Soul Talk

The years have run together since the pandemic started, and so much has happened simultaneously. I have talked to many people who were changed by it. I’ve spoken to a few who said it didn’t affect them. If, by chance, you were somehow changed by the entire experience, you are not alone. Call it a perfect storm of events for me, but after my friend passed away in 2021, I fell into a deep grief. I found nothing to help me, that is, until I started talking to my soul.

There is a popular song on the Christian music charts called Gratitude by Brandon Lake. In one of the lines, he sings, “Come on my soul, don’t you get shy on me, get up and praise the Lord.” When I first heard that song, the line stood out to me. It came to be that it was the very thing I had to start doing to get myself through the grief that tsunamied me. (made up a word) It was like that, though. I have lost much in my life. Grief was familiar to me, so to be caught off guard and have an extreme reaction to it was surprising for me.

I have found the only thing that helps is talking to my soul, encouraging it to get up, telling it to keep going, and praising the Lord even when I am tired and scared. I struggle to do the things that used to come naturally and automatically. It’s like I have done everything I can to stand, and now I am in the stand firm then. “…after you have done everything to stand. Stand firm then…” Ephesians 6:13-14 NIV

It has been a long time since I’ve forced myself to do something. I usually know what is right; even if I don’t want to, I follow the right course of action. However, this was different; I was so sad I had no motivation or will to do what I had to. For the first time in a long time, I was done. I was done giving, trying, and doing the right thing for everyone else. I needed care. I needed encouragement. I needed someone to love on me. I needed them, but I did not get those things, and for the first time, I didn’t know how to ask for them either.

All around, I was surrounded by other confused, hurting people. Usually, someone has something to give from their reserves, but everyone was running on empty, just like me.

“Figures.” I thought.

This pushed me over the edge, but now that I have had time at the bottom, I have had time to assess how I will get back out. It pains me to admit that I needed to fall into that pit. I have learned more in the past two years than in a long time. Things I’d rather not learn but am grateful for, and one of those things was that I needed to talk to my soul.

See, we have a flesh, and we have our soul. We have to figure out who we will let be in control. My flesh quit. I needed my soul to “GET UP!” And not only get up but also praise the Lord. After all, I have been through, I can now say that the sacrifice of praise is one of the hardest things I have attempted to do. It is easy to praise the Lord when you see the glory of God and when things are going your way, but I tell you, when you are experiencing an empty heart, it can be the most trying experience of your life.

Can you relate? Maybe you are also in the pit and can’t figure out how to get out, as I was. It may be time for you, too, to talk to your soul. It may be time you get up and praise the Lord even if things are not going your way.
Won’t you join me today? Let’s get up and praise the Lord for His goodness, even if, ESPECIALLY, when we don’t see it or feel it!