I am fortunate to have many friends and acquaintances. Recently I have been overwhelmed with the number of people I love who are going through difficult times. Sometimes I am at loss of what to say. I often tell them I love them, but somehow when a person is hurting they need more than my love. I think I understand this because there have been times when words just weren’t enough to give me hope. Specifically sorrow, grief, pain and loss came to me when I was 27. I was a mother of 2 little boys and my mother had been sick for five years with cancer. Through many years of traveling from Ohio to Delaware to care for her with my children alongside me, I often could not see hope. I wanted her to be healed but she was not and the Friday before Mother’s Day in 1997 we buried my young mother. She was robbed of the earthly joys that I have experienced as I have lived a full life into retirement. Through this time God laid a foundation for me of how to face the challenges and difficulties in life.
God’s word has always been my source of hope and I have learned daily to go to Him in whatever I am facing. Often I read, BE STILL AND KNOW I AM GOD.” Quite frankly I want to scream, “Are you kidding? Be still when my mind races and I do not see earthly hope?” When I finally become still, then I can hear Him. “I am your refuge and strength, an ever present Help in trouble.” ( Psalm 46:1) He says, “I will give Beauty for ashes; Joy instead of mourning, Praise instead of heaviness.” (Isaiah 61:3) Ah, this is what I need. Quiet rest, stillness, to experience the presence of Christ’s love and peace. Oh it does not mean I do not struggle with sadness and a sense of loss but it does give me hope. I am not alone and His words are not empty. His words give life.
The butterfly has become my symbol in life. No butterfly is the same but every butterfly, through its struggle out of the cocoon, is beautiful. They are a constant reminder in life that there are struggles, sometimes deep, deep struggles, but God, our creator, made us and He has a beautiful plan for our lives.
Jesus has open arms with nail scared hands from the cross. He wants us to grab hold of Him and find hope. He is our refuge and strength, our “ever present help in trouble.” He will give us beauty out of our ashes, even praise in our heaviness.
“Be Still and Enjoy His Presence”