Mothers have a peculiar strength.
She endures childbirth, carrys heavy burdens, and perseveres through the storms of life. Truly, the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.
Yet, deeply within the reservoir of her strength lies tender sensitivity.
Mothers cry.
Silently.
Privately.
Her tears washes away the residue of concerns.
It’s God’s way.
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lapidim / Foter.com / CC BY-NC
It’s more difficult not to believe in God…than it is to believe in God.
His protection is evident.
Did you know the earth is surrounded with a magnetic field which protects us from harmful solar wind particles?
Only a loving, caring Creator would do this to protect us.
But sometimes, it doesn’t feel like God is protecting us, does it? Tragedies, loss, and pain all point to not caring.
But these things come to all of us. One reason is we don’t understand everything. Another reason is we live in a world that is not perfected.
God works the bad things out for good. He redeems our situations.
Some solar particles get through the magnetic field.
It produces the Aurora Borealis.
Life. It’s all how you look at it.
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Spring is on it’s way!!
And so are brighter days!
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Yes, you can be an adult and have struggles because of your relationship with a father, mother, or both.
You may have been abandoned.
You may not have been wanted.
You may have heard lots of words spoken against you.
You may have been hurt physically.
God has wired us to overcome difficulty. You just have to want it.
But first, we begin with how much God sees your pain.
Then we ask him to help us.
And he will. In ways you may not expect. But he will.
There are times when the wind blows and causes damage.
And there are times when it’s a welcoming breeze.
Life has good and it has bad.
God is over it all.
Don’t allow what was … determine what you will be.
You have a father in Heaven who knows what you need when you
need it.
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This much.
Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD cares for me.
Psalm 27
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When you’re hurting, you wonder where God is.
And you ask: why is this happening to me?
Especially if you’ve been a tried and true church goer.
Centuries ago, the Psalmist asked the same.
Since you are the God who strengthens me, why have you forsaken me?
Psalm 43
There are many complexities in life we cannot understand. If we throw in the towel, what good does it do?
You’ve got to hope in something. You’ve got to trust in something.
Or else you will try everything else to make the pain go away.
God is everywhere.
And He is with you.
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Lots of things go wrong. Lots.
… but lots of things go right, too.
Pain threatens to kill the part of you that wants to live. Don’t let it. God has wonderful surprises tucked away for you that will make you smile. Yes, even in sorrow there is joy. Don’t take my word for it. Go look!
Yes.
There is a scene in the African Queen when Charlie Allnut and Rose are stuck in the mucky Ulanga River. They become lost in the weeds and cannot see ahead. They have no recourse but to get out and pull the boat if they are to survive.
They suffered an attack of leeches and mosquitoes.
They finally gave up when it was clear they could not move the boat any further.
Night came and they fell asleep in the boat, accepting the inevitable.
As the camera pulls away from the scene, it begins to rain. And unknown to them, just a few hundred yards away, was a clearing of the thick brush and weeds – and the mouth of the river. Overnight, the rain caused the river to rise and effortlessly freed the boat out of its demise.
Life is like that at times, isn’t it? We get stuck in our situations and we can’t see ahead.
But we never know what the next moment, the next hour, or the next day will bring.
If you are overwhelmed and think it’s better to end your life because it hurts too much – don’t.
There is hope. Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not just a few hundred feet away.
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It’s one thing if someone dies in a war, an accident, or from a disease.
It’s another thing if someone you love dies from suicide.
You think people understand but you soon find out they do not.
The closest people to you can be talking behind your back about the one you lost and you don’t know it until the tell-tale signs begin to appear.
And then you think, “Oh. They are talking about it.”
And the one who is gone is being pulled apart and analyzed.
But the worst one is, “I thought so.” How dare you?
I’m so thankful God knows everything. He is my Defender. And his.
I know that now.
You should know it, too.
How I love you, Lord! You are my defender. The Lord is my protector; he is my strong fortress. My God is my protection, and with him I am safe. He protects me like a shield; he defends me and keeps me safe.
–The Bible (Psalm 18)
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when it hurts 