Author: Guest Author (Page 3 of 4)

Today we are honored to have Shelley Brumfield share her heart with us. She is a wife, mother, grandma, and dear friend who lives in Northern California, but travels to Romania summer after summer to share her heart with children there. 

It happened again this summer— the breaking of my heart. My mind scrolls through the faces and smiles of the children at the orphanages like a slideshow, and I am grateful for the indelible memories of them. Coming to Romania for the 5th summer, I saw familiar faces from past years. Some have grown taller; those that were once little girls are now young ladies, and “little” boys are now looking me in the eye. There are others that have not changed all that much, remaining much the same size and stature as in years past because malnutrition and neglect has had a long term effect on them. Then there are always the new little faces, with scared eyes, reluctant to approach, yet desperate for a lap and to be engulfed in arms of safety, comfort and love.

Why, you might ask, after having your heart broken that first summer, do you go back?

Why, when you know you will experience it all over again?

Yes, that’s it.

That’s exactly it: You know you will experience it all. over. again.

When God breaks your heart, He is letting you experience in a small way, what He experiences, and your heart, in His Hands, becomes a little more like His. In that moment, you see with His eyes and love with His love.

This breaking of the heart is done by the Master Surgeon, who then, with His Divine touch, does the miraculous: He allows your heart to remain broken and changed, but healed too.

That first summer when I mustered up the courage to go to Romania, I did so not knowing the degree of brokenness my heart would experience–and that is probably a good thing. A mission trip in most people’s minds entails going to a different country/culture, helping with physical needs there, and sharing the Gospel. You step out in faith into the unknown and trust that God will be there, that He will use you, and that He will bring you home. Then, when you go, you discover that He is there! And He does all that you thought about and planned, and much more: You are the one who is changed; you are the one who is transformed.

John Piper writes, “Faith has an insatiable appetite for experiencing as much of God’s grace as possible. Therefore, faith presses toward the river where God’s grace flows most freely, the river of love. What other force will move us out of our comfortable living rooms to take upon ourselves the inconveniences and suffering that love requires?”

So, each year I go. I go expecting God to break my heart in a new way. And each year it happens: God breaks my heart anew. But the amazing thing is, my heart is not a shattered mess of a million pieces. No, it is enlarged. The breaking is to enlarge it, allowing it to be bigger, allowing more room to see God and His ways.

And each year, while the breaking of my heart is expected and happens, I have noticed that something else is going on too. The pain that my heart experienced on the first trip, is not the same, it has changed with each trip that I have made. Because I am able to see God at work over time and glimpse a small unfolding of His plan, the pain is more bearable. The eyes of my heart see more clearly what the Lord has done and is doing in the lives of these children in Romania.

“Faith loves to rely on God and see Him work miracles in us. Therefore, faith pushes us into the current where the power of God’s future grace flows most freely — the current of love.” ~John Piper

 

– Shelley Brumfield

Our guest author today writes from a far off place and shares some beauty of God’s character with us. She has asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons. May her bravery inspire you as it has us!

“I would like to begin this post by saying that I have requested to write anonymously. If you happen to know my family and recognize our story, I ask that you continue this by not mentioning names through social media. That being said, we live in an area where there are some serious threats to American teachers who reside here. Thank you!”

I was always a strange child. I was the 5 year old who poured over my grandfather’s National Geographic collection. I kept clippings and journals about the Gulf War and studied maps with a freakish obsession. I always knew that I would be an adventurer. Most of all, I knew that I wanted to make a difference in this world. As I matured, so did my lust for life and travel. Some people call it wanderlust.

As a 14-year-old child I traveled to Southern Mexico and spent a summer in the mountains outside Qaxaca. We did home stays and volunteered with kids. We felt very purposeful and I am sure we were. As an adult looking back, I remember more the hospitality and generosity of people who shared their homes and meals with us. They fed us their prized chicken, while their children ate leftover beans. We were there to help and so we built some huts, played with kids and got back on the plane with broken hearts and open eyes. I think many of you can relate to this sort of mission or service trip.

That trip was only the beginning for me. I went on through High School and College, a bit of an odd bird. I worked my tail off, saved every penny and got on a plane whenever the chance arose. You see, not only is travel addicting but so are the people. My heart is filled with images of grubby faced kids, crowded rooms and foreign welcomes in 25 different countries. If you had asked me five years ago if I would have imagined myself living where I do and truly experiencing the blessing of fulfilled dreams, you would have met a very different person.

When I was little, I was a child on a mission. I fell in love with God in my teens and never looked back. To me, the only answer was for Him to marry my wanderlust with His Divine calling to “go to the ends of the earth”. I thought I wanted to be a linguist and work to translate God’s promise. I thought I would open orphanages and campaign the naïve of America to support my cause. So when I graduated from college, married the sweetest man on the planet and settled into the role of suburban pastor’s wife, you can see why I entered a foggy season. A year and a half later, the surprise of our daughter seemed to distance me even farther from my dreams. We were happy, don’t get me wrong. I was living in a dream, it just didn’t feel like my dream. What had happened to that girl who worked in orphanages, spoke up about human rights and rallied for change?

I will never forget a tear filled conversation with a wise friend over the head of my sleeping baby strapped to my chest, arms deep in a sink full of dishes. What happened to those dreams? My passport was empty, along with our bank account. Our time was dedicated to a church and what was I supposed to do about the ache in my soul? My dreams seemed long gone and I could not imagine what God could be doing with all of this. My gypsy heart was grounded and I had forgotten what it was like to wander through distant villages with a parade of dancing children in my wake.

Even deeper still were the painful doubts: Did I believe God cared about who I was? Didn’t He know that my heart was dying a slow death? Even worse still, did my husband know this and was I a fraud? The words uttered that day over dirty dishes and precious babies have become one of the most pivotal conversations in my life.

She took my soapy hands and said, “Sometimes dreams have to die in order to come back to life”.

I knew then that God is not only my ally but the champion of my cause. I may not see the fruit of these dreams for years to come, but buried deep beneath the ice pack, that seed is growing. Often that growth is timed perfectly with our travel companions. For me, that time of hibernation was the time my husband and I both needed to uncover our calling into education.

Five years later we have lived in Hawaii, Egypt and this summer will be moving to another sacred land. Our daughter has explored 8 countries and speaks Arabic with her best friends.

We work hard, dream big and love intentionally. I may not be translating Bibles, running orphanages or campaigning for funding. However, my classroom is filled each day with precious children who in all likelihood will be leading this broken country. So when we wallow in doubt, fear or forget that God is the author of our faith, may we be reminded that He did not promise us a stroll in the park.

He promised that dreams will be broken, forgotten, buried… perfected. Resurrected.

When we rise out of burlap and ashes, may we be the men and women He has called us to be. Through that, the world will see His promise, joy and redemptive power. You see, dreams are not meant to chain us to our regrets. Dreams are the transfusion of God’s will, heart and vision into our lives. We have the honor of following that path, through both mud pits and mountains.

Since she was a little girl, Lisa Bryant has had huge heart for the nations. Recently this love has led her family to move overseas to work at an international school in Hong Kong.  Read about some of the things she is learning through the lens of a new perspective.

My family and I moved to Hong Kong in the summer of 2013. The first year we were here, we each had our own transitions to work through. I was praying to God every day but my prayers were repetitive.

“Oh, God, please help me!”

I felt like I was swimming in the midst of stormy waves and I was trying to keep my head above water. On every level, I was STRESSED OUT! However, God promises to always be with us even in the midst of the storm. He heard my cry and helped me survive each wave that I encountered. I would say that I was in a survival mode our first year that we lived abroad.

This year has been different. We are much more settled and are enjoying our jobs, school, friends and the beautiful place that we live in. I am working part-time and there are mornings where I am the only one at our home. I love sitting by the window, looking out at the water and spending quiet time with God.

As I have been spending time with Him, He has been speaking to my heart through Psalm 46:10, where He says “Be still and Know that I am God.” It is when we are quiet and listen, that we can hear the Holy Spirit. I have really enjoyed being still before Him with no distractions. But what does that verse look like when we are in the midst of a busy supermarket, a crowded subway, the times when we are going to be late for an appointment and we are stuck in traffic?

It is in those moments, that God desires us to be still and know that He is God. In Hong Kong, there are millions of people. Many times when I am on the subway or in the supermarket, I am in a sea of people. People are talking on their phones, pushing other people so that they can all fit on the subway, and moving at a rapid pace. It can be quite exhausting. Many times, I have gotten angry, irritated, and impatient. I am focused on getting from point a to point b and getting there on time. My heart, mind, and thoughts are focused on me and my needs. But God is always at work and wants to speak, show, and teach us things in the those moments.

As I was standing in line at the supermarket and I was in the line that took longer than the other lines around me, the Holy Spirit convicted my heart. I needed to slow down and realize that God was with me in that moment and listen to His voice. “What do you what to teach me?” “How do you want me to respond in this situation?” There may be times where He will open our eyes to someone that needs our help nearby or maybe He wants to us pray for the cashier who is helping us with our groceries. It is not by accident that we are in that particular place at that particular time.

Some days, I am exhausted by the time it is time to put my girls to bed. Sometimes, I can get in the routine of saying a quick prayer and quickly saying goodnight. I just want to go to bed and not spend any more energy relationally. However, one night, the Holy Spirit, spoke to my heart about slowing down and asking Him how He wanted to use me in that moment with my daughter.  I asked her some questions and we had a conversation that we both needed to have. God was there and He wanted me to be still before Him in that moment and listen to His voice.

In Colossians 3:17, it says,

“And in whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”  Whatever, our day may look like, God is with us throughout it. He has given us that day for a reason. He has a purpose. Whether I am grocery shopping, going to the bank or putting my daughter to bed, I need to be asking Him how I can serve Him in those moments.  When we are focused on His presence and character our focus turns from ourselves to Him. He can then speak to our hearts in that moment, and we are able to see the situation and others from His perspective.

It is easier when we find a quiet place and are able to spend time alone to be still before God. But it is during those moments when the temptation is to be hurried, angry, irritated, or impatient that God desires that we “Be still” and know that He is God.

 -Lisa

Affectionately termed Tigger by many of her friends, you might never guess that the high-energy, self-proclaimed OCDiva Carrie McChesney grew up in poverty, entered menopause in her twenties, and was told she’d never experience a successful pregnancy.  Find out how God met her in the story.

I never thought I had a story. I was raised in a Christian household and accepted Jesus into my heart and life at the tender age of eight. I was a good kid, got good grades, had a good work ethic, and married a really nice Christian man.

So years ago when my husband and I took our first mission trip together to Uganda for three weeks, we were told that we should all be prepared to speak at some point. To possibly preach and to be able to give our testimony. We knew there would be outdoor crusade work as well as the other ministries we had come for, which included building projects and a VBS for kids. I secretly hoped that in a culture that still valued male leadership, I would be able to skate by helping out with the kids programs and building project and NOT have to speak.

On the over 20 hours of plane rides and lay overs to get to Uganda, I opened my journal and began to just write out my life. Searching and praying for God to help me find something to speak on. I poured through random scriptures and even did the dreaded ‘close my eyes and open the Bible’ to see if the Holy Spirit would lead me to a scripture passage to speak on.

As I wrote out my life, my story, it wasn’t that it didn’t have ups and downs. It wasn’t that I didn’t have any hardships that had been overcome. I had lived in a broken home, parents divorced, significant poverty, and the blending of families when both my mom and dad remarried respectively. I gained siblings, moved to a new town, was a total and complete nerd, and had weathered an abusive relationship prior to meeting my amazing husband. As I wrote through each of these experiences, my pen found the words “but God…..” making their way in and through each story.

My Parents divorced…BUT GOD used that to give me more family, and tender sibling bonds that I still have to this day.

I lived very much in poverty as a child….BUT GOD used that to teach me the value of things…and the lack of value in earthly things. In doing so, I still view my childhood with fond memories and a great respect for what my Mom had to go through raising us children alone.

I had my moment of rebellion just after High School, and dated an extremely abusive man, both verbally and physically. BUT GOD…used that to grow me closer to him. To lean on him to get out of that relationship, and to place higher standards in the men I would allow into my life. This led to God selecting the perfect husband for me.

I did end up “preaching” during a portion of the crusade that year in Uganda. I took the stage and said… “I’ve never felt like I had a huge story to tell…or a grand salvation experience to convey….BUT GOD!” I then shared each of the BUT GOD moments in my life. Following the crusade, I was crushed by wave after wave of women who had heard from God through my speaking. Who had their own BUT GOD moments….or were praying for their BUT GOD moment to come.

I was humbled and in awe of how our great God can use the seemingly mundane life to bring His story to life.

I still sit in awe of my not-so-difficult life. Not-so-difficult because my BUT GOD moments just seem to continue.

Enter Menopause at age 27…BUT GOD shows mercy and love and gives me a heart for the elderly through my own experiences figuring out medical issues.

Can’t have children of my own…BUT GOD provides through the amazing sacrifice of adoption, two beautiful boys whom we love and cherish.

Multiple Job losses…BUT GOD provides in the lean times and blesses with jobs beyond our dreams.

I’ve learned that no matter what hardship is present, or lurking. What difficult time we are walking through or are headed into…there is a BUT GOD waiting to help us walk past it and into the future.

When you say you don’t know how, or what, or if…..just remember to end it with “…BUT GOD does, will, can.”

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think…” Eph. 3:20 ESV

 -Carrie

Rocklin, CA was rocked in August of 2013 when Dr Peter Vellutini, a beloved veterinarian, suddenly, without explanation, became horribly ill. The community surrounding he and his wife, Ruth, watched and prayed… and waited. Many of you will remember regularly checking Facebook for updates (https://www.facebook.com/petervelluntiniupdates). And then time moved on. We invite you to journey back with us as we enter Ruth’s story.

If you had asked me to share my story a couple of years ago, it would have been quite different than what I count as most significant today.  God used a congenital heart defect to keep me trusting in Him throughout my life.  Valve surgery was inevitable, but the timing was elusive.  I fell in love with an amazing guy who was willing to take the chance in marrying me, knowing that it was unclear if I would be able to have children.  God did indeed bless us with children.  At the age of 33, with 2 children under the age of 3, I had that open heart surgery.

I wrestled with “God’s perfect timing” but afterward I saw the blessing in the boys being too young to appreciate the gravity of the situation.  I naively thought we were going to get our “happily ever after” when our third son was born.

What I failed to recognize is that we probably won’t have “one big storm”, but should anticipate many storms through various seasons of life.

We would be wise to use the “sunny days” so to speak, to grow and strengthen our faith so we are more prepared to weather the storms of life. 

How do we do that?  By studying God’s Word and His promises, so we can have those truths firmly planted in our hearts when we get overwhelmed by our circumstances.  If we allow God to continue to work in our lives, He’ll keep growing us and deepening our character.  John Eldridge writes about how God has a unique love story to write in each of our lives.

I’m beginning to appreciate the fact that love stories have exciting times as well as heartache.

Let me tell you about the most recent chapter of my love story…..

Summer 2013 ended abruptly for my family when my perfectly healthy husband suddenly became critically ill.

On August 1, 2013 Peter got up early and planned out his last big ride. He was training for The Mt. Shasta Summit Century, which was just three days away, so this was his last chance for a long ride before the big event – a 10,000 elevation change across a 100 mile path up Mt Shasta. Today’s ride would be about 35 miles. The final training ride went well and I was confident for Pete that he was prepared for his trip to Mt. Shasta.

On August 2nd Pete woke up with a strange headache and neck ache. He spent most of the day sleeping, and his symptoms gradually progressed to include tingling in his hands and feet, double vision and nausea with any movement. A phone call to the advice nurse and then later a doctor decided he had some sort of vertigo and it would be ok to sleep it off at home.

On August 3rd Pete could not bear weight and I drove him straight to the ER. This is how his horrific illness began.

His neurologic symptoms came on quickly and progressed rapidly.  Every test came back normal.  Within 24 hours he was intubated and in a deep sleep.  For 11 days I sat by his side in the ICU, unsure of what the future would hold and unaware that although he was unable to move or respond, he understood much of what was happening.

All we could do was pray and watch for signs of hope.

I counted 35 medical care providers on his team trying to diagnose him while providing “comfort care”.  No diagnosis meant no prognosis.

The doctors were baffled but I knew God was not.

I was being prepared for the likelihood of a tracheotomy when his signs of alertness began to improve.  He was extubated and the long road of rehabilitation began.  He spent 6 weeks in the hospital, 6 months on medical leave and completed countless hours of speech, physical and occupational therapy.   We did eventually get a diagnosis – Bickerstaff Brainstem Encephalitis, an extremely rare autoimmune response to a virus.

As I drove back and forth from the hospital I gripped the steering wheel tight and tearfully poured my heart out to God.   Confessing my need for Him and declaring my trust in Him I returned to the ICU.  I began to see God work immediately.  First it was simply an old hymn He placed in my heart that first night driving Pete’s truck.  Coincidently, a remake of this song became popular on the radio and I heard it play frequently as I drove to and from the hospital.

As word got out, our community stepped up to support us in countless ways.  Every day I experienced God’s love and presence through tangible means.  Meals, childcare, house/yard work, financial support, letters of encouragement and most importantly, ongoing prayers.  The outpouring was overwhelming.

I believe that it was the faithful prayers of many that protected and sustained us and ultimately led to Pete’s full, miraculous recovery.

Each day I held onto the biblical truths that were planted in my heart.  I meditated on Deuteronomy 31:18 :“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you.  He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.” I studied Romans 5 and was reminded that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope (verse 4).

Sometimes, in pure exhaustion, I ‘d still get overwhelmed.  I remember one day in particular when I had a wave of anxiety over a stack of bills.  I called on dear friends to pray and shortly after there was a knock at my door.  My husband’s boss was there with a check from the donation fund he had started, and the amount was an exact dollar match to the bill I was faced with.  God was clearly at work!

God was being glorified and blessing me through the biggest trial of my life.

            Seasons of life come with storms.  We don’t get to choose the timing, how big the storm or how long it will last, nor can we predict how long it will take to recover. Why did we have to experience this trial?  Why did we receive blessing upon blessing?  Some people get stuck on the Why questions, to which there is no answer.  This is what I know to be true:  I am just an ordinary person but I’m loved by an Extraordinary God.  God understands our heartache through every kind of trial of life.  He experienced it first hand when he walked the earth as Jesus.  Every kind of illness, relational pain, and financial strain – our Heavenly Father is waiting for us to call on Him so he can be glorified and so He can bless his children.  He wants to sustain us through the storms of life.

– Ruth

Karyssa is a passionate, fun-loving, athletic gal who has experienced amazing transformation in the past few years . As a recent college grad, God has recently led her from the comforts of her home in the U.S. to serve with YWAM ministry in Australia.  Read her story of how she got to where she is now.

It was the summer between my freshman and sophomore year of college. I had been going to church and slowly walking with Jesus for about 5 years, but I was ready for more.

“I stood on the shore and watched some surfers paddle around right outside the peak. A sudden rush of fear flooded my body as I remembered the time I almost didn’t make it. I stood there for a while and then said to God- ‘I want to be out there! I want to play. I want to go experience the depths of this ocean. Being on shore is fun, but I bet it is even more fun out there. And Jesus, I think this is true in my relationship with you. I am tired of splashing around on the shores of your love. Help me experience the depth of who you are and the vastness of your love for your children. If your love is like the ocean, I want to be out beyond the waves where I am surrounded by you.’

GLORY!

 

Lauren Hunter is a woman of diverse talents and roles: marketing, public relations, blogger (churchtechtoday.com and laurenhunter.net), worship leader, song writer, speaker, mom of four, and coach’s wife; a beautiful combination of analytical, creative, and practical. Join us as she shares a significant encounter of God inviting her to trust in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Having just undergone my sixth surgery, clearly I’m qualified to write about the healing process. My first taste of major surgery was thrust on me at the youthful age of 25, and it was brain surgery at that. Along the rabbit trail of carpel tunnel diagnosis, my neurologist found a slightly elevated growth hormone in my blood, and subsequent MRI showed a small and curious blob on my pituitary gland, smack in the middle of my head. Just weeks earlier, my dot com startup had announced failure and impending company shut-down, adding stress to heaps of anxiety and fear.

Delivering to me the truth without emotion, my doctor deadpanned, “We have to remove it to see what it is.” And so they went through my nose to explore the uncharted territory of my head.

They say that it’s bad to pray for patience or faith because God will certainly give you opportunity to practice what he wants to teach you. Not that I openly asked for such lessons to be imparted to me – I was simply on a crash course having given my life over to Jesus just six months prior through an incredible string of events that led me to the place of complete abandon – kneeling, heart-stricken, laid bare, and stripped down one Sunday afternoon in April of the same year.  The walk of faith in Christ is not for the weak; freshly devoted, I clung to every verse I read from the Bible, each one molding and carving out my faith from what I had known previously. My life, at that time, was fraught with opportunity to lean on Him.

My husband and I, before knowledge of my surgery or job loss, had planned to move from Silicon Valley up to the suburbs east of Sacramento. We had spent the summer and early fall shopping for a house and had picked out the perfect home in a new build neighborhood. We had selected the lot, the floor plan, the carpet, the tile and had already put a sizable chunk of cash down.

Then the world began to spin as September 11, 2001 occurred; its fallout affecting each of us dramatically including my company, which had all its eggs in the nonprofit business basket. We could make it no further given the fact that all resources throughout the country shifted to focus on 9/11 relief efforts.

As my company’s CEO announced the date of closure and I met with my neurosurgeon that very week, I pleaded with my doctor to consider rushing the surgery so that it would be covered, at least in part, by my company’s insurance. The date of closure was October 30 and the end of my insurance benefits was Novemer 3, 2001; my doctor acquiesced and scheduled the surgery for October 29. This was one of the many ways God provided hope in the middle of what seemed like suffering.

The same week I received my two-week’s notice and scheduled my neurosurgery date, our final downpayment and loan details were due to the builder and lender for our new home.

There was so much uncertainty; so much fear to be managed and dealt with; so much disappointment all crashing down with nowhere to run and hide.

Yet when I opened my Bible, God spoke to me: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:1)

As I prayed, God affirmed in my heart that the circumstances around me were not necessarily a reflection of my then recent decision to follow Him, but that I needed to rest in His protection and shelter, even if he would never take the painful events out of my life completely.

After swift yet fervent prayers, my husband and I made the decision to pull out of our new home purchase. It was hard. Really hard. But we were encouraged in that the builder refunded us all our deposits in full. We had not lost physical funds, only dreams and aspirations of home ownership. However, God confirmed in us that this was the right decision and gave us peace about it.

I took each day, one at a time; each step carefully. Relishing the last few days of work, God filled me with gratitude for the environment that had become a fertile ground for my burgeoning faith.

I was able to finish last projects at work to help complete the door-shutting process. It kept my mind occupied until the day of surgery. Having been raised a Christian Scientist, surgery, doctors and medications were somewhat foreign territory for me. Fear could have overtaken me, yet Jesus was right there holding my hand – along with my husband and family. I felt His tangible presence, His love, and His peace as though He was a real live person standing by my bed.

The surgeon was able to do the surgery through my nose thankfully, so no hair was shaved, no visible vestiges would be present, only the emotional scars would touch me. When surgery was complete, thankfully, what they found was a Pituitary Adenoma or cyst, a shriveled up pouch that once held the gland itself in utero. Nothing else of concern or interest.

Once removed, my six-week recovery included headaches, nausea, menopause-like hot flashes, and crazy emotional mood swings, flanked by social anxiety of which I had never experienced before. We decided to move to the Sacramento suburbs and lease a condo, so packing and resting were my sole jobs.

I can now relate to Dr. Jekel and Mr. Hyde, the Hulk, and other troubled super heroes who can’t seem to manage their emotional outbursts. Although God was carrying me through and I clung to Him, things were not easy; yet I could still see the visible hand of God guiding me through this rocky zone of my life.

We moved, and my husband commuted back to the Bay Area for three months during the work week to finish the tail-end of his undergraduate degree. Gone during the week, I continued to heal and God revealed the next plan for our lives: Just shortly after the New Year, my old boss contacted me and offered me a consulting position with his new company.

Like a fawn, I began to gain my legs under me through this provision of work.

This time shaped me dramatically as I traversed my new stomping ground, new work-from-home consulting, and a new church. I continued to heal physically and grow stronger spiritually – albeit slowly – with few setbacks. Just four short months later, I became pregnant with my first child.

While there were still many challenges during this season, I can honestly say God taught me more during this difficult zone than through the easy, trouble-free times.

Near the end of his earthly ministry, Jesus aspired to communicate the days to come to his faithful disciples despite their inability to grasp what He was saying. He wanted to give them peace, and for us to have peace smack in the middle of uncertainty. Jesus says to them and to us, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

For me, the only way I overcame the roller-coaster ride of events that year was in knowing that I had a guide, friend, and savior who also endured suffering, pain, and sorrow just like I did.

Though the remembrance of pain lingers, joy and peace ultimately arrive when we apply faith to the fierce challenges of this life.

– Lauren