I’m not exactly sure what was wrong with me last week, but I was fighting off some big-time discouragement.
It has a little bit to do with lack of sunshine. I have a tendancy to struggle after a long winter with not enough sun in my life. (Plenty of sons…not enough sun…)
Then, a man from church, whose daughter is a friend of mine, died on Thursday from ALS, the same disease that took my mom four and a half years ago.
When I heard the news, I kind of lost it. Feeling the pain of that family…knowing what they’d been through…and what they’ll go through as they continue to grieve…hurts more than I anticipated. My grief seemed to come back fresh again.
But God is good. All the time. And God works through pain…because he is just that amazing and powerful.
I love how God shows himself to us in incredible ways when we’re hurting. How he helps us see parts of him that we can’t see when we’re “fine”.
And I love how God can use the pain we’ve experienced to help others going through something similar.
Today, I’m just grateful for God’s goodness. His consistency and his power and his complete and total care for us, his children.
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What are you grateful for this Gratituesday? Read the details here, write about what you’re thankful for on your blog, then come link up with us here. If you don’t have a blog, please leave a comment letting us know what you’re grateful for.
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Sorry to hear you were fighting discouragement last week, but glad to know God is still good. I have so much to be thankful for…
Toni
I also lost my mother to ALS 5 1/2 years ago, so our family has been down that road too. I miss her a LOT but am thankful she is with the Lord and not suffering anymore. Thanks for sharing that today!
Thank you,Laura for sharing your pain! I thought of you as soon as I heard about Kimball’s death. (((HUGS!!!))) Thank you for continuing to know that GIGATTAATTGIG!!!
You took the words right out of my mouth!
God
Is
Good
All
The
Time
And
All
The
Time
God
Is
Good
This was a beautiful post. It’s wonderful to be able to praise God, even in the midst of a storm. Thanks for writing this, I needed it today.
So I guess that makes me grateful for you! :)
Laura: *cyber hugs*
Thank you for sharing and for being our generous hostess. You’re a great example of remembering Him in the good and the bad times. Thank you!!!!
Sending you hugs!! Thank you for your example of strength and commitment!
May the Lord comfort you! I cannot imagine the hurt you must feel. It is so good to know our Father is there!
Laura;
Thanks for sharing that grief. I too am grieving over a lost son. I am so struggling. God is so gracious to us, even and even more in the midst of a storm.Love and prayers to you.
I am so sorry to hear about your pain. I know that God is good and will get you through this. We are all praying for you. Sometimes it is hard when a person dies but remember she is exactly where she is supposed to be, with our Father. I am grateful for so much in my life and this is the first time I have posted on your site. It was by accident. I came looking for a recipe that someone told me about and saw you host this day. I just wrote about all the things that happened to me yesterday and my post was “Is it Christmas”. I would love for you to read it. I am blessed in my actual physical pain and I know you are blessed too! Thanks for this blog. It is wonderful.
I’ve been reading your blog for quite a while (about a year), but I have clearly missed this about you. I’m so sorry you’ve had to walk through this pain. I’m so grateful with you that you didn’t have to walk through it alone. May He continue to lift you up and give you encouragement this week.
Dear Laura, I send a great big hug your way. Remember always: God is LOVE, He always loves, and should He stop loving us, we would cease to be. I send you a little of that love today.
God Is so good in all he does! I lost my Dad 7 yrs ago…. and not a day goes by that I don’t think of him and miss him! Somedays are harder than others! BUT God is always there to lean on when I feel I can’t be strong enough that day!
Bless you and your family as you continue the path of grief…. and believe that you will see her again some day!
I just started the tradition of Gratituseday. I think it’s a great way to take some time and reflect on all the gifts God has given us. Thank you for hosting Gratituseday!
Thanks for another Tuesday of Gratitude, Laura! I posted about being grateful for the smells around my house today. :)
Yes, God is so good. You know, I read two devotionals this morning and they both had to do with God being faithful to his children in both good times and bad.
I’m grateful for some spring weather and sunshine finding their way over here in Michigan. The winters are much too long indeed.
Thanks for sharing, and allowing God to use you to encourage me!
Thanks so much for doing Gratituesday. I don’t even remember how I found you, but I’m really glad I did.
I think that a lot of times God uses the storms of life to teach us things we might not see otherwise….He is good….and you know, He always brings people into our lives during those particular times too. Great post.
This is my first time participating in Gratituesday. I have recently been dealing with some of the same discouragements after losing a baby at 3 months gestation. As you mentioned, I too have been striving to focus on God. He is good and he does good! Thanks for your encouragement.
Thanks for sharing your discouragement and struggles. God is definitely good all the time!
Oh, yes. I’ve felt the pain of something come back to me in the last week too…it really discouraged me to get back in “that place” again. But God can use my pain for his glory! It’s good to know that I’m not alone :)
Thank you for the encouragement in the midst of my discouragement. It’s good to receive wisdom from the Lord, even from fellow bloggers. Thank you.