This summer, we have the amazing opportunity to live life alongside my husband's family and to daily walk with them this path that none of us expected to walk. He gets to put aside work that once seemed so significant and instead pour into what really is significant as he spends the days with his dad...talking, praying, reading Scripture, encouraging, blessing, crying, receiving, loving, helping, serving, laughing, reminiscing...enjoying.
We are so glad to be here, to live life alongside them and not from a distance. So thankful for all of the ways the Lord has orchestrated this to work. Things he set in motion long ago that would free us to be able to make this transition so smoothly. All glory goes to Him. He is so good. His love is so real.
My father-in-law has received somewhere around 50 cards in the past few days. I sat tonight reading all of these cards, tears falling, overwhelmed by the love I read in the handwriting of people who have stepped into the pain of someone many of them have never met. Thank you if one of those cards was from you. You have no idea the encouragement that is in the words you have written and the scripture you have shared.
I was also overwhelmed by the power and truth of God's Word. As I read verse after verse in these cards, some repeated multiple times over, I could feel the Lord pressing them even deeper into my heart than they have ever been. Just as the reality of life's brokenness is greater in this season, so is the reality of God's promises. And those promises are many. As one friend wrote, "We serve a trustworthy Lord who has not made one promise that will not be fulfilled completely." And so when life feels too hard and the pain feels too consuming, we put all of our hope in the promises of our God who does not falter and does not fail.
Here is a glimpse of what I read tonight. May the truth of His endless promises and the magnitude of His great love be real to you right now, no matter where you are in life.
Lamentations 3:22-23 - Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Deuteronomy 31:8 - The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.
Ephesians 3:20 - Now to Him who is able to do abundantly more than we could ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work in us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for throughout all generations forever and ever! Amen.
Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.
Psalm 73:25-26 - Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth I desire beside you. My flesh and my heart faint but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Isaiah 41:10 - Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."
Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Romans 8:14-16 - For all who are lead by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's spirit when he adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him Abba, Father. For His spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children."
2 Cor. 12:9 - My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
Psalm 145:18-19 - The Lord is close to all who call on Him - to all who call on Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him. He will hear their cry and save them.
Romans 8:38-19 - For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Isaiah 46:4 - Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."
Isaiah 58:11 - The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs.
Isaiah 30:15 - In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.
Isaiah 41:10 - Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you for I am your God. I will strengthen you...I will uphold you.
James 1:12 - Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, he will receive the crown of life God has promised to those who love him.
Isaiah 43:1-2, 5 - Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you; when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned...Do not be afraid, for I am with you."
2 Cor. 4:16 "Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, for what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal."
Philippians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus
John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
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