Discovering God's Presence in the In-Between Seasons of Life - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - August 6, 2026
"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong in Christ Jesus." - 1Thessalonians 5:16-17
The cheery melody I had chosen for my alarm ringtone didn't downplay the feeling of 5:15 am. In fact, I can't remember the last time I woke up feeling refreshed. Every morning, the lady looking back at me in the mirror has deeper, darker circles under her eyes. I prefer the morning ...but I just can't seem to get to sleep early enough each night to feel excited about that cheery melody ...
Anytime I read the word "always" in Scripture, it signals an immediate cry for help. Raise the white flag. I am not capable. I might be able to accomplish something some of the time. Maybe on a good day, a lot of the time. By the miraculous work of God, most of the time. But never "always." I'm incapable. This is how I feel a lot of the time, lately. Tired. Drudgery. Incapable. And a little bit lost.
I feel this way because it's a season of change in my life. My oldest daughter is getting ready to leave for college ...all the way across the country. The piles by my front door accumulated for her grad party, then cleared out and began to accumulate for her move. Of which, I don't know how to prepare. When I think of my oldest daughter, I see the way she almost always jumps into my room at the end of the day to download the remnants of hers. When she isn't working, studying, or with friends ...she's invading my personal space, and I'm not sure what it's going to be like for her younger sister and me when a third of the three musketeers is working remotely.
The beginning of today's passage is my life verse: Be joyful always. God just threw dependence right in there with the verse He etched on my heart and across all of my days. Joy is impossible without Jesus, and always is something only God can do. I'm grateful. I would try to take over. I have perfectionist issues. It's best that I am constantly reminded to raise that white flag. It's definitely in my top five used emojis.
The following verse, "Be thankful in all circumstances ..." is not always so wave-the-white-flag. There are times when gratitude washes over me like a welcome summer rain. But not always. It's hard to be totally grateful that my oldest is leaving for college. It's going to be a little bit sad. I'm going to walk off the plane, puddle in tow. They will have to follow me out with a squigy. Apologies in advance. The gratitude is layered into my heart and mind. I know she's following God's will for her life as best an 18-year-old who loves Jesus can. For that, I am grateful. There are people popping up to surround her while she's very far from me, and for that, I am grateful. A little jealous that they will be closer in proximity, but grateful. I get to spend a whole lot of time with my younger daughter without the oldest absorbing all the available word count. I'm very grateful and excited for that. But we will always be missing our third wheel.
Paul knew so much about the mix of really difficult emotions and extremely hard situations. I love his Spirit-inspired words because sometimes the joy and pain drip right off the page, palpably and simultaneously. Paul knew Jesus well. He clung to Him tightly. Paul did these things. He was always joyful. He never stopped praying. He was grateful in all circumstances. But he didn't do it alone. He only accomplished it because of the power of the Holy Spirit in Him through Jesus. All the more reason to compound all of the emotions that pop off the pages of Paul's letters.
There is a note in my NLT Life Application Bible that reminds me, "God always hears us and always answers ...praying and waiting humble us before God and teach us to rely on his plan instead of our own." And in the meantime, we are to be joyful ...always ...and thankful ...all of the time ...about all of the things. This is God's will for us. But not on our own ...in Christ Jesus. My youngest recently pulled out a picture I gave her when she was little of Jesus hugging a little girl. That's how I feel about these verses today. If I could put them into a visual ...that would be mine. I can't do anything apart from Jesus. Not anything good, anyway, let alone laced in joy and gratitude. But in Him, I can. I can live through and do impossible things like smile at the thought of my daughter leaving to chase the dream God put in her heart. At least for a moment - before I bawl again. But they aren't all sad tears. They are full of joy and gratitude, too. They spill out of my eyes from the overflow of love in my heart. Jesus will hug me like He always has. Because this was just a chapter, and there are more things to do for the Kingdom, alongside getting to be momma to the two most incredible ladies I have ever met in this and every season to come.
God bless, and glory up. Let's pray ...
Father God,
I am continually blown away by your specific care and love for me. I love watching your hand at work in my daughters' lives. It's incredible to witness them find you and bond with you in their own way on your time. Thank you so much for allowing me to witness it... be a part of it... and love them. Help me, God, in this next phase of life as I pursue what you have for me to do, while adjusting to motherhood. All of it is yours, God, for your glory. And I'm just so grateful... for joy... always.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
What truth from today’s devotional is God using to encourage your heart? Share your reflection and join our conversation in the iBelieve Truth Devotional Forum.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Alina Chernovolova
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