside. Sat on my favorite cozy bench, opened my book, and completely dozed off because the afternoon breeze was just too perfect. Such a golden time to read and nap.

I woke up and headed back upstairs right around Maghrib. I spent the evening doing meal prep for my youngest's school lunches for the upcoming week. It felt so good to get ahead and set the tone for Monday.

What a fulfilling Sunday.

Love,

Nuniek

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