Strength In Suffering

4a “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death” Keller writes ‘now it turns to address the shepherd directly. the personal pronouns I and You enter the conversation. It becomes a most intimate discourse of deep affection’. This verse came to me very vividly in the first days after our son’s horrific accident. We had entered a deep dark valley with death knocking on the door. We didn’t know if Nathanael was going to live in those early days.  One of the things I felt the Lord impress on me was the word ‘walk’. We weren’t going to be stationary in this valley but we would walk through it. As I look back over the last 2 years, I can see that it’s been a walk. Not some leisurely stroll but more of a crawl on hands and knees not knowing some days how to put one foot in front of another, figuratively speaking. Even now as I write this, the valley can seem very dark some days, but I also know that we are on a journey and the Lord is walking with us. He’s upholding us even if it feels like 1 step forward and 3 back at times.  It is said that life is full of valleys and also mountaintops. It is sometimes difficult to imagine ever experiencing the mountaintop again. It often seems like we’ll be in this valley for the rest of our lives. Maybe we are called to experience God and the blessings in valley and maybe they will be our own unique mountaintop experiences. Keller writes in his book… ‘just as water can only flow in a ditch or channel or valley—so in the Christian’s career the life of God can only flow in blessing through the valleys that have been carved and cut into our own lives by excruciating experiences’. 4b “I will fear no evil, for you are with me;” Knowing that the shepherd is always present means that the sheep don’t need to fear. The same has to be true for us. However, we are prone to fear in spite of knowing God is near. My heart was full of fear in the early days of our son’s accident. Fear does horrible things to us. I couldn’t sleep, eat, concentrate and I would experience palpitations and sweating as I lay at night wondering what on earth has happened to us.  Many times in scripture we are told to ‘fear not’ or ‘do not be afraid’. God is not saying this because our problems are trivial and nothing to be concerned about. No, He says this because He is near watching out for us.  4c “your rod and your staff, they comfort me”. Keller writes “ the rod was, in fact, an extension of the owner’s right arm. It is basically a symbol of power, authority and defence. Think of Moses’ rod when dealing with Pharaoh and how it was used to show what God had invested in him.  The rod  is used for discipline. I’ve often wondered that maybe God is disciplining me and has brought this horrible thing upon us to teach us something. That is open to huge debate. However, discipline is a good thing when used correctly and at the right time. Knowing God uses a staff to exercise His right over us, does bring comfort even though at times it hurts as all discipline does.  Hebrews 12:11  “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it”  NIV  The staff  speaks of all that is longsuffering and kind, i.e His concern for the sheep.  If a sheep becomes wayward and has gone off track, the shepherd will gently guide it back into the fold. He draws the sheep together into an intimate relationship. God does the same with us as His children.  I must say, I have felt very alone and isolated and sometimes still do at times, to be honest. However, we are promised that comfort and help can be found through the presence of the Holy Spirit.  John 14:26  “But the Helper, the comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you”. The King James translates helper as comforter. Paraclete in Greek can be helper, comforter, advocate. He is the One who comes alongside to bring the help and comfort we need at the time.  This verse brings out God’s complete and utter care for us in the most darkest of times.  Prayer  - Dear Father, Thank You that in our darkest moments You can still be found. In fact it’s when times are really dark that You are standing right by. Help us all to know that, to experience that when times are tough. Thank You that You walk with us on the journey before us. Amen  I am grateful to Phillip Keller for the insight I have gleaned from his book ‘A shepherd looks at Psalm 23’.

5a “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;” What do tables have to do with sheep?  The high mountain country are known as Alplands or Tablelands. The Spanish word ‘mesas’ is table in English. The high plateaus of the sheep ranges are referred to as mesas.  So it may be seen that what David referred to as a table was actually the entire high summer range. The shepherd goes before the sheep and prepares this place, this table. So often in scripture we are told that God goes before us.  Deut 31:8   “It is the LORD who goes before you.  He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. ” Exodus 13:21   “And the LORD went before them  by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.” Micah 2:13  “ He who opens the breach goes up before them;  they break through and pass the gate, going out by it. Their king passes on before them , the LORD at their head.” The shepherd has a grazing program. He checks out for poisonous weeds. If the sheep were to eat any of these weeds it could be fatal. He also looks for any predators that may be lurking. The shepherd will hunt them down to make sure his sheep will dwell in safety, in peace.  When struggling or suffering, it may be tempting for us to feed on things that aren’t good. Things that can make us sick. May we trust that the good shepherd will go before us, to protect us from those things that so easily ensnare us.  Our greatest enemy, Satan is prowling around to destroy us. God knows his every move. Satan is only allowed a certain lead. Think of Job and how God allowed certain things to happen to him but he couldn’t take his life.  I often feel that Satan has destroyed my life, that he has stolen so much from me and God has somehow allowed it. But ultimately God IS in control, He DOES go before me, even if at times, it doesn’t feel like or look like it.  Keller writes  “At all times we would be wise to walk a little closer to Christ. this is one sure place of safety. It was always the distant sheep, the roamers, the wanderers that were picked off by the predators in an unsuspecting moment”. Maybe on the day of our dear son’s accident I was wandering, roaming. Could it have been an attack of the enemy? To this day, I still don’t know, but I do take encouragement by something Keller writes… “Just because the shepherd has gone ahead and made every possible provision for the safety and welfare of his sheep while they are on the summer range does not mean they will not have problems there. Predators can still attack, poisonous weeds can still grow, storms and gales can still come swirling up over the peaks, and a dozen other hazards can haunt the high country”.  Just like a weed that can pop up overnight so too can disastrous things happen just out of the blue. It’s happened to us. We weren’t expecting it. No one warned us about it. In a split second our lives changed. We just need to trust God in this situation knowing that He does prepare and that He is with us when the attacks come out of nowhere.  Prayer - Dear Lord, Thank You that You are the ‘God who is there’. You promise to never leave us nor forsake us. Help us to trust even when things are seemingly dire. Amen  I am grateful to Phillip Keller for the insight I have gleaned from his book ‘A shepherd looks at Psalm 23’.

v.1a The Lord is my shepherd   When someone is plunged into the depths of suffering they must cling onto what they know.   For 32 years I have known the Lord through thick and thin. 2 years ago that ‘knowing’ was put to the ultimate test. I knew The Lord and knew He was my shepherd but when faced with the trial that was put before us, there were times when My Lord and My shepherd felt far from close.   Having said that we must always come back to the Word of God and declare that the Lord is truly my shepherd. Let’s take a moment and to look at exactly what this means and looks like in real life.   Who is this Lord that David declared to be his shepherd? This is none other that Yahweh, the God of Israel. Jesus, God incarnate declared that He was the Good Shepherd. John 10v11   Through suffering, I need to remind myself that this isn’t just any shepherd that I know, but it is the Lord Himself. He is the one that is deeply concerned about our well being. Shepherds look after sheep and we are likened to sheep in the Bible. Sheep require constant care. A good shepherd gives the proper care. In fact a good shepherd will lay down his life for the sheep.   God gives us both His attention and affection. He loves us deeply no matter what we are going through in life. He delights in caring for us and watches over us. He makes us His own and calls us by name. He has chosen us and us bought us with a price.   The shepherd puts a distinctive mark which he cuts into one of the ears of the sheep. Even at a distance it is easy to determine whom the sheep belongs to.   I have to remind myself again that in deepest suffering that I still belong to Him. He is mine and I am His.   v.1b I shall not want   When we truly know the shepherd there is no want. This is a tough one. Most days I have wants. I want my son to be restored. I want things the way they used to be. I want us to be happy and content. I want life so much easier and on and on I can go. The idea here is that because the Lord is my shepherd I should not be lacking anything, I should be utterly contented. Because it’s not about my circumstances, but about the Lord who is the Good Shepherd. Because of that I should not be desiring or craving anything more.   I have to confess and as I stated earlier that my ‘knowing’ was put to the ultimate test. because it was put to the test and still is at times that I do have moments of craving and desiring what I want.   Contentment should be the hallmark of every sheep and so often I have to ask the Lord to forgive me of being anything but.   I’m not saying that all desire is bad. Desiring my son to be able to walk and talk again is a good thing. The issue comes when it takes my focus off of the Good shepherd and then I enter into discontentment and want.   Let’s be reminded that this Shepherd is always on the look out for us. “I know that He who watches over me neither slumbers nor sleeps” Psalm 121v4 Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that you are constant in Your love and care for us. Our feelings sometimes get in the way of this fact. Help us to think more about that love and care in the coming days, especially when we are feeling alone and hopeless. Amen   I am grateful to Phillip Keller for the insight I have gleaned from his book ‘A shepherd looks at Psalm 23’.

We have probably all seen clips from movies where someone is hanging off the edge of a cliff or building, and holding on for dear life. Some make it and some don’t.  Life can be like that at times. We are literally holding on. What we hold on to will differ for each of us. For me, my faith in Christ is what I hold onto. There are times when I’m holding on firmly and feel safe, and there are times when I feel I have lost my grip and am just barely hanging on by my fingertips.  But surely you can only hang on for so long with your fingertips and then that’s it.  Where is God whilst I’m hanging on for dear life? Does He just look on or take delight in seeing His children in such desperate situations? One would certainly hope not and that’s never been my view of God over the years.  When we feel like we only have our fingertips left to hang on with, He is actually there beneath making sure we don’t fall, that we don’t drop.  Deut 33:27  “The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, ‘Destroy.” The question that sometimes rages in my mind is why do some people seem to drop and not make it? Is it because they gave up on God? Did God really let them down and fail them? Were they not ‘saved’’ after all? I wish I knew the answers.  There does seem to be an element of us doing our part, even if it is just literally hanging on by our fingertips with any faith that we have. Is there an element of giving God something to work with even if it is minuscule? Here is a quote from a well known, respected Christian teacher, “You want to know whether your faith is real? In your darkest hour, when you run to the loving Father and pour out your heart, you are crying, ‘Abba Father!’ That’s the evidence that the Spirit is in you. Only truly saved believers do that”.  This quote gives us the idea that if one gives up and doesn’t make it, it’s because they weren’t truly saved. I’m not sure I would go along with that. I’ve often heard it said that if we do our part then God will do His. But it appears that we can only do our part if we are truly saved and the Holy Spirit is working in our lives. Therefore the fingertip faith that we have is the Holy Spirit at work in us, He helps us to hang on, according to one view.  In my own personal trials over the last two years or so it has been said to me, ‘God has got you’. ‘He won’t let you go’, and so forth. Those saying do lend themselves to the ‘once saved always saved’ understanding.  Is it God? is it me? Why does it have to be one or the other? My understanding is that we work out what God works in. So even in my darkest times, God is working in me. However, I do have to somehow respond to that working. If we think about someone who is drowning in the river. We can throw out a rope for them to grab a hold of. But they might not be able to, or simply don’t want to be saved. Does it mean that this person lost faith or wasn’t a Christian any longer?  These are serious questions that need careful, thoughtful answers. I’ve heard Christians say that someone is in hell because they committed suicide. I personally believe that God is a lot more gracious and merciful than we can ever know.  If someone’s fingertips finally slip then God has them either way. Losing our grip in this life is not a sign of weakness or even a sign that we lost faith. These are big and real questions. Many of us may have suffered the loss of a loved one through illness, suicide or tragedy. Many of us struggle to hold on in our own day to day faith when trials and testing comes. Let’s be slow to talk about strong faith and weak faith. The seemingly weak are or were probably a lot stronger than we gave or give them credit for.  Both in life and in death the everlasting arms of God remain. In life and death, He is our dwelling place.  Prayer  - Dear Lord and Father, help us to feel safe in Your arms. May we, in very dark times, know Your presence. Forgive me and us for saying and thinking wrong things both about You and those  around us who are struggling. Amen

When something tragic happens we more often than not ask the question why? There have been countless times in our journey when we ask the same question of Nathanael’s life changing accident. Last year a Christian family from Croydon experienced the death of their 15 year old daughter. Eliyanna Adnam was stabbed to death as she got off the bus to school. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-66942668 The family said “Eliyanna was a beautiful person inside and out who loved Jesus. She was intelligent, thoughtful, kind and had a bright future ahead.” A friend of the family said the couple hosted weekly Bible Study groups in their Croydon home. “They are the kindest people you could ever come across,” she said. WHY? No-one can really answer the question why? and no answer will ever fully satisfy. From a Christian perspective we know that we are all fallen human beings and we do things that are in opposition to God’s will. Eliyanna’s parents said "Our hearts are broken and we are overwhelmed by sorrow and grief. Our faith in the Lord is strengthening us”. Some people say that time is a healer. There may be some truth in that, however the ‘why’ question still rings loud for many even years later. Even Jesus asks the ‘why’ question. “My God, My God why have you forsaken Me?”  Matthew 27:46 The psalmist asks “Why, my soul, are you downcast?Why so disturbed within me?“ Psalm 42:11a The answer to his ‘why’ is found in the rest of the verse… “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:11b When you’re struggling deeply with a life changing situation as Eliyanna’s parents found themselves and as we found ourselves in, it is hard to get away from questioning. Yes, we can hope in God, yes, we can praise Him, even though that will be so difficult in the earliest days of bereavement. But the why will never fade. The why of Nathanael’s horrific accident will be with us until we reach the end of this life. Traumatic things happen in this life. They happen everywhere in this world, in our own city’s, none are immune. These happenings make us question and ask ‘why’? God may never answer our why’s. The sad thing is, is that many people turn away from wanting to know a God who both allows horrific things to happen and at the same time gives no valid reason for them happening. I have no easy answers for people who want the ‘why’ question answered and we should not try to give simple pat answers. But the reality is that if we live life constantly asking ‘why’ we are probably going to end up sad, bitter, hopeless and ultimately without God. When God is in focus, we can know something of the past, the present and the future. The Bible says that He is the first and the last. He is the God who was and is and is to come Rev 1:8. We don’t know the why of Nathanael’s tragic accident and Eliyanna’s parents don’t know the why of their daughters horrific death. But we both know that one day our children will be made completely whole and will have eternal life, life in abundance as Jesus promised in John 10:10. For those of us who have suffered terrible things we can look forward to the abundance of life that Jesus promises only when He returns and makes all things new. Then I’m sure our why’s will all make sense. Prayer - Father, You are the God who knows all things. We know and understand so little. Please help us as frail humans beings. Help us in our why’s, with our doubts. May we find the hope that we need in the midst of trials and tribulations. Amen.

In this second part on healing we take a look at Isaiah 53 and Matthew 8 as well as Romans 8. The first two scriptures are used often to point to our promise of healing. Please have a listen and comment if you have any questions or comments to add to this subject matter. Prayer - Dear Lord, We thank you for what you have done for through your death and resurrection. Thank You that we have so much to look forward to in the life to come. May we continue to seek You and know Your good and perfect will for each of our lives. Amen

As I write this things are still very tough, I can’t always explain how much this is rough, Yet I hang on to the Lord through thick and thin, Asking Him to carry us knowing ultimately we will win. I’ve written blogs that haven’t been seen, Often so negative depending how I lean, There are also glimmers of hope as I write, All the time not wanting to sound trite. As I think back over the years, So many memories that bring me tears, I’ve seen and known the goodness of God, May we know again that goodness from whence we once trod. Perseverance often comes up in God’s Word, For those who have suffered and have certainly been floored, The promise of a crown of life is to those who endure, and it’s helpful to look to those who have gone before. Lord help us to that end, for this is our hope, Looking to You is the only way that we can cope, May you aid us in the trouble and in the strife, As we journey through this turbulent life. Someone recently said to me….. trust, Even though that is often difficult, I know I must, He knows the beginning and the end, So may we lift our hands in surrender and bend. Alan Howes

John 15v1-2 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit”. Pruning is an essential part of gardening. It should also be an essential part of our own lives each and every day. There are many different ways to prune in the garden. We prune to remove branches that are crossing. We prune to improve the overall appearance of the plant. We prune to remove dead wood that is no longer producing anything. We prune to encourage bigger, better fruit/blossom. In the midst of suffering it can be difficult to find the time, energy and indeed motivation to get rid of “stuff” in our lives that is getting in the way of growth. Self pity for example is something that many of us go through when dealing with issues in our lives. Ultimately it doesn’t produce anything that is good. Yet, when we’re in that place of self pity we feel in our comfort zone. We feel it's the place that is going to help us through. And maybe it does momentarily, but in the long run it bears no lasting fruit. One has to find a way, with God’s help to prune that piece out of lives. Sometimes these things take time and don’t happen overnight. In this short video I’m going to show you how to prune dead wood from a couple of my favourite shrubs. Japanese acer and Cotinus, commonly known as the smoke bush.

It’s a well known and proven fact that spending time in the garden can be very therapeutic. Gardening can help our bodies physically with exercise and fresh air and mentally by the release of serotonin and endorphins - our body’s natural feel-good hormones that promote mental wellbeing. Here are a few ideas to help us in the garden to draw near to God and appreciate His creation: Look at each flower. Marvel at their design. They are all unique and are beautiful in their own way. Maybe cut some flowers to take inside Breathe in the fragrance of highly scented flowers Watch the wildlife all around the garden. Look for butterflies, hover flies, ladybirds and bees. How can you bring more wildlife in? Sow seeds, both flower and vegetable. Watch them grow and enjoy their beauty and their taste. ‘There is a direct correlation between gardening and mental health, not just to maintain good mental health but to repair it as well - that's anything in the gamut from depression to serious brain damage, schizophrenia or autism’. Monty Don Mow the lawn. Smell the freshly cut grass. If you enjoy stripes, take delight in mowing in straight lines. Get busy by cutting the hedges. There’s something quite satisfying in seeing the end result of a hedge that was uneven and scruffy become straight with clean cut edges. Weed and tidy around plants to keep them healthy and looking good. Take time to just relax in the garden even if it’s for five or ten minutes. Take time to give thanks to the Creator. If you don’t have a garden then visit a green space near you, breathe deeply and enjoy the trees. Or if you have room for a couple of pots, then fill them with your favourite plants. It will give you something to grow, enjoy, look after and you will reap the benefits. Prayer - Thank You Lord for the beauty of Your creation all around us. Help us to stop and take a moment everyday to enjoy that which you have freely given us. Amen

Have you ever stopped a moment to take a look at the grandeur of a tree? Trees can easily be overlooked. They’re just there and slowly get on with life in the background of everything else. The Bible has a lot to say about trees. In fact the Bible is bookmarked by two trees in Genesis and Revelation. We live between those two trees. I highly recommend Shane Wood’s excellent book ‘Between Two Trees’ about our transformation from death to life. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Between-Two-Trees-Transformation-Death/dp/1684260701/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1694067119&sr=8-1 Trees are mentioned throughout the whole Bible. In fact apart from God and people, trees are the most mentioned living thing in the Bible. What is God trying to convey to us with so much attention on trees? Isaiah 55:12 says “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands". ESV 1 Chron 16:33 reads “Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy in the presence of the LORD; For He is coming to judge the earth.” NASB Trees singing and clapping? Question - How often do we sing and clap before the Lord? When you’re suffering, probably one of the last things you feel like doing is singing and clapping. But even trees suffer. They can suffer from drought, wind rock, disease and dieback and yet the Bible portrays this wonderful species as clapping and singing. Let ALL creation praise the Lord! and rejoice when things are tough. Psalm 52:8 says “But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever.” NASB Whatever our situation, when we are in the house of God, and I don’t mean going to Church on a Sunday or sabbath, I mean in His family, His presence, His care, we can trust, and trust can, or should, result in rejoicing. The Apostle Paul encourages us to rejoice in the Lord Phil 4:4 reads “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” NIV Always rejoicing does not mean that we become stoic and just refuse to admit our lot. But in the midst of our lot, our suffering, we can rejoice. We rejoice with and by His Spirit in us and alongside ALL creation. Isaiah 41:19-20 says, “I will put the cedar in the wilderness, The acacia and the myrtle and the olive tree; I will place the juniper in the desert Together with the box tree and the cypress, That they may see and recognize, And consider and gain insight as well, That the hand of the Lord has done this, And the Holy One of Israel has created it.” NASB We see here that God is planting/placing trees in places that we probably wouldn’t plant them or anything for that matter. The wilderness and the desert, places that can be very hot, barren and dry. Yet these trees do well in these “suffering” conditions. Some juniper trees can incredibly grow out of a rock. They grow very slowly and can take 50 years to get to a height of 5ft but its root system is its secret reaching out over 100 feet to find moisture. If you think you’re progressing slowly in your life then think about the juniper tree, be patient where God has planted you. Juniper tree The key for all of us who are suffering under difficult circumstances, is to tap into the Living Water of God. “…but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.” John 4:14 NKJV “Whoever believes in me,” as Scripture says, “rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:38 NIV If we can draw from Him then we can survive in this place and season and we can grow, however slow it may be. It’s in those places that resilience is birthed. It’s in those places that we have to put our roots down incredibly deep. It has been said that we should flourish were we are planted. Maybe you, like us, have been placed/planted in difficult circumstances. God by His Spirit will help in those difficult times. He will cause growth in the proper time. Let us trust Him even when all the odds seem stacked against us. When we feel isolated and alone, let us draw from Him, just as the juniper puts its roots down deep to find life giving water. Why not go outside today and take a moment to look at the trees. How strong, how awesome, how majestic they are. Some of them have endured years and years of the elements, surviving them all and stand tall and strong as a witness of that. With God, we too, can survive the things this life hands us. Let’s not worship creation but rather look beyond it to the one who sustains it all, including you and I. Prayer - Lord, we thank You for allowing us to share in Your wonderful creation. It teaches us so much and indeed declares Your mighty handiwork. Help us to draw from Your life giving Spirit as the trees draw water from far below. Amen

Did you know, looking at certain images, colours and shapes within pictures can have a calming effect when you’re stressed? Natural Greenery Green is a naturally soothing calm colour. Looking at images that take us back into the freshness of nature can calm our busy minds. 2. Landscapes According to a study, looking at images of natural landscape reduces activity in the brain’s orbitofrontal cortex that regulates emotion. This can help reduce anxiety and worry. 3. Repeating patterns Gazing at images of interesting repeating patterns found in nature such as shells, flowers and leaves or man made designs such as tiles, fabrics and architecture can help reduce our stress and cause relaxation. 4. Waterscapes A survey study in 2021 showed a positive link between ocean views and better mental health. Increased views of blue space such as seascapes and skies are closely associated with lessening stress. 5. Cuteness There’s nothing like the cute factor to bring out the “aaaaahhhhhh” in us all lifting and improving our mood, helping us to pause and smile in times of stress.

When one has been wounded badly, you sometimes wonder if it’s possible to get up and get going again. Two years ago we were in that place. What on earth is life going to look like after such a tragic event in our lives? It is said that time is a healer and therefore you would think that things become easier over time. To be honest, there are some days when I, especially feel like I’ve gone back two years and life seems unbearable and difficult to cope. However, I do need to remind myself that it’s not about the pace I’m travelling at but rather the fact that I am still travelling. Yes, there may well be times when it’s two steps forward and one back. It could even be one step forward and two back some days. But as long as we keep going we will get there. Just like the snail in the caption above. The snail perseveres in order to get to the ark. Let’s not take this too literally, but it certainly does highlight a point. So often people ask how I’m doing and I’ll reply ‘I’m getting there’ and often continue by saying ‘wherever “there” is’. The ‘there’ is different for all of those who are struggling. For the snail it was the ark. For us the ‘there’ in this life is an unknown. BUT ultimately we know where we’re heading. We’re going to spend eternity with God on a new heavens and new earth. That’s the ultimate goal. How wonderful that will be. The ark in the Bible is type of Jesus. Once we’re in the ark, once we’re in Jesus, we’re safe from the impending judgment. That’s good news and one that I need to remind myself of at times. Just like Noah and his family as the water began to rise and waters were contrary so with us life can be very uncertain even when we’re in the ark of Jesus. Just because we know and have God in our lives we still need to keep persevering each and every day. It will be very slow and uncertain at times but we keep going knowing the outcome. “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12 ESV My passion has wained over the last two years and my heart has grown cold in many ways. But my prayer is that God will renew them again in our day. Habakkuk 3:2 As I write this, an old song comes to mind that I share here… We can keep persevering reminding ourselves of God’s goodness in the past through all the up’s and downs and that God is a master of creating order out of chaos. So be it Lord. Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that you keep us. Please help us to never give up and to keep going because this is two way. You expect us to play our part even when we are rock bottom knowing that You are there with us at the bottom. Renew the things in our lives that need renewing so that we can be the people You want us to be. Amen