…ago we closed the casket on the beautiful sweet face of our eleven-year-old daughter. It has been the most painful thing I have ever done.
Why do I keep writing year after year when not much changes in the grieving? I want people to know that a good and abundant life can be lived in the middle of hard painful circumstances, in the middle of grieving losses… I want people to know about the goodness of God. And maybe they can better see the goodness of God in their story; seeing glimpses of it in my story.
Psalm 23 has become my close treasure over the past months. Verse 1 “I have all I need.” I haven’t run out of tissues yet. I have been given grace, strength and courage to continue processing life and to walk through hard situations in emotionally healthy ways. Verse 2 “He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.” He’s provided friends to listen when I needed to talk and to pray for me. They gave insight into verses that I couldn’t figure out and then God also gave me a special vision how those verses applied to me personally. Verse 3 “He guides me…” He’s helped me connect to ladies willing to give help, advice, and encouragement for this online college course I’m attempting. Verse 4 “Even when I walk through the darkest valley…You are close beside me.” I can strongly attest to that. I’ve never felt left alone through the many dark nights I’ve experienced. God has shown up in very different ways at times, but you know God, being God, does some pretty amazing, awesome things. Like the other week, I felt like I was surrounded by multiple impossible situations with no sign of relief or help. At Bible Study, one of the leaders said she finished a 5-day Bible reading she began in February- it ended with, “All things are possible with God.” Then she read her verse-of-the-day verse it was, “All things are possible with God.” Lastly, she got out her journal to write and on the cover was- “All things are possible with God.” She said, “I don’t know who this is for, but I felt strongly that God wanted me to share this and whatever impossible situation you are in- well, “All things are possible with God.” And I experienced that tale tell warmth surround me when I’m getting a God hug. So, I’m choosing to believe, to trust that He is working even when I don’t seem to see anything happening. I’m holding on to the promise of His goodness and love pursuing me all the days of my life and living in His house forever…
I love the Passion Version of Psalm 23
The Good Shepherd 1 Yahweh is my best friend and my shepherd. I always have more than enough. 2 He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis of peace near the quiet brook of bliss. 3 That’s where he restores and revives my life. He opens before me the right path and leads me along in his footsteps of righteousness so that I can bring honor to his name. 4 Even when your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer me, for you already have! Your authority is my strength and my peace. The comfort of your love takes away my fear. I’ll never be lonely, for you are near. 5 You become my delicious feast even when my enemies dare to fight. You anoint me with the fragrance of your Holy Spirit; you give me all I can drink of you until my cup overflows. 6 So why would I fear the future? Only goodness and tender love pursue me all the days of my life. Then afterward, when my life is through, I’ll return to your glorious presence to be forever with you!
