Devotion: When Loneliness Kicks In, God Will Sustain You

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“I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me” (Psalm 3:5). As a single person who’s chronically ill, I’ve gone through many medical tests and procedures by myself. Occasionally, my friend or my sister goes with me, but many visits I go in alone and I come out alone. Experiencing such loneliness at a time of unknown is disheartening to say the least. Recently, I underwent a new treatment and as I was heading in to the doctor’s office, I received two text messages and an email on my phone letting me know I was prayed for and thought of (BIG thank you to my two friends Karen, Kim, and sister Gretchen). That meant the world to me. But more importantly, they reminded me that I wasn’t alone because God was … [Read more...]

Devotion: God Collects Your Every Tear Through the Pain

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“Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll--are they not in your record?” (Psalm 56:8) I love watching someone’s tears being wiped away by a loving parent, relative, or friend. That interaction is so precious. Maybe it’s seeing the concern and care taken to collect each and every tear. Maybe it’s knowing someone else cares so much about you they will gladly wipe away your tears that stirs my heart. Whatever the reason, it’s an emotional scene for sure. For those of us going through hard situations, tough physical challenges or tight finances, tears can be a regular occurrence. When I read this passage, the tenderness expressed by David here made me shed some tears. Several other versions say it this way, “You … [Read more...]