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Proverbs 3:6 – In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (KJV)
My grandmother wrote this verse on the cover page of the first Bible that she gave to my father. My father did the same in the first Bible that he gave to me, and I did also in the first Bible that I gave to my son. We even have it inscribed on the tombstone for my wife of sixty years who went to be with her Lord last year.
I have tried to follow that wise counsel ever since I made my initial commitment to the Lord as a young boy. But life has had its special challenges.
In 2005, our younger son died from pancreatic cancer at age 41, leaving behind a wife and three children aged 11 to 16. At the funeral service, his older brother affirmed that his brother, a man of God, had his priorities right. He loved God first, then his wife and children, and then his church and music.
The year 2016 was again challenging. In addition to my beloved wife, I lost my older sister and two sisters-in-law. Early in that year, I was also quite distressed by what I felt was the unfair treatment of a missionary of whom my wife and I were very fond. When I discussed this with my son, he said, "Dad, settle down. God is in control, and He knows what He is doing!"
In 2017, my older son's wife was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and 20 days later, she went to be with her Lord. His mother's death, four months earlier, was expected, but at age 58, his wife's passing was a real test of our faith. Now it was my turn to say to my son, "God is in control, and He knows what He is doing!" My son sat beside me in church last Sunday, and we are both grateful that God is faithful amidst all of life's perplexing occurrences.
Prayer: Dear God, help us each to realize that even when things happen that we don't understand, You remain in control, and You know what is best for us. Help us to remain faithful to the end, knowing that in Your time, we will receive the crown of righteousness. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
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Amen brother.
Very inspirational, Vincent.
Prayers of comfort and healing for all your family.
Wonderful acknowledgment of your test of faith. Thank you.
Praying for comfort for all of you. Thank you for those encouraging words.
Thank you for sharing yourself in the devotional today. You have blessed me.
I truly admire your faith in view of the tragedies you have faced in your life – an inspiration indeed.
All I can say, Vincent, is AMEN and how marvelous is your faith. Thank you for sharing.
(Texas)
Thank you for this touching devotional. We lost our son earlier this year to cancer. It is tough, but having God in our lives eases the pain a bit.
I admire your faith and courage and thank God for the example you have set for us.
Blessings,
(Ontario)
Wonderful testimony Vincent. Thanks for sharing. The life verse given to me was Proverbs 3:5&6 and like you it has kept me steady through thick and thin.
Blessings.
Thank you, Vincent, for sharing your heartbreak with us. Having dealt with many of life’s challenges throughout my years, I’ve found God to be always faithful, and as you pointed out, in control. God’s got us! Blessings.
The topic of your devotional is what I needed. We have had three friends die this week and two relatives with dementia. I know that God is in control but it is still hard. Thank you for your experiences and for the fact it came today.
Thank you so much for that testimony. I just wish a lot more people would be just like your family. This world would be a better place. Keep the good work up that you are doing. This is something that all of us should be doing.
God Bless.
Who Is In Control?
Hello Vincent, thanks for sharing multiple difficult life experiences and memories of those experiences with the PresbyCan Daily Devotional readers.
May God bless you and yours and continue to make you a blessing my brother.
(Ont.)
Dear Vincent Walter,
Thank you for sharing the stories of your most profound losses through this devotional. The depth of your sorrow did and most certainly does challenge you at times to adhere to Proverbs 3:6, as it would anyone who has had even one of the losses you and your family have been given, let alone those within these last two years. May you feel God’s presence and be blessed with His Peace which passes all understanding.
Good morning Vincent,
Your ‘witness’ to the broken hearted, in today’s reading, is so encouraging. My husband and I, over 60 years of marriage have many times had to just know that God Is In Control.
However, it took reading your devotion this morning, to remind us of just how Great our God really is.
So, thank you for those words, a reminder of His purpose.
I will need to put this one on my favorite list. I have one which guides me. Ps 25: 4-5. When I was teaching Sunday School this verse was in lesson with a song and I still will play it and sing it. After our accident when my husband died, I was in hospital for several weeks. This really guided me in the years to come. I teach all my family LISTEN and you can either feel or hear Him. We were married over 50 years and my husband life on earth was finished. ‘I am still waiting.’
Greetings Vincent,
I was sorry to hear the heartache you have dealt with in the passing of several loved ones. May the Lord’s amazing grace and mercy give you comfort and strength each day. Our Lord is ever present to help us through these events in our lives. Praise and glory to His name.
Blessings to you and your family members
(B.C.)
Dear Vincent: Your story mirrors mine in so many ways. I too fought for my faith during such challenging and heart wrenching moments. I thanked the Lord for holding me in his arms during the pain deep pain in my heart. I still feel moments of melancholy and struggle with missing these key people in my life but see many things and people God has brought into my life to maintain and restore me. May your faith always be strong and know that God holds you in the palm of His hand. Thank you for sharing your heart and faith.
God Bless!
Thank you for sharing Vincent.
Your faith is exemplary despite the many challenges your life has brought your way.
I cannot imagine the inner turmoil that each of these losses incurred, but your faith in God’s guidance and strength have obviously upheld you – mightily.
Inspiring to say the least!
Blessings
(ON)
Hi Vincent
First of all, how nice to see someone from my own city writing. I am not a frequent contributor but I find it meaningful, to do so.
I really appreciate the verse you have shared.
I also have to accept there is much evil in the world, because God has allowed his creations to have free will.
He does not, for instance, inflict cancer on any of his children. Only as each and every human being acknowledges His supremacy will evil be eradicated.
There is hope, consider changing attitudes about the environment, even 50 years ago who cared if factories polluted our rivers and lakes with toxic chemicals? How that must have grieved our Lord.
Let’s not only hold on to the idea of God being in control but, as you have done, tell others.
Thank you Vincent. I needed these words today to help me agree with God, and finally act upon His still small insistent voice.
Bless you.
Hi Vincent,
What a good devotional you wrote. I can not imagine the anguish you and your family have gone and are going through, so many people gone in such a short period of time.
But regardless, we do know that through faith in Christ as Saviour and Lord we ado get the strength to carry on.
May God give you comfort, and peace of mind.
Blessings.
Dear Vincent Walter,
Thank you for your testimony to God’s faithfulness. As you know, it is not the length of life that is most important.
I pray that God will bless with fulfilling years.
Write again.
You indeed have had a lot.
Dear Vincent,
Your faith and courage in sharing is a gift to us. I thank you, and I join you in thanking our loving Father for the gifts of faith and His love.
God bless and keep you and your wonderful family.
(BC)
Thank you, Vince, for sending me your daily devotional contributions you’ve made to the Presbyterian church’s daily devotional readings.