Category: gratitude

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Companionship With God: Hope Series #23

As we look forward to Thanksgiving tomorrow, this piece in the series seems especially appropriate. Thanksgiving seems to me to be the purest of holidays. With no wish lists and huge decorating frenzies, we simply gather and thank God for all our blessings. What joyful simplicity!

The other day I got some unexpected time with one of my grandchildren. Ella was out of school for the day, so she came to hang out, while her mom did bookwork for our business. Ella snuggled up to me while I ate lunch on the couch, and we hunted for the Waldo-like character in our Bible Sleuth book. She didn’t need anything from me, wasn’t looking for answers—just wanted to be with me. It was sweet and companionable, and we both soaked it up.

I think that is what the psalmist was expressing in these verses:

1My heart is not proud, Lord,
    my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
    or things too wonderful for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted myself,
    I am like a weaned child with its mother;
    like a weaned child I am content.

Ps. 131:1-3

I never understood this passage until I became a mom.

I loved nursing both my babies. Our times together were intimate and precious. No one else could understand the closeness of those moments. But there were times when I felt more like a milk bottle than a person they loved and longed to spend time with. Their cries in the middle of the night were jangling to my already sleep-deprived mind, and when they pulled and clawed at me in a feeding frenzy, it did not feel tender and loving.

After they began eating solid foods, though, they were somewhat calmer about waiting for meals or snack times. Often, my girls stood close enough to touch me or stroke my leg while I worked in the kitchen. At other times they would crawl in my lap or snuggle next to me to get closer. I finally understood what the psalmist was describing. My children were calm, quiet, content, just to be near me. They still needed me, but our relationship was different.

What a beautiful picture of a companionable reliance on God! We continue to hope in Him, waiting for something that hasn’t happened yet. But more than that, we just want to be near Him. Psalm 131 gives even more wisdom about waiting:

First, not to be proud. Like verse one says, we don’t need to act like a know it all, telling God (and others) what to do, how and when to do it, as if we know what’s best. We can come to God in childlike trust instead of with our to-do list.

Secondly, we don’t need to constantly question God, demanding answers to mysteries He has chosen to keep secret for now. If we trust Him, we won’t need to fret about the unknowns.

And third, we can learn to lean into Him during devotions and moments of praise throughout the day, without asking for a single thing. Instead of a nursing baby who wants to be fed at the first hunger pang, demanding and impatient, we can calm and quiet our souls.

How do we do that? By looking at how faithful He’s been to believers throughout the ages, and especially, to us. By being thankful!

God is our Hope. He is our place of peace. Our refuge. Our safe place when all around is confusion and uncertainty.

I pray you will take a few minutes to sit close to the Lord right now, and express your love for Him as you listen to Bridge Worship’s “Shalom.”

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When Hope Seems Far Away: Hope Series #15

My heart is aching today for those I love who are in deep distress. I feel helpless. I cannot heal their bodies, change their past, protect them against unfair accusations, or make others treasure them as they should. I can’t do these things for myself, much less for anyone else. These days my prayers feel like clouds around me, hanging, murky and thick.

So I’ve been turning more and more to scripture, to songs that give hope and declare truth. I turn to the One who CAN and does heal, change, protect, and treasure. Our good and loving God, sees what we cannot see. He lives in me, walks with me, and when I cannot form the words, His Spirit prays on my behalf with passionate groans I cannot begin to comprehend.

He understands our pain. He knows and He cares.

When David was in this place of desperate pain, he wrote out his prayers in the psalms. They have been such a comfort to me lately. Have you ever noticed this phrase repeats three times in Psalms 42 and 43? “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:5, 11; 43:5).

Songs or poems with repeating phrases have a way of getting our attention. And the message imbeds in our soul. This is powerful self-talk. What an example for us to follow!

“Why am I so upset? Have I lost all hope? Don’t I know God will get me through this?” I needed to hear and repeat David’s words to myself. It’s going to be ok, Beth. God’s in control.

The bad news is, our enemy, Satan, knows how to use repetition as well. You’ve probably noticed when you’re worried, you tend to repeat the same negative thoughts over and over, digging yourself deeper into a pit of anguish. In order to get out, we need to change our pattern of thinking. Instead of the automatic “Why me?” “Why now?” “Where are you, God?” questions, we can choose to quote scripture to the enemy.

In fact, Psalm 42 is so rich with treasures, I want to walk through it with you and weave in prayers of response. There IS hope for you, for me, and for all those we’re praying for.

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”

Lord, I’m desperate for You. I feel so alone. You’re the only One who can fill me up.


“My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’”

They may not have actually said this, but it feels like that’s what they’re thinking, God. I wonder if others are questioning my faith. If I’m such a true believer why are these things happening to me? Why am I so depressed? Why can’t I pull out of this? Are You really there?


“These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.”

I used to love to go to church and celebrate with other believers. I loved the singing, the preaching, and the great discussions about Your Word. I felt protected and joyful. But to be honest, it hurts now. I feel alone in the crowd. Unnoticed. Separate.

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.”

Here is that first repeated phrase. I’ve highlighted two key words—yet and therefore.

Lord, the circumstances of life have cast me down and I can’t seem to get up again. But it occurs to me that I don’t have to give in to this despair; You are my hope. I will yet praise you—now, by a determination of my will, but also later, when this darkness lifts. Because I am confident in who You are, I will praise You from the mountaintops.


“Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.”

Lord, some think this sounds like drowning, but I picture myself under the waterfall of Your outpouring love for me. The waters echo in the caverns behind the falls, magnifying the sound. It reverberates in my ears. I am surrounded. I can feel the booming thunder and hear the splash of water all around me. I choose to place myself in this fountain and be drenched by the flood of Your Spirit.

“By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life.”

O Lord, let me rest in the music of Your love. Wake me with melodies of hope and praise. I will make them my prayers.

“I say to God my Rock, ‘Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?’My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’”

O Jesus, there it is again—the isolation, abandonment, mockery—creeping in. Why won’t these thoughts go away?

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

I turn away from those dark thoughts, Jesus. You’ve always taken care of me, and You won’t leave me now. I put my hope in You. I will YET praise You. You have saved me from the chains of sin and shame. You are the only One worthy of praise. I determine now to give these fears and misery, all of them, to You. As many times as it takes, I will come and give You my anxious heart. Thank You, Lord, for listening, and caring for me. In Jesus name, Amen.  

The following song by Brandon Lake is moving and personal. Set aside the next nine minutes to just worship God. Go for a walk, sit in your car, get on your face, dance, weep, clap. Focus on each word, each note. Lose yourself in “Gratitude” and praise the God who loves you beyond measure.

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An Inheritance You Can Bank On: Hope Series #13

I know people whose families have been ripped apart after their parents or grandparents died and those remaining argued and grabbed for what their loved ones left behind. Relationships were permanently severed, leaving bitter resentment between family members. This is not the legacy we want to leave for our children. Or for anyone.

Sadly, even when we try to be fair and do the right thing, we live in a world riddled with favoritism and inequality. We cry out to God for justice!

King David struggled with these offenses just as we do. People did wrong and got away with it, even prospered, while the good guys floundered and suffered loss. He wrote Psalm 37 when he was older, after experiencing more of life. He wanted to reassure his son Solomon (who was to be the next king), and his people, that the good guy really does win in the end. This is something we all need to hear again and again!

The word “fret” literally means “to burn up emotionally,” and is used four times in the NIV translation of the Bible. Three of those instances are found in Psalm 37 (verses 1, 7, and 8). The fourth mention is in Proverbs 24:19, likely written by Solomon, based on wisdom he learned from his father.

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land…Hope in the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it (Psalm 37:8-9,34, emphasis mine).

We don’t have to worry and stew when we witness or are hammered by injustice. God will make it right. “Evil will be destroyed…those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land…He will exalt His followers…and if you stay true to God, you will see justice.” David and Solomon are now experiencing the perfection of heaven in Jesus’ presence. And soon, He will take home the rest of His children and judge those who do evil. This is our inheritance, as children of righteousness, if we do not give up our hope in Him.

Whatever happens in this life, “He is our “Provider.” Song by Cade Thompson

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Hug and Be Thankful

I woke up this morning with a profound sense of gratitude. I heard our heat come on as the wind whipped furiously at our house. I snuggled deeper into the covers and praised God for our home, for food to eat and clothes to wear, for dear friends and family, and most of all for God’s saving, keeping love.

Kelly and I won’t be celebrating with our kids until Saturday. He’s wrapping up a project, so I’m taking the day off to read, walk, watch movies, plan, and eat the sweet little personal chocolate pie my friend dropped off this morning. I do not feel lonely; my heart is full!

However, like you, our family is having its difficulties—some down with a wicked flu; another struggling with debilitating pain that doctors can’t seem to diagnose, much less treat; relationship challenges; addictive behaviors; financial worries; and concerns about work, and the future. It’s tempting to let all those things get us down and lose hope.

That’s why I’m so glad we have this Day for feasting, family, and most of all, remembering to thank God, who is our Source of all blessings. If we know Jesus and His love, that is a great place to start with our praise list. And there’s something powerful we can do to encourage those around us, who may be having a hard time coming up with anything to be thankful for.

The other day I had a frustrating morning and was so worn out by lunch time, I had lost all desire to pursue the other things I’d planned that day.

My daughter and her kids stopped by to throw in a load of wash. Two-year-old Willow ran up to me and asked, “Back okay, Grandma?” her clear blue eyes full of concern. I had been out of action for about a week and they had been praying for me. She touched my back and gently rubbed it with her tiny hands and planted a kiss where it had been hurting to make it better. It did.

Ten-month-old Denver followed in an amazingly fast crawl. When he reached me, he stood up and hugged my legs. When he looked up into my eyes and gave me a dimpled grin, my heart melted all over again.

Although I wasn’t in the mood to entertain, I sat on the floor with my back against the wall while Launa got her load started, and the kids crawled around on me, inspecting my earrings and necklace, one of their favorite things to do. When Launa came out, she sat down next to me on the floor and held me in a long hug. She pulled Denver in to nurse and leaned against the wall as well, and the four of us savored the incredible healing of closeness and touch.

Today, and this holiday weekend, even if you and your family don’t agree politically, religiously, or whether it should have been turkey or ham at your feast. And even if your life or theirs is pretty tough right now—offer the gift of a hug, a meaningful touch, a listening ear. That’s what Jesus would do. It will bring healing, and refresh both their spirit and yours.

I pray you have a wonderfully Happy Thanksgiving!

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A New Nighttime Ritual

Have you ever read a passage or verse in the Bible and started to meditate on it, then have the Lord stop you short and give you a completely different message than what you first thought? That’s what happened to me this morning. I’ve just started the Old Testament book of Micah, and verse one of chapter two spoke to me:

“Woe to those who plan iniquity,
    to those who plot evil on their beds!
At morning’s light they carry it out
    because it is in their power to do it” (Micah 2:1, NIV).

I began to respond in my journal. I was thinking how easy it is to do the wrong thing when we have the power (or ability) to do it, whether it’s getting back at someone who has wronged us, stealing, lying and so much more. But just as I put pen to paper God spoke to my spirit.

You may not be planning evil, my child—coming up with wicked plots to hurt others. I know you want to please Me. But when you lay in your bed at night and allow worry, discouragement, or anger to fill your mind, that is what you will speak and act on in the light of day. When you say disparaging things about yourself, and beat yourself up instead of speaking promises from My Word, you wallow in self-defeat. And that depletes the confidence I want you to have in Me. Instead, memorize and repeat My truths of comfort, instruction, and encouragement that will energize you for the next day.

My heart did a double take!

I don’t know if you’re like me, and it takes your brain a while to settle before you can sink into blissful sleep. But my mind bounces all over the place—reviewing (analyzing) how I did that day, praying for those who need Jesus, or are struggling; the hurting, the confused, and the angry. In the dark, as exhaustion sets in, my focus is not always on how big God is to meet these needs, but how big these problems seem to be. And this diminishes my faith.

Through this one little verse, God challenged me to start a new bedtime ritual. Micah spoke these words to call God’s people to repentance; they really were plotting and planning evil! But for Jesus followers who truly want to live victoriously for Him, I’ve stated it in positive terms:

Blessed are those who plan to hope and trust in God,
    who strategize how to show His love to others as they lay on their beds!
At morning’s light they will begin to speak and act on those thoughts,
    because He will work through them by the power of the Holy Spirit.

This is what I want to focus on as I drift off to sleep each night—hope, faithfulness, love, forgiveness, truth, victory, and a life of joy in Christ, even when circumstances feel dark and confusing.

Each of us prepare our minds for the day ahead by what we focus on as we drift off to sleep. What is your nighttime ritual? Is God calling you to make a change?

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A Cripple for Dinner With the King?

Have you ever felt unworthy of the sacrifice Jesus, the Son of God, made for us? I certainly have. He gave himself freely to be tortured, mocked, and crucified so we could be free from the penalty we deserve for our sins. He did it before we wanted Him, or even knew about Him. Easter is a love story beyond anything we could possibly experience or dream up.

This morning I read one of my favorite stories in the Bible that mirrors what Christ has done for us. It’s the little-known account of a guy named Mephibosheth (I’ll call him Phib for short). His story is especially appropriate for us at Easter. When his father Jonathan and grandfather King Saul were killed in battle, Phib’s nurse panicked and picked him up to run. But she accidentally dropped five-year-old Phib and he became crippled in both legs from that day on.

Years later David became king of Israel and wanted to keep his promise to his best friend Jonathan. So he asked if anyone was still alive from Jonathan’s line that he could show kindness. In the first place this was highly unusual—for whenever a new family came to power, the new king always wiped out any members of the previous dynasty, to avoid an uprising. In the second place, it was unheard of for anyone blind or crippled or deformed to enter the king’s presence. But King David not only decided to give Phib back his family land to provide for his needs, but generously invited him to eat with him at the table. Not just once, but for life!

“The king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, ‘I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table’” (2 Samuel 9:9-10). 

Phib instantly advanced from being a cripple, in fear of his life, to an honored guest at the King’s house! Isn’t that what Jesus does for us?

We’re all crippled by sin. And the actions of others sometimes wound and disfigure us. We are not fit to enter God’s presence; He is perfect and holy. But instead of seeking to destroy us as His enemy, the King has sought us out to take care of us. God promised Abraham He would make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and that He would bless them. And all who have chosen to trust in Jesus have been grafted into Abraham’s family line!

So, this Easter, as you go to church to celebrate our risen Lord and Savior, and sit down to a big meal with friends or family, picture yourself as Mephibosheth. You and I, crippled and broken as we are, have been invited to dine with the King! What wonderful blessings are ours at Easter, and every day of the year.

Happy Easter to you!

photo by Jed Owen, Unsplash

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Three Reasons to Sing in Bed

Thanks to a verse from the psalms, I have a new idea on how to start and end each day.

courtesy of Luis Quintero, Pexels

Thanksgiving is almost here and I’ve been trying to focus on being thankful each day this month. It’s an uphill fight, not that I don’t have loads to be thankful for, but because I’m having a hard time finding Thanksgiving anywhere. As soon as Halloween is over, everyone seems to skip directly to Christmas without stopping for a breath. Christmas movies, Christmas music, and Christmas lights appear, along with Christmas candy and gifts for everyone on your list (and of course the “much deserved” treats for the shopper along the way).

Thanksgiving gets only a nod. There aren’t even any specifically dedicated songs of Thanksgiving on Christian radio or in church. Other than ingredients for the traditional feast and a few decorations, we pretty much move right past this vitally important holiday. I know three holidays, three months in a row can be a lot to get excited about. But why miss one that can mean so much to us spiritually?

My theory is, we’re much better at eating, dressing up, partying, eating some more, and giving and getting mounds of presents, than showing gratitude. Me included. Don’t get me wrong, I love decorating, feasting, and presents, but I believe it is extremely important to pause and reflect on all the ways God has blessed us. At least one day a year.

Since I easily fall into complaining when everything doesn’t go my way, I try to practice this year-round, with a 3×5 reminder in my Bible to list 10 Things I’m Thankful For each day. And when we have days off or are traveling together, my husband and I take turns listing our ten items. Talking about them magnifies our gratitude even more.

That’s why my favorite part of Thanksgiving is when I pass out three candy corns to each family member and we take turns telling three things we’re thankful for. This represents the scarcity of food during the pilgrim’s first winter in America, when they purportedly had only 3 kernels of corn apiece. I can’t wait for this! And now, thanks to a random phrase from Psalm 149, I’m trying something else to practice grateful worship.

Psalm 149:1-5 says, “Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people….For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.”

That’s interesting, I thought. I’ve never noticed that before. I know singing has tremendous power to lift our spirits and elicit praise, but I never thought about singing in bed before. Sometimes, I go to bed or wake up with a song playing in my mind. But I’ve never put voice to it. It’s hard to sing from your diaphragm when you’re laying down.

So why would the psalmist invite God’s people to sing in bed? I found three reasons in this passage:

  1. The Lord takes delight in His people.
  2. He crowns the humble with victory.
  3. It’s an honor to belong to God!

First, God delights in us. He loves it when we praise Him with others or singing to the radio in our car. So why not in the privacy of our own bed?

Second, out of gratitude for the victories He has given us. When we humbly seek Him, the Lord will help us conquer fear, addiction, bitterness, grief. So why not sing Him a nice praise song?

Third, no matter how hard the trials we face in this life, it’s an honor and privilege to be His children. We belong to Him. He is our Father, Shepherd, Guide, Comforter, Provider, Healer—our very life and breath! And He is preparing a place for His faithful people to live with Him in heaven.

I’ve been trying this—singing softly to myself before my husband comes to bed. The other night I started humming while we were both getting ready, and he surprised me by joining in. Morning is harder, my croaky voice doesn’t want to wake up and be cheerful, but as the notes rise, so does my spirit. Afterall, it’s not for show, but for Jesus.

I challenge you to try this. What other reasons can you and your family think of why we should sing in bed? How about singing a song with your kids as you tuck them in. Sing when you lay down, and when you awake. I’d love to hear how it changes your attitude of gratitude through each day and night to come.

I hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

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Come into the Shelter of God’s Embrace

We live in a world full of trouble and strife, yet with God, we can find shelter—a place where we’re safe from harm. This was the perfect theme for our Fall Women’s Retreat. We compared Psalm 91 to passages from all over the Bible, discovering the wonderful ways God shelters us. Even when we have to go through troubled times, He protects our hearts and minds and walks through difficulties with us.

We began with introductions and what we each hoped to receive from the weekend. With four younger women, two “middlers,” and three “more experienced” ladies, our needs varied. Single, divorced, married with children, and widowed—each of us needed God’s shelter and a refreshing from His Word. And He most definitely supplied! We explored five reasons why we need sheltering: for physical safety, healing, emotional safety, time away for training, and being apart from others for study and prayer.

We ate a lot, laughed, filled up on inspiring and challenging scriptures, cried, ate some more, walked, played games, and worshiped. The weather was crisp and the Ranch alive with vibrant fall colors.  

Our three sessions on Saturday focused on Psalm 91.

Session one: Sheltering in God

  • How does He care for us and what are we supposed to do?
  • Why is resting in God dependent on our willingness to dwell in Him?
  • He covers and protects us like a mother hen. How does it feel to be so very loved?

Session two: God’s Got Me 24/7

  • If the words of this psalm are true, then why do Christians still suffer from disease, tragedy, and disaster?
  • Letting scripture interpret scripture, we looked to Isaiah 43:1-3 and Daniel 3:10-29
  • Can we still trust in God, even when we do have to go through the fire?

Session three: God’s Promise for Believers

  • What is God looking for in His people?
  • What are the rewards if we do these things?
  • How do we know and acknowledge His name?
  • How has God answered your cry for help recently? (I wish I could tell you all the great stories each of these women told of God’s incredible provision through some very tough times!)

Sunday morning worship was a perfect ending for the retreat. We sang songs about God’s sheltering love to videos with lyrics and beautiful images (thanks Marlie and Kourtnie for getting them on the television screen). My favorite was “Shelter” by Vertical Worship! Tears flowed and we ended, clean and blessed. After that, we looked at a few examples from the Bible of people who sought shelter. If you’d like to join in the blessing, here they are:

  • Exodus 9:18-21—those who had faith to believe God and sought shelter were saved
  • Deuteronomy 32:36-39—false gods offer no shelter
  • Psalm 27:1-5—David sought God’s shelter in every difficulty
  • Psalm 31:19-20—God will protect us when people falsely accuse
  • Psalm 55:6-8—David’s version of “Calgon, take me away!” when you need an escape
  • Psalm 61:1-4—God provides a high Rock (tower) of escape when we are overwhelmed
  • Isaiah 58:6-11—we are called to give shelter to others as God has cared for us
  • Jonah 4:5-11—can we take shelter in God’s provision and not care about others?
  • Matthew 17:1-5 (also Mark 9:2-7; Luke 9:28-35)—it’s easy to want to stay with Jesus on the mountaintop, but He has work for us to do
  • Revelation 7:13-17—there will come a day when God’s faithful ones will be forever in His sheltering presence!

I hope you’ve enjoyed joining us long distance. Hopefully next time you can be there in person. Our time there was too good not to share with more than just our small group. If you believe in Jesus and are following Him, these words of comfort are for you. Take heart in them and praise God today for His wonderful care.

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Unexpected

Life is full of surprises—some delightful, some of them not so much. Kelly and I have had a string of unexpected events over the last month.

photo courtesy of alexander krivits, unsplash

First—his sudden trip to the hospital with an intestinal blockage just before Valentine’s. I was thankful our daughter was with him on this out-of-town trip. She kept me updated through the night, took him to the ER when necessary, and stayed until I could make the five-hour drive to be with him.

I drove through an unexpected snow storm to the hospital, thankful for my good little car with snow tires and four-wheel drive. Kelly received excellent care, didn’t have to have surgery, and was able to leave after three days. We stayed at our vacation rental a couple days to recoup and enjoy the beauty of the snow.

After a week at home, we embarked on our previously scheduled Valentine’s trip. All Kelly would tell me was we were headed to Idaho. When we got to Destinations Inn in Idaho Falls, I still had no clue what unexpected delights were behind the door marked “Paris.” Oh my!

We spent two fabulous days enjoying our own Eiffel shower, jacuzzi tub, Parisian café, candlelight, chocolates, sparkling cider, cheesecake, and breakfast delivered to our room. Then we got to move next door to “Venice” for another two nights in this magical hotel.

When it warmed to 32 degrees, we walked along the Snake River, which was covered with 4-inches of ice and topped by a foot of snow, yet water still trickled into it beneath the frozen falls. Beautiful! We visited the aquarium, drove around town, and dined out.

Then another unwelcome surprise. Our washer had quit unexpectedly in early February, so we had decided it was the perfect time for a makeover while we were away and waiting for new appliances. However, the crew working at our house had to cut a hole in the office floor, as well as a wall in the laundry room, to replace ancient plumbing. Sadly, they had just installed new flooring and painted the walls of the laundry room.

Since our house was torn apart, we stayed away another two nights. It was just as well—I came down with a cold and our new washer and dryer got delivered to Washington instead of to our house. (They finally arrived Tuesday and it was thrilling, after five weeks to wash clothes in my very own house.)

When we got home from our trip, we inspected all the work and began putting our home in order. In my exuberance, I caught my foot on the edge of the baseboard and broke my baby toe. Didn’t see that one coming either.

Three days later Kelly’s dad had a heart attack and the EMT’s were not able to resuscitate him. His death shocked us all.

I’m sure you prefer delightful surprises over hospital trips, home disasters, and losing loved ones as well. But in this world, we experience both pleasures and trials. This last year has brought unexpected disease, death, natural disasters, and violent uprisings—changing our world and shaking our sense of security.

As Easter approaches, I’m considering what a shock Jesus’ death was to His disciples. He was at the height of His popularity; they fully expected Him to take His rightful place as King over Israel. Instead, Jesus willingly offered himself as a sacrifice for our sins. But that was not the end. He then triumphed with the ultimate of all unexpected events, when He came out of that grave, victorious over death and hell.

Because of the unexpected resurrection of Christ, His disciples knew they could face anything that came their way—hunger, persecution, death. And because of Easter, we can face all the unexpected things in life, because Jesus walks through them with us. The unchanging love of God holds us steady—through His Word, through the prayers of God’s people, and in everyday blessings as simple as daffodils and rainbows.

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation…” (1 Peter 1:3, NLT).