I don’t know about y’all but I stopped trying several weeks back. I stopped trying to fix my hair. I stopped trying to wear make-up. I stopped trying to do anything except sit in an air conditioned room and beg for mercy. What I’m trying to say, sweet friends, is that I’m hot. And when I stop to think that it isn’t even August? I can’t even. It’s too much.

I’ve been a bad blogger this summer (let’s blame it on the hot) but big things have been taking place. My family and I have moved from a city of about 40k to the cutest town ever with about 800 of the nicest people you’d ever want to meet. I’m talking homemade salsa, freshly baked doughnuts and sweet corn delivered to your front door kind of nice.

We ventured out into the heat to have lunch at a little cafe on the square where we immediately announced our presence by spilling an entire cup of pink lemonade on the floor. That’s just the way we roll.

I saw a verse in a friend’s Facebook post and I have been thinking about it all day. It’s in the book of Isaiah and I particularly like The Message paraphrase of it.

While I wait for God as long as he remains in hiding,
    while I wait and hope for him.
I stand my ground and hope,
    I and the children God gave me as signs to Israel,
Warning signs and hope signs from God-of-the-Angel-Armies,
    who makes his home in Mount Zion. – Isaiah 8:18-22

There is something about these long, hot, humid (did I mention hot?) summer days that seem to be never-ending. They make a girl want to cry out, “How long, O Lord, how long?” Okay, that may be a slight exaggeration but only slight. We’re all just holding on and waiting for October.

There are seasons like that – seasons where success is simply making it through the day. We’re not waiting for cooler weather but we’re waiting for God to move it some way – to make His presence known. Everything seems hot and dry and we’re desperate for something to refresh us. Waiting is tough.

The prophet Isaiah knew a little something about waiting. Things were difficult and God was hiding His face from the house of Jacob. But Isaiah refused to lose faith. He was determined to stand his ground and continue to hope. He was so committed to His God that he offered himself and his children as signs of warning and of hope that would point others to the God who still ruled in Zion.

May that be our attitude even in the midst of the dryest season. No matter what fear and hysteria the world attempts to instill in our hearts – we can stand our ground and hope.

No matter the anger and anxiety flooding the news and filling social media – we can stand our ground and hope.

No matter the brokenness that invades our homes and relationships – we can stand our ground and hope.

We can live in a way and raise our children in a way that points others to the God who has not relinquished control.

You are loved. <3