Jesus meets me on a Tuesday

5 o’clock came hard.

The inbox and unsatisfied task list

Dared me to stop.

I won’t say I won.

I barely got out.

Rain was in full motion

So came the wipers.

I carried overwhelm

Home with me.

My breathing labored

I decided to take a late night

Walk to the gym.

Rain ceased.

Fresh air.

I was determined to breathe.

I crawled onto the elliptical machine.

I was determined to sing.

I saw myself on some sort of sports field

Having just lost some sort of game.

Jesus came over to encourage me

And let me put my head on His chest.

I said, “I’ll do better tomorrow.”

I said again, “I’ll do better tomorrow.”

And to repeat myself with another negative blow

“I’ll do better tomorrow,” came out once again.

I didn’t hear Jesus say anything

But He didn’t let me go.

In His embrace in my imagination

I was aware of the music in my headphones

In real time.

I began to worship.

My attention drifted away from me.

My voice carried hope well beyond me.

As I sang, I heard,

“Shauna, you have the victory.”

I’ll do better tomorrow washed away.

“My victory is over your day.”

All the overwhelm lost its weight.

My labored breathing wasn’t because of anxiety

Anymore

Only what was coming from the elliptical machine.

My walk back home in the dark

I sang out loud

Pushing against the darkness

That comes for our souls

That tries to rob us of joy

And steal what the day holds.

When we worship Jesus

We share in His victory.

Yes, even on a Tuesday.

-written probably on a Thursday, typed on a Sunday, sent to you at 5 pm on a Monday

In real time

I invite you to go to that place where you take deep breaths and breathe.

I invite you to worship even if you don’t feel like it. A good one to start with is the Doxology.