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Matthew 11:28 – If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. (CEV)
Although age is a privilege that many poor souls are denied, age is certainly not kind in numerous ways. Pain, critical health issues, and loss of loved ones come along, uninvited, to hinder our lives and deny us peace — so much so, that we may reach a point where our spirit just gives up, unable to endure any more. Tears are the only relief.
I have several painful health issues that restrict my activity, yet I know that my discomfort is nothing compared to the health issues that others are suffering. I pray for relief, but I am often denied that.
Emotional pain can be just as devastating. At the age of 49, my youngest son contracted an infection that caused a heart attack and deprived him of oxygen for seven minutes. So many people prayed for his recovery, but he died without regaining consciousness, and we had no time to say goodbye. I could not handle the anger and deep anguish, so I threw my Bible aside and gave up praying.
As time passed, I knew that inner peace could be restored only by leaning on God. I had always found spiritual calm when I read Psalm 23, but I had denied myself even that. Gradually, I was drawn back to my Bible. I needed to eliminate the dreadful grief that haunted my every waking moment.
Psalm 23:1-4a – The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. (NIV)
I returned to the power and reassurance promised in those words.
Whatever our struggle might be — age, health, financial issues, relationship differences, or concerns over COVID — let's allow ourselves some quiet time when we can open a Bible and find some words of comfort that work for us. No Bible? No problem. We can access God's words of encouragement at Bible Gateway.
Let's take a courageous step forward, because the first step is always up to us.
Whatever comes next for us, when even tears bring no relief, let's hold on to the strength that can be found only in God's Word. Only His wisdom can bring us the calm and reassurance that we need, but we have to reach out for it and believe that given time, life will become more harmonious. God's Word will feed hope to the emptiness of despair, and that's something that tears cannot accomplish.
Prayer: Abba Father, bless us and sustain us, no matter what comes our way. Help us to draw closer to You, no matter what is causing us anguish, and give us the strength that comes only from You. Amen.
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Thank you.
Amen, Patricia.
Praying for you. Thank you for your devotional.
Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. I truly needed it. Blessings.
Thank you for sharing your life, Patricia. It helps us who have had similar experiences.
Amen. Thank you, Patricia. God bless and keep you!! now 86 and longing to go HOME.
Very touching story and excellent message! Thank you!
Grace and peace to you.
Your devotion really spoke to me today. Thank you for sharing your story. I hope you will write more. Blessings.
Thank you for this encouragement today!
Stay strong focused on Jesus.
God bless you.
Amen Patricia. Thank you for sharing some of your struggle and the solution, which l too know to be true.
Blessings.
Dear Patricia,
Thank you for your writing to encourage us to take the first step when we need to draw on the Lord’s power, strength, and wisdom.
What an inspiration to us all, Patricia. You have faced so many huge challenges but made your way back to God. I’m sure your words will help many. Thank you for sharing and may God bless you!
Thank you for your devotional about losing a child. There are many ways one can lose a child: it is not necessarily through death. Somehow God is the answer, and we have to pray that we have the courage to seek His guidance.
Dear Patricia,
Thank you for sharing so deeply the tragic sudden death of your dear son.
And for sharing how our Lord restored your inner peace.
(B.C.)
Thank you.
This is being an extremely hard day with my care for my husband with Alzheimer’s disease.
Blessings for you and your uplifting words.
God does give us strength.
Dear Patricia,
Thanks so much for your devotional this morning. Yes, God’s Word is always there for us if only we take the time to read and digest the wonderful promises He has for us there.
God bless you abundantly.
Hello Patricia,
Thanks for this devotional and for sharing your feelings so honestly. I don’t remember seeing your name as a writer before. I hope you will contribute again.
God bless you.
How grateful I am today to read your honest message about God’s help for you today! YES! I too have experienced being lost and away from God and then being found again, like a lost sheep and being loved and forgiven and learning to walk everyday with my hand in His! My prayers and love to you, Patricia.
Dear Patricia,
I was very moved by your devotion. I have beaten cancer, but the chemotherapy has led to severe neurological issues.
I have not had the unimaginable pain of losing a child.
You have renewed my strength and pray the same for you. Thank you very much.
So well said. Thank you for writing this devotional. I have just had a long conversation with a friend of many years who lives in Oklahoma. Her physical challenges have been immense; yet, she has remained a devoted servant of the Lord. I shall forward your devotional to her.
(Texas)
Good morning, Patricia
Thank you for your devotional this morning. I can not even imagine what it is like to lose an adult child, we lost a baby at birth 65 years ago, and I think about her every day. My prayers are with you during these difficult times. As you may have noticed the last month, I have gone through a major operation (on the 17th of January) and a great many people prayed for me, it is and was such a comfort. Blessings to you.
Dear Patricia,
Thank you for your honesty in writing about how you reacted when your youngest son died, and your journey back to reading God’s word and to Abba Father. A lot of Christians have had times in our lives when our faith is severely tested but we don’t always admit or talk about it. Your Devotional blessed me today and I am sure it will bless others.
Blessings.
Patricia, I can relate so closely, too closely, to your thoughts and message today.
We lost a daughter to suicide when she was 27, again, sudden, no chance to say goodbye, devastating to her young daughter. All our prayers before and after seemed to fall on divine deaf ears.
And I too wanted nothing to do with that God who said, “if 2 or more of you pray… it will be granted.”
But that God is also persistent and kept seeking to give me peace and to let me realize that His plans take precedence over ours.
I pray blessings for you, and for the courage to speak out.
(ON)
Good morning, Patricia,
I am sure it is still painful to think of the death of your youngest son and share the experience with us.
When I was 16, my oldest brother drowned at the age of 19. He had bought his first car and gone to a friend’s cottage with their family and never returned. I still cry when I think of it almost 60 years later.
It is so true that turning to God can give us the inner peace that we need to endure these moments of great pain. If we walk with God, our journey will be more peaceful full of his comfort and love.
Thank you for sharing your experience and how you regained your inner peace. May you understand the wisdom you offer others and the encouragement for them to take that first step. Blessings.
Thank you for sharing your story with us so honestly. May God continue to bless you.
This devotional must have arisen from the fiery flames of hurt, loss, and anger, but you have turned it around into praise to an all-knowing, all-compassionate God. A refining fire indeed! Bless you,
(BC)
Boy did I ever need this word today! Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us! Blessings.
Oh dear friend!
Thank you for sharing such a difficult moment in your life. I appreciate your openness and honesty in how you dealt with your son’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Your devotional was so encouraging to me that even through such difficult times – God is always there and he always loves us and comforts us. May we rely on that truth day by day.
His Blessings on you and your family!