Hello, sweet friends!

I want to start off today by saying a little apology for not being around as much lately. I feel terrible about being absent, but if I’m honest, my body has had other plans for me recently!

My lower right back and hip have always been my “problem places.” Back in 2017, I fractured one of my right Sacral vertebrae (I can never quite remember if it was S1, S2, or S3!), and my sacroiliac joint likes to freak out every now and again. Then in 2018, I had my right hip labrum fixed and the joint cleaned out.

Well, jump forward to about four weeks ago. Without thinking first, I “tried” to move a heavy box using my right leg. Oops! Uh ohhh! Instantly, I thought, Shoot, oh boy, that was a bad idea!

Needless to say, I aggravated every single one of those old injuries and made those areas very, very angry—along with the top of my iliac bone. Not much has been working to bring the pain level down, except the heating pad. Though I do start physical therapy next week.

Because of all this, my focus has been completely shot. There has been very little writing happening, and very little reading, for that matter! Cleaning is officially on hold except for tiny, light things. My lower back jags even when I try to lift something as light as a jug of milk. I tried to vacuum the other day, but those angry areas reacted with a sharp, pulling pain that literally took my breath away.

I thought I had already had enough rest for the year… but I think God said, “Not yet.”

So, I’ve been asking Him to help me recognize what He wants me to learn through this quiet, painful season. Don’t get me wrong—when I say my focus is shot, I mean my outside focus is running wild like a bunch of loose squirrels! But my inside focus? It is locked in on Him.

• Yet! I praise the Lord.
• Yet! I sing praise and worship songs to Him.
• Yet! I still read Scripture every night before bed.
• Yet! I have my constant running dialogue going on with Jesus throughout the day.

My posts across my three blogs may be a little few and far between for a while, but I wanted to pop in and let you all know why. If I’m missing from your link-up parties, please know I’m thinking of you! And don’t worry—I won’t be far. I will still be stopping by to visit with all of you who link up with our Sweet Tea & Friends monthly link-ups! I love seeing what you guys are up to, and visiting your blogs is always a real joy for me.

What I’m Learning

When pain forces us to slow down to a complete crawl, it’s natural to feel frustrated by everything we can’t do. But in the quiet moments between the back jags and physical rest, I am asking the Lord to show me what He has for me here.

I think Jesus is teaching me the discipline of true surrender and relying on His strength when mine is completely depleted. It is so easy to evaluate our days by our productivity—how much we cleaned, how many blog posts we wrote, or how many errands we ran. But God doesn’t measure our worth by our physical output. He is teaching me that sitting still and simply abiding in His presence is more than enough. In this season of limited physical movement, He is inviting me to let Him carry the heavy loads while I rest in His care.

All In All

All in all, even with an angry hip, a rebellious back, and a mind that feels like a nest of squirrels, God is still good. Physical therapy is on the horizon, healing will come in His timing, and until then, I am choosing to lean into the grace available for today.

My “Focus” Scriptures

The “Yet!” Praise Connection

Habakkuk 3:17–18

—“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines… yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

• Why it fits: This is the ultimate “Yet!” passage in Scripture. It reflects that even when physical strength or expected outcomes aren’t there, joy in the Lord remains.

Psalm 42:11

—“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.”

• Why it fits:  It acknowledges real physical/emotional distress while immediately anchoring hope back in God.

Finding Strength in Physical Weakness

2 Corinthians 12:9

—“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

• Why it fits: Sometimes Jesus uses forced rest to teach complete reliance on His strength when ours is totally depleted.

Psalm 73:26

—“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

• Why it fits: A sweet, comforting truth when your body (or your lower back!) literally gives out, but your spirit stays grounded in Him.

Forced Rest & He Remembers Our Frame

Psalm 103:13–14

—“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.”

• Why it fits: Speaks directly to my realization that God isn’t demanding high physical output from me right now. He knows our body’s limits and treats you with fatherly compassion.

Matthew 11:28

—“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

• Why it fits: Ties seamlessly into my “God said… Not yet” about leaning into His rest rather than fighting it.

My Takeaway

If there is one thing this unexpected season is cementing in my heart, it’s that our praise should never be contingent on our physical comfort. It is easy to sing worship songs when our bodies feel great, and our schedules run smoothly. But choosing to lift our hearts in worship when even moving a leg hurts—that is where faith becomes real, rooted, and deep. The “Yets” in our lives carry profound weight: Yet will I praise Him; Yet will I talk with Him; Yet will I trust Him.

I’ve also come to realize that God often uses physical limits to protect us from overextending ourselves spiritually and mentally. When our bodies say “stop,” it isn’t a punishment; sometimes it is God’s gentle, firm hand pulling us back into His shadow so we can refuel. He cares far more about the state of our hearts and our quiet walks with Him than He does about our un-vacuumed floors or our published blog schedules.

So as I head into physical therapy next week, my takeaway is simple: hold plans loosely, keep your inner eyes fixed on Jesus, and let Him turn forced rest into holy ground. Thank you all for your patience, your sweet friendships, and your prayers. I’ll be around visiting your posts as I am able, sipping my tea, and celebrating the sweet community we share!

Until next time, keep shining His light,

Love Paula 💞

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