Help for Mom when life is too hard: 10 SOS tips!

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Mom, Don’t Leave

Let me tell you!

I thought I’d grown out of telling others what to do. Trust me when I tell you, I was really good at this as a much younger me. Spoiler: Mom, don’t leave.

Today I am going back. I’m going to tell you what to do.

Today I am talking to the women who are struggling to hang in there with their children.

This isn’t a place of judgement. I come from a place of understanding beginning almost 27 years ago when I held my oldest in my arms for the first time. Here is a place void of ignorance and full of grace considering the struggles of parenting, mothering…life-ing.

The Hard places of life

Believe me, I’ve been in the hard places of life-sometimes more recent than I want to admit. Today, Mommas, shut the door and listen in.

Don’t leave.

I don’t mean don’t leave physically-well, I do if that’s where you find your feet heading. Don’t go there.

A few years ago I sat with a couple women– hours on end each week. We met in a coffee shop with three of our children busily working and playing along side. I’ll share another time how the Lord turned my heart toward teenagers years prior, but for now suffice to say, one of these two teen girls grabbed hold of my heart in a big way.

The Struggle is real

People change and time passes. The Lord took me a different direction and I no longer had contact with those two women or this precious young girl. Fast forward, a few weeks ago I found myself again pursuing social media wondering if I could find her, see if she was ok, and learn what she was up to…all the same thoughts which had never left me over the last 6 years.

It wasn’t the first time I’d looked for her, but it was the first time I found her. My heart was both thrilled and crushed at the same time. For each of us, the struggle may be different, but the struggle is real! She was struggling.

Still.

What I knew of her home life as a younger gal wasn’t great. Her family lived within an affluent area and she resided in a spotless home. Her adopted mom was a sweet woman with many struggles of her own. Certainly, if there was any abuse, it was dubious, even difficult for another adult to recognize and name. At the least, it wasn’t emotionally healthy.

Abandoned

First abandoned by her mother in a far away country, and now, the same end where hopes fell through the earth beneath her feet.

Although I watch very little TV, I was in the room when American Idol was premiering the newest season. Did you see it? Sweet and beautiful DJ Johnson, one of TEN children. Her dad, a worship leader, ah-go watch this.

Paying attention to the way my words sound

Above all, Moms, when we are PRESENT, our words matter so much. I’m the first one guilty of not paying attention to the way my words sound. I can be very direct, super honest and lack a kindness in my tone even to the ones I love the most.

This gorgeous young lady is crushed. The words to her original song on the tip of so many who, like her, feel disposed of by the one person who should be the quintessential model of safety and love; her mom.

Hear DJ Johnson’s heart

I’ll do my best with her lyrics, forgive me if they’re not exact and be sure to know these are her words, not mine. Grab a box of tissues and hear DJ Johnson’s heart.

Scars by DJ Johnson

You didn’t care when you walked out that door

looking back you never loved anyone but yourself

how could I have been so blind

we all see through you, and your lies

how could a mother be ok

leaving scars on her children

how could a woman be ok

leaving her husband heartbroken

I’ve heard that time heals all wounds

well I’m running out of patience and I’m so confused

American Idol Audition DJ Johnson

Genuine Compassion

Just watching it again leaves me undone. That night, the three AI judges showed genuine compassion to her and that cheered on my heart so much; I hope it did hers. But her dad. He’s been first seat through it all. He’s felt the pain from his daughter’s poetic verse, “How could a woman be ok leaving her husband heartbroken?”

A Parent’s Pain

What every good parent knows, is the pain our children feel lives somewhere inside us, too. This amazing man, standing there by his daughter’s side, encouraging her and edifying her, is harnessing a broken heart for each of his children. His love for his children is evident and palpable across the media waves.

The pain we watch our children go through and have no power to diminish is agonizing for a loving parent. My mom loved us all with all she was. And I know, while we all had our own tears to shed growing up, they were a little fraction of the ones she cried on our behalf.

Blessed Mom

We will probably agree that every child should have that kind of mom, a blessed mom:

Her children arise and call her blessed

Proverbs 31:28

… but in this fallen and broken world, they do not.

The Pain of the Cross

Can you imagine the pain of our Heavenly Father as He watched His Son, Jesus, endure the cross? The pain of the cross! The pain-that pain- He knew came out of a heart that loved YOU, and me, so much that He was willing to give His Son for our ransom.

Stop and think about that. He gave us His Son because of His love for US. Then, can you understand the pain He must feel to see any of His own hurting?

Life can get overwhelming

I think over the 30 some years of knowing, loving and helping young women. Absent moms, whatever the cause, leaves great pain. My heart throws my thoughts in every direction a spider spins her web right now, but I want to try and stay focussed here on moms.

Moms, life can get overwhelming. There ARE surely times when we are so affected in our own skin we can hardly catch our breath.

Take the time to catch your breath

Take the time you need to get though that well. No matter our circumstances, as adults we get the privilege of having maturity on our side and telling ourselves we can and will get through our trials. When they’re simply TOO much, we can get help. And if you’re in that space right not, do that. Get help. And get biblical, godly, wise help. Reach out to Focus on the Family for their call hotline for counseling help.

When life stinks and our hearts sink

For the rest of us who aren’t in need of professional counseling for an urgent crisis, how does a woman who wants to run away from her problems continue to be a loving mother?

When life stinks and our hearts sink, or when we want better, much better- or different, but are stuck “here,” at times like these, how do we love when we feel unloved and unloving?

How do we earnestly love our children when we don’t love ourselves?

When no-one is being good to us

How do we love?

When there are so many pressing responsibilities on our shoulders, How do we love, and show our love, to our children? Is it even possible to show up to be a good mother when it seems no-one is being good to us?

Those are good questions. And we are going to address them each week, so be sure you’re subscribed here to get updates.

Joy in the journey

Friends, your children are worth your sacrifice. I promise, there’s joy to be found in the journey!

Today, my message is: Don’t leave.

Don’t leave

Your cries are heard from my keyboard. I feel your desperation.

Over the years, I am sure I’ve heard the same from moms like you around the country and sitting over a cup of coffee. Please don’t feel like your very real struggles don’t matter, they do!

Yet, there simply are so many variables to consider in good mothering, and just no way one blog post or podcast could even attempt to cover them. But hang on, because we will do that. Be sure to email me-link in tabs- if you have specific questions, and I’ll do my best to address them.

In the meantime, though the struggle is real, don’t leave your children. Let me give you a ways you can hang on when the going is tough.

Because our children’s perception to us leaving looks different than a door closing silently behind us. This is how we can love our children through a season of personal hardship.

Ten things you can do today to make through the hard times.

  1. More Jesus. Psalm 29:11
  2. Think on these things. Philippians 4:3-9
  3. Do what you know is right even when you don’t want to. Proverbs 16:11
  4. Rest in safety with the Lord. Psalm 46:1
  5. When surrounded by trouble, cry out to Jesus. Psalm 140:6
  6. Be prayerful, Be grateful. Philippians 4:6
  7. Quit trying to figure it out yourself; trust the Lord. Proverbs 3:5-6
  8. Get out of God’s way. Let the Lord fight for you. Psalm 35:1
  9. Keep hope alive. God sees and will heal your broken heart. Psalm 147
  10. God’s grace is everything you need to keep on going! 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

More Jesus

Sounds simple enough, right? But it’s true. When we’re struggling to find peace in our lives, we need more of the Lord. Keep your mind focussed, not on your circumstances but on the Lord.

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Isaiah 26:3

The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.

Psalm 29:11

Think on these things

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever it TRUE, whatever is HONORABLE, whatever is RIGHT, whatever is PURE, whatever is LOVELY, whatever is ADMIRABLE-if anything is EXCELLENT-if anything is PRAISEWORTHY-think on these things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you

Philippians 4:3-9

Do what you know is right even when you don’t want to

When a man’s ways please  the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace  with him.

Proverbs 16:11

Rest in safety with the Lord

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1

The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

Psalm 9:9

Surrounded by trouble; Cry out to Jesus

Hear my cry for mercy when I call to You for help, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.

Psalm 28:2

I say to the LORD, “You are my God.” Hear, O LORD, my cry for help.

Psalm 140:6

Be prayerful, Be grateful

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Philippians 4:6

Quit trying to figure it out yourself; trust the Lord

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Get out of God’s way. Let the Lord fight for you.

Contend with my opponents, O LORD; fight against those who battle me.

Psalm 35:1

Keep hope alive. God sees & will heal your broken heart.

Yes, Praise the Lord, He HEALS our broken hearts!

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3

God’s grace is everything you need to keep on going! You are strong!

Remind yourself whose you are.

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Daddy’s Hug

The three Idol judges were left helpless as their broken contestant tried to muster through the painful words of her song. Taken by emotion and succumbing to the truth of her battle, knowing they had no way to console her, Luke Bryan asked if she wanted her dad to come in.

Young DJ’s father came through the door and onto American Idol’s stage. The adults explained she just needed moral support and a hug, but he didn’t need their words to know his daughter needed him, and how he could comfort her.

Before the words were out of their mouths, he had his daughter wrapped tightly in his arms, whispering the truths she needed to hear. He was just the support she required.

Watching from six feet away as Dad consoles his little girl with a huge hug, Lionel Richie casually says, “Nothing like Daddy’s hug.”

Fall into Abba Father’s arms, Sisters.

Don’t Leave

Friends, Mommas, don’t leave your children. The pain and fallout from that decision lasts a lifetime. Maybe you know that firsthand and reconcile it somehow in your own heart, but you know it’s not the best, if you’ve lived it, you have to. Fixing the hurt, the pain, the trouble now, is.

The things you’re missing and desparetly longing for will never come by walking out on your children. It will only serve to duplicate that void with the most vulnerable ones in your life.

Give the gift of peace and love to your children from the only woman God made their mother. They need it, Friend. The Lord wants that from you. And, He wants it for you.

He is able to get you there.

Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.

Jeremiah 32:17

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

Matthew 19:26

Fight or Flight

Oh, I know that flight response is a strong one!

Do these two things today

Today, I’m asking you to make two commitments:

1. You’ll work through (and not run from) life’s hard circumstances, and

2. You will not walk away from your family.

Talk to the Lord, and tell Him you’re ready for Him to help you do this. While we may not all struggle with the same things, we all struggle.

These ten ways to get through the hard times apply to every Christ follower. I’ll put myself at the front of this line.

I’m glad you’re with me.

Be sure to subscribe and I’ll send you a printable: 10 Ways to get through hard times.

21 Names of God, #21, Jesus

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Jesus.

JESUS NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Philippians 2:9

The End

It’s how I read magazines, too; I begin at the end.

So, let’s do that. Let me introduce you to Jesus beginning with the end.

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:10-11

Every knee will bow at His name. Every tongue will confess Jesus is Lord! The end.

The Beginning

Now that you know the end, what about the beginning? Where was Jesus, who was Jesus, in the very beginning?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.

John 1:1

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

John 1:14-16

Jesus Always Jesus

Jesus always was with God, always is God, and He became God in flesh and blood. Full of grace and truth!

Born

When were you born?

Every year on our birthdays, my 5 brothers and I had the joyous blessing of hearing our mother call us at the time we were born. I have no idea how she faithfully remembered the exact time each of us were born, but she sure did.

I thank the Lord for every one of those phone calls through the years.

Not long after my mom died, it was my birthday. Let me tell you, I sure wan’t looking forward to the first time my phone would remain silent at 1:20 PM that day. Goodness, I miss her voice.

I was, however, looking forward to a song I’d heard and to which I had watched the trailer at least a hundred times throughout Mom’s dying months. It was due out on my birthday.

Perfectly fitting for this most precious name of God: Jesus!

Jesus, Only Jesus

(Listen Here) (or here: https://youtu.be/ESmlWsbRqFU)

Lyrics Source:

Who has the power to raise the dead?
Who can save us from our sin?
He is our hope, our righteousness
Jesus, only Jesus

Who can make the blind to see?
Who holds the keys that set us free?
He paid it all to bring us peace
Jesus, only Jesus

Holy, King almighty Lord
Saints and angels all adore
I join with them and bow before
Jesus, only Jesus

Who can command the highest praise?
Who has the name above all names?
You stand alone, I stand amazed
Jesus, only Jesus

You will command the highest praise!
Yours is the name above all names!
You stand alone, I stand amazed
Jesus, only Jesus!
Jesus, only Jesus!

Born Again

We spend our lives doing many things, but only one thing is most important: knowing Jesus.

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

John 3:5

We Must Be Born Again

This isn’t something we’re going to do in and of ourselves. We must be born again if we expect to reside in heaven eternally.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God

Ephesians 2:8

No Not One

As definite as “must” is concerning being born again, “not one” is just as concrete here in Romans chapter three. Not one of us has any chance at being good enough when measured against God’s righteousness. We all fall short. No, not one of us is righteous. We’re not ever going to be good enough.

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:10

Higher Learning

We live in part of the world that totes great acclimates of higher learning. Contrary to popular belief, this is a secular, not biblical, worldview. (Sidenote: education does not equate to learning.) Having a degree, or multiple degrees, doesn’t give us an advantage when living for, or dying without, Jesus.

Wealth and Reputation

Working hard or falling into a rich heritage or legacy also does us no good moving us up toward God. There is no pecking order of socioeconomic sorts paving our way to heaven.

When it comes to salvation, there is no privileged or underprivileged.

Having great resources, an impeccable reputation of clout, or great wealth doesn’t change our status in God’s eyes.

Physical Strength

Though you may build your life building up your body like the ninja warriors and the world’s strongest men contestants do, the strongest of us flail in weakness and fail in comparison to the purity of Jesus.

Every time.

Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

Zechariah 4:6

Strength of body or mind, might of wealth, education, or even a stellar reputation (as rare as it is) and any other power on earth simply doesn’t change a thing. Each of us need the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ; there is no special pathway, otherwise, from earth to heaven.

The Holy Spirit

He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 

Titus 3:5-6

Who is Jesus?

  • Jesus is Christ.
  • Jesus in the Messiah.
  • Jesus… THE way, THE truth and THE life.
  • Jesus is our redemption.
  • Jesus is hope.
  • Jesus is forgiveness.
  • Jesus is our ransom.
  • Jesus is our salvation.
  • Jesus is pure.
  • Jesus is righteous.
  • Jesus is love.
  • Jesus is above all.
  • Jesus is our pathway to abundant life.
  • Jesus is our only way to eternal life.
  • Jesus is at the right hand of His Father.
  • Jesus is coming again!
  • Jesus is the answer for the world today.
  • Jesus is the answer for me and for you.

The Answer is Jesus

  • For every question to our life, the answer is Jesus.
  • Where is your hope running dry?
  • What makes you want to run and hide?
  • What is the worst thing you see coming?
  • How are you going to find joy in your life?
  • What is the best thing you can do to take care of yourself, your family?
  • Where are you going to turn when things go wrong?
  • How do you keep going, or find the desire to do what you need to?
  • What is the purpose for living your life?

The answer is Jesus.

Jesus, Forgiver of Sins, Giver of Life.

Stop right there if you don’t know Jesus. Now is the time to come to Him. Turn away from all you are and to all He is.

Jesus.

He is the answer for you-from spiritual death to eternal life. The beginning and the end.

Jesus: forgiver of sins, giver of life. Eternal life.

And Everything in the Middle

Knowing the hope and promise of living with Jesus forever is what makes this life worth living.

But we can’t forgo everything in the middle. Knowing Jesus, and being called home to heaven is the beginning and the end. Living life on earth is everything in the middle, and there’s much to be done with our short time here, for God’s glory.

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit  of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 

And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Ephesians 1:15-23

Born for a purpose and with a purpose in life

I don’t think my husband ever misses a chance to encourage diehard friends and strangers alike with these words:

You were born on purpose and with a purpose in life.

Troy Henion

We have a job to do. If I could ever agree with the mantra that usually makes my skin crawl, it’s around this biblical truth. God has work for us to do: you do you.

And by that I mean, you do what GOD has for you to do!

The purpose of Jesus.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10

Jesus, name above all names. Thank You, my Jesus.

21 Names of God, #20, Yahweh Ropheka

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Yahweh Ropheka; The God Who Heals

And said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.”

Exodus 15:26

Prayers for healing

Have you (and there’s a good chance you have, or you eventually will) ever prayed for someone to be healed from a sickness? If you’re anything like me, you watch heavy-heartedly as your normally perpetual motion toddler lays quietly while a fever works to rid their little body of a simple cold virus.

Other times the illness is serious and our hearts aren’t just heavy, they’re broken. We’re broken. And we cry out to the Lord for His healing touch.

Where we break

The past couple of months two friends in their prime of life (that’s our 50’s, to be clear), were met with unwelcome and complete change-forever more. Here they were living life, comfortable and happy in the third decade of marriage, looking forward to watching their young adult children getting married and giving them grandchildren to enjoy, and peeking around the corner at retirement with its own hopes and dreams.

It’s times like these where we break.

Suddenly, each of those pleasures, and even just ordinary expectations, of life were gone. All things married ceased in just a breath. Instead of planning for retirement, weddings and grand-babies, they were planning funerals.

Sad, lonely, angry, confused, and wishing they could change their harsh reality, they can’t stop the turning tides as nights end and days begin the same way, without their husbands next to them.

Where’s God?

I know prayers were screamed out to the Lord that He would heal these men, because I was just one part of them.

Yet, when the calls came, prayers seemed to drop down with the tears that fell. Where’s God? Why didn’t He heal them?

God Heals

The Lord tells us He DOES heal, so why are my friends widows today?

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases.” 

Psalm 103:2-3

Hope and Great Grief

God, You heal all our diseases. And day after day we bury those we love whose bodies succumbed to every disease we can list.

Knowing You are good, You love us, You created us, You hear us, we have to reconcile the truths we live in the mix of hope and great grief.

These, Lord, seem contrary.

My boys, I wish you could know them, they’re amazing. Separated by a decade of life, each is as wonderful as the other.

When my mom was unexpectedly rushed to the hospital and then into brain surgery in quick succession, my oldest put his college plans on hold and stayed home with his brother so I could be with my mom. Together they were strong; for each other, for their grandma, and for me.

We Prayed

Oh, we prayed. The doctors told us her time was short, but we didn’t want to believe them and we knew GOD could heal her. She desired- and petitioned- the Lord to take away her tumors, her cancer and her terminal diagnosis.

We longed for her to return back to the full and vibrant life she was living just days before. Though none of the medical staff could believe it was her reality, we knew it was true.

The Lord was gracious, so very gracious and full of mercy, compassion and love in the 12 months to follow.

My boys were more incredible than ever.

We prayed. All our friends prayed. Our family prayed.

And, Mom died.

My youngest, a brand new 10 year old, said to me, “God healed her, Mom.”

He did. Her body would no longer fail her. The pain and suffering she ever so gracefully endured would never again shadow over her.

She was healed.

God is There

We knew God’s presence. We begged for His healing hand the way we wanted it to be. His will was not like ours. Even so, God was there.

Certainly Mom has no desire to return to the broken, sinful, painful world where she’d spent nearly 75 years living. God is there. He’s there with Mom because she knew and lived for Him, and He’s there the same way for all of His children.

Even when we can’t understand His plan.

In all the times our prayers for His will are vastly different than our own, He is there.

Hurting

I’ve been a mom for 27 years. This week I was visiting with a young mom who asked me what my favorite age was with my children.

Like my own mother, I love, love, love the newborn and baby stage. From there, I loved every single stage to follow. (Except for the leaving home for the last time part! I’m still not too crazy about that.) I just love being Mom to my children, and no matter the joys and challenges that brings, it’s ok by me.

Choices that Hurt

In these years of motherhood, at times I’ve made choices I knew would hurt my children. Some were done unintentionally and quickly followed by apologies and hugs. Thankfully, I have forgiving people in my little family.

Other times I knew the decision I was making would go harshly against their desires. These were never times of celebration even with the knowledge I was doing the right thing. It was never fun making choices I knew would cause pain. Can you recall any specific time you did the same?

There is no shortage of good reason when it comes to making the wise decisions even when it leaves our children angry or hurt. Sometimes we just have to play the part of the mean mom. The mean mom who knows much better than her vulnerable child or teenager. Who sees the whole picture with much more clarity, and who then makes the hard choice knowing it will hurt her own child, because it’s the best for them.

Choices made out of Love

Our children won’t understand our love for them in those times. These decisions will look, sound, and feel counterproductive to our love for them. They’ll probably push us away, cry, burst out in anger and even scream in their own despair.

It’s OK.

What we know that they do not, just yet, is though it appears starkly different, it is in fact our great love for them which drives us to these choices.

I think you may be getting the picture here. In a very human and therefore vastly ineffectual way, this is the best I can convey the most divine attribute of Yahweh Ropheka, The God who Heals.

The God who Heals

Of course, we have multiple examples of miraculous healing throughout the New Testament. Furthermore, as many times as we have had to wipe our tears and physically hold our hearts inside our chest from the pain this life brings, we can share time and time again where the Lord did indeed show us our own miracle.

Yet, sometimes in God’s answers for our loved ones, ushered into heaven by Yahweh Ropheka; healed at last, we’re left with broken hearts.

To keep going in life, to put one step in front other other where pieces of our own hearts fall before us, is one of life’s greatest trials. We comfort ourselves in strange ways, saying things that weigh our loss with what could have been, but the truth is it’s our drastic attempt to ease the pain.

We want to be able to breathe again. We try to feel and reach toward the blessings of the life we had with the one we’ve lost. Yet, in it all, it’s our pain we’re trying to keep at bay, so we ourselves can keep on living.

Brokeness

Good news is in our brokenness the Lord is there, too.

Yahweh Ropheka: The God who Heals, heals both our diseases and our hearts. When it IS too much. When our heart IS breaking. When we can NOT go on. He Heals us.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3  

He knows

I’ve never buried one of my babies, but I’ve lost many. When I sit with friends who’ve placed tiny caskets filled with their heart’s purest joy into the ground, I come up short in understanding.

My words are lacking, my empathetic understanding is shallow, and I just cry with my friends through their pain.

Not unlike the pain I feel when my children hurt, especially when it was my decision-right decisions- that spurred it on, our Heavenly Father hurts when He sees our pain. Furthermore, He KNOWS our pain of loss.

Jesus Wept

Jesus lost His friend Lazarus. He knew he’d rise again to life, but you know what? That fact didn’t change the very real grief and pain Jesus realized to see His friend’s body lying there lifeless.

Jesus wept.

God the Father knows a bit about grief too. He has watched so many of His children turn from Him, and each time He grieved their choices.

Adam and Eve hurt their Creator when they chose disobedience. Their choice cost all of mankind in a big way. This is a great reminder that our sin affects others, too, we don’t sin unto ourselves. But the greatest cost of their sin, of our sin, was to God in the life of His own Son.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

Romans 5:12

He is our Shepherd comforting us through the valley of the shadow of death because He cares for us in times of pain and sadness.

He knows the pain of loss as He gave His Son to be crucified on the cross. Jesus suffered the most painful, cruel death, and was ressurrected so that we can live with Him for all eternity. Praise God!

For God so loved the word that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

Healing at the Cross

Hanging on the cross, hanging on to the last breaths of life since being born in a manger, Christ bore the pain of our sin, and He bore the pain of His Father turning away from Him. In that same moment, God the Father bore the pain of His Son caring our sin.

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Mark 15:34

Isn’t it just like our God to show Himself true? Yahweh Ropheka the God who Heals is there at the cross. In the very same occasion God heals His Son’s body~

So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”

I Corinthians 15:51

~and, for those who will be His, He heals our souls- our sin is ransomed through Christ’s flesh and blood. No longer separated from our God.

And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. 

Mark 15:37-38
Healing at the Cross…our God Heals.

Bring your prayers, your sick heart and soul, all your brokenness –bring it to the Father. Yahweh Ropheka.

Let Him heal you.

For women at home

MASTER OF THE SEAPEACEHe still calms storms

He calmed the storm to a

whisper, and the waves of the

sea were hushed.

Psalm 107:29

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