"Invisible Woman Syndrome." You may not have heard the term, but you most likely have experienced it. Defined as a feeling of being overlooked and unimportant in American society, invisible woman syndrome is what we experience when our adult children don't call, when stores don't carry clothes to fit our menopausal bodies, or when we keep our mouths shut because we worry about being labeled a "Karen." It's a fear that we have become irrelevant.

A quick, God-focused response to any crisis is the key to preventing longterm despair and bitterness. But once we've struggled through the initial shock and have fixed our eyes firmly on our Savior for guidance, we soon find ourselves wondering, "How do I recover from this?" Great question! God wants to bring you through the valley of shadow and into rejoicing on the far side of each crisis we face, and Psalm 40 gives us some guidelines for getting there.

Are you worn down by the demands and distractions of midlife? Do you need some encouragement from God? "Lord, do not keep silent," David says, "do not be far from me." More than anything in times of stress and strain, our souls need to hear from the One who is always near to those who follow Him.