You walk into Target with your burgundy, gold floral mask and fluffy winter hat, realizing how easy it is to hide the pain you feel behind that hanging piece of cloth.

Your 10-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son are fighting like cats and dogs in the aisles while you’re scouring shelves for disinfectant wipes. Meanwhile, your mind feels like a pile of mush and you can’t remember what else you needed to shop for.

You feel like you could snap like a fragile branch at any time, towards anyone. You don’t know why you feel this way, but the depression still looms, threatening to enslave you.

You’re weary -- emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

You find the items you need and wait in line 6 feet apart at Starbucks trying not to overstep the red circular boundary. Thankfully, the barista quickly serves your venti chai latte with a shot of espresso and you walk out the automatic doors praying you don’t spill it.

You pass by busy shoppers in the parking lot, thankful none of them can see up close the new wrinkles forming around your baggy eyes and the smeared eyeliner from the tears you shed that morning. No one saw the nasty fight with your husband the night before except little ears.

And you wonder, does God care? Does he hear the foul language and cuss words spilling from your lips that are just deep-rooted pleadings and cries for help?

Yes, He does know your situation. He’s your Creator who knows you intimately down to every beautiful long strand of hair on your head. He knows you’re overwhelmed by the constant demands to care for your family, live life, and keep a level head when you feel like you’re drowning.

And… he’s here to be your rescue and help in time of need. You can bring everything before him, trusting he’ll heal those hurts and restore what’s been broken and lost in your heart and mind.

He knows the struggles in your heart and home. He does not condemn, but extends grace. His love is constant.

When your friends or family don't understand, and when you don’t always see your situation clearly, God always does.

As you start the engine in your suburban and ensure kids are buckled, you lower your mask and taste the sweet flavors in your latte. You begin to feel God’s presence as you listen to uplifting worship music. You feel the warmth of the sun on your face and the future doesn’t seem as bleak.

God’s not absent, but involved. A text pops up from your husband:

I love you. We are going to get through this, together. Go treat yourself to coffee.

You smile, as he knows you best. You begin to trust God does, in fact, have the power to change the state of your heart, mind, family life, and give you the faith to move forward again.

2021 can be different than last year. You can listen to truth. Fear does not have the final word.

He’s bringing you out of the pit of despair and you know even if you have difficulty holding onto him in coming days… He’s still holding onto you.

You are loved,

Samantha