God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in times of trouble.
Psalm 46:1
When my friends hurt… I hurt.
Today I have friends who have battened down the hatches, filled their bath tubs, and are waiting for Hurricane Irma.
Others who escaped to higher ground or other areas to wait.
I have another friend who has been betrayed by a person in her life that should always be counted on to be trustworthy.
There are the friends who are trying hard to make their marriage work and each day is a struggle.
I know people trying to figure out how to rebuild after Harvey.
And my neighbor kids are moving with their dad. Yesterday it was clear across the country. Today it’s across the state. And their mom is staying put.
It’s hard stuff.
Often we hurt in silence and no one knows.
Except… God.
Today my little friend Thomas said, “God isn’t real, is he?”
And I replied, “Thomas, just because we can’t see God doesn’t mean he isn’t real. Instead, we must know that he even more real than all that we know or see.”
That’s a hard concept for a seven-year-old.
Maybe even harder for a 37-year-old going through a storm.
That’s when we need to trust.
And believe.
And hang on to these words from the Bible…
God is a safe place to hide,
ready to help when we need him.
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
courageous in seastorm and earthquake,
Before the rush and roar of oceans,
the tremors that shift mountains.
Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.
Psalm 46:1-3
Take comfort, my friend, when you read these words…
You can go to him for protection.
He will cover you like a bird spreading its wings over its babies.
You can trust him to surround and protect you like a shield.
Psalm 91:4
This is such a tender thought.
God spreading his covering over us as if we were helpless.
Because we are. Without HIM.
Take courage, my friend…
God is with you in the storm…
the one raging outside your window,
the one raging in your relationship,
the one raging in your heart.
You don’t need to go it alone.
Allow yourself to be like the little birds who hunker down under the protection of their parent’s wings.
Lean into God and let him be your comfort, your strength, your protector, your deliverer, and your sustainer.
And let your fears drop away.
He’s with you and will never let you go.
It’s JoyDay!
I know you want a heart filled with joy. Please join me in thinking back over the past week and counting seven things for which you are thankful. This simple exercise of counting and giving thanks together in this space is something we do each week to reset our compasses and put our eyes back on the Lord.
I’ll start…
Thank you, God…
- for a super fun evening out with one of my dearest friends.
- for a sunny afternoon and a stroll in nature with the kids.
- for sunflowers and all the fun I had putting together a tablescape and vignette.
- for Tim’s continued recovery from the shingles.
- for your goodness and blessing in our lives for which we are so very grateful.
- for the joy you’ve placed in my heart.
- for being able to impart wisdom to a tween girl… please Lord… help her to remember when the testing comes.
Now…it’s YOUR turn!
List your ‘seven’ in the ‘share your extraordinary thoughts’ section below. You’ll be glad you did.
Thank you for stopping by and leaving your sweet thoughts.
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If you found this post helpful….please pass it on to your friends.
Dear Diane, How very beautiful your post was today! Sometimes… I am amazed at how your writings touch my heart and circumstances! I Believe that God truly is with us in the storm. I shall always be Trusting in Him… leaning on Him and knowing that He is with us every second… makes All the difference in my life! Bless your heart… Love, Judy
Oh Judy, thank you!! I’ve weathered lots of storms and could only have done so because of leaning hard on God. Knowing he will never leave us or forsake us is so encouraging.
Thank you for your kind words of encouragement, too. {{hugs}}
Hello Friend,
1. Lord I thank you that Hurricane Irma left my dads house standing.
2. Dads in hospital still but he was kept safe that way.
3. I thank you in advance for sending him home, hopefully soon.
4. Dad called first thing this morning, its so good to hear his voice.
5. He has good doctors trying very hard
6. All the wonderful memories I have with him.
7. I know he loves me and will always remember that. And I know Lord you will give me the strength I will need, at the time.
Blessings to you!
Minnie
That is good news, Minnie, that you dad’s house is still standing. My good friend’s mother lives where the hurricane was to hit the hardest and I was so concerned. Isn’t it interesting that she had just gone to Italy to visit family and is missing the whole thing? God is good.
Lifting your Dad and you up in prayer. {{hugs}}
Hello Diane…I don’t even know what to say…thank you seems so
small compared to what your
words did for my heart today! I
Love the Lord but lately life has
been difficult…yesterday as we were driving in the distance I saw
a white bird flying toward our car.
As it got closer I could see it was a
snow white dove. All I could think
was “God sends his love on the
wings of a dove” and then reading
your Joy Day….I know I’m okay
and God covers me with his Love.
Thank you. I’m sorry if I haven’t
made much sense….but your
Joy Day is wonderful!
Dear sweet Robin, God definitely has you covered in his love.
You totally make sense. I LOVE the story about the dove and I am so grateful and blessed knowing that your heart was lifted and encouraged. I love how God works to make the words and your experience come together to minister his love to your heart. {{hugs}}
Wonderful post!! Thanks so much for stopping by!!!
Hugs,
Deb
Thank you, Debbie!
All the best for a blessed week!
I am extremely thankful and appreciative for electricity since doing without it while Irma wrecked havoc. I’m also thankful we only had minimal damage from the wind and we had no flooding. I’m thankful for prayer and that God is near because when hurricane force winds are howling at night, prayer is the only comfort. I’m praying we don’t have to hunker down again anytime soon!
I pray you don’t need to hunker down anytime soon, as well, Nancy. Sharing your gratitude for electricity during the storm… what a huge blessing… and rejoicing with you for weathering well what could have been catastrophic. God is so good.