Life Audio

A prayer of praise during sufferings by Emily Rose Massey, read by Leah Martin.

Sing praise to the Lord, you as godly ones, and give thanks to his holy name for his anger

is but for a moment. His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may last for the night, but a

shout of joy comes in the morning. Psalm 34 through 5.

I'm convinced that sleep deprivation caused by the baby and toddler phase is the mom version

of fasting. My flesh becomes so weakened and my reliance upon God becomes absolutely

everything. I can't help but rely on his grace to do pretty much anything. If I start

counting sleepless nights in the third trimester from the uncomfortableness and countless

trips of waddling to the bathroom, I literally haven't slept through the night in almost

two years. This isn't hyperbole. My 17 month old has never slept through the night. My

middle son took 25 months. He got the hang of sleep only six months before my youngest

was born. It's been an extremely physically and mentally and often emotionally trying

season that's lasted years. I don't share all of this to complain or receive sympathy

or ask for advice. I share to remind you and myself that the Lord is near to the weak.

When you're suffering, he brings unspeakable joy that's not dependent upon your circumstances.

No matter how overwhelming your circumstances may feel, his grace is sufficient in your

weakness, lean on him, and he'll strengthen you and transform you to look more like him.

When I was praying in the midnight hours during the on and off wakeings, I said, God,

I know he's a gift. Please help me. And as I reflect upon this trying season, I'm realizing

the ways my son is a gift from the Father, along with all my children, of course. I can't

help but praise God amid my pain. For the Lord has been faithful to me. Even though my

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