June 25

What do you do when you are told devastating news? The news may be the loss of a loved one, a serious illness of yourself or a loved one, a divorce, loss of a job, or another loss of some kind. Do you blame God or do you turn to God? Unfortunately for some people, it is easier to blame God at first. Human nature may pull some people in that direction sometimes. Sometimes the news causes fear, that is paralyzing. It is difficult to process what is happening, if we are so fearful. I know from experience that I am better able to deal with these difficult situations when I go to God and ask for his help. I have learned that He doesn't disappoint me. He gives me the strength that I need to move forward.

Dear God, Help me to remember to turn to you during these difficult times. You will always be there to give me strength and guidance.


Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

June 18

I heard someone say recently at a church gathering that it seemed like she had said goodbye to a lot of people over the past year. Whether it is a death, or someone moving on with their life, the goodbyes are always hard to say but are a sure part of life. It made me think about the song from the musical “Wicked”  called “For Good”. One friend is saying goodbye to another friend and there is a line in the song : “I’ve heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn. And we are led to those who help us most to grow, if we let them, and we help them in return.” As a Christian, I believe that God brings people into our lives  at different times to help us with different things. Sometimes those folks are in our lives for a short time and others for a long time. But however long they are in our lives, it is still hard to say goodbye and is sad. As an animal lover, I feel the same way about my pets. I recently lost my cat who was almost 17 years old. I am not really sure what happened to her, I let her out one evening a few weeks ago and she never came back. I suspect she went off to die, but it was sad because I didn’t even get to say goodbye to her. Saying goodbye does help give us closure, but it still hurts. One of the things that gives me comfort is that there is a universal human reaction to someone not being in our lives any longer, we all experience it. It is a change, and we have to adjust. We can remember the lessons they taught us and how they made our lives fuller and happier. And we can ask God for strength, comfort and peace in the midst of our grief.

Second Thessalonians 3:16 “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”