“Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”—2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)

In 2 Corinthians, Paul understood that all he needed was God’s grace during his struggles. It is with Him when the weak are made strong. Playing the victim or the blame game isn’t how God can use us when we are going through a difficult time. 

Trust me, when I was pregnant and widowed at the age of 28, I questioned God. Why me? Why us? Why can’t my children have their father in their life? There were days I just wanted to curl up in my bed and hope when I woke up that it was all a bad dream. This wasn’t part of my life plan. What about getting married and living happily ever after? It’s not fair, came out of my mouth many, many times.

I could have let bitterness and anger take root in my heart, but I finally had to accept my reality and make a choice of whether I was going to become a victor or victim of my circumstances. I knew if I chose the latter that I would foster those same qualities in my children. I didn’t want that. There were many days, I wondered how I was going to manage being a single mom.

Once I found Jesus and a faith I didn’t know I had, my mind shifted from, why me? to why not me? Why should I be spared a pain free life? We live in a fallen world where bad things happen to good people and I will never know until I meet my Maker face-to-face why any of that happened, but what I can tell you is that nearly 25 years later, God is still using that tragedy to use me to make a difference in His Kingdom. 

As I look back on my life, I praise Him and see how He has used my suffering to bring glory to His name. I trusted that I would get to the other side and when I did, I knew I would be able to be a comfort to others in similar circumstances. When you are able to let God transform good out of your trials, not only does it honor God, it can also help give your life purpose….at least it did for me.

While writing a book about grief and leading a support group were an integral part of my healing and faith walk, it is the heart of compassion that God gave me that has been the biggest blessing. Through my sadness, He opened (still does) my eyes to broken and hurting people around me. When I feel that nudge to reach out to someone, I do it. I don’t want to miss an opportunity to be able to give someone else the same comfort that God blessed me with through other people (many strangers) during my brokenness. 

It is hard to believe that tomorrow it will be 25 years since my first husband’s death but every year on that day, I am reminded of God’s love, grace and mercy that is available to not just me but every single one of us. Praise God!

 Dear Lord, 

Help me to be a comforter to those around me and in front of me. Thank You that You are close to the broken hearted. I give You the glory that You are able to weave beauty out of sorrow. For those that are going through hardships right now, reveal to them the Living Hope, Jesus Christ. It is in the name of Jesus that I pray these things. Amen. 

June Memory Verse

“Give us today our daily bread.”—Matthew 6:11 

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