The Resting Place

Where Is God During Hard Times?

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27 ESV

Have you ever wondered where God is during your hard times, sorrow, or pain? Do you wonder if He is just sitting there letting you endure the trauma you feel? Do you feel you need to go searching for Him? Allow me to share what I’ve discovered.

One day, several years after my sweet daughter, Shelly had gone to Heaven, I sat down and listed all the blessings and ways that God had helped to get us through such a traumatic time in our family. For me, it was comforting to recount the many ways His loving hand had worked on our behalf, even amid the pain and deep sadness of those 17 1/2 months of Shelly’s illness and the ensuing months and years after her passing. While my heart will always hurt because of Shelly’s absence, and while I still have moments that wreck me temporarily, I know that I will always have shelter from the hard places in life. Simply put, my HOPE is in the Lord. I will never be alone, for He is always with me.

Back to the beginning question, “Where is God during our hard times, sorrow, or pain?” He is right beside us! I have found that the only thing we can be certain of during the good and the not-so-good moments or seasons that come into our lives is that through faith and trust in Jesus, we WILL experience God’s presence, peace, and faithfulness. He is with us every step of the way and will bring comfort to our hearts. This truth remains above all else: God’s peace will be with us through every circumstance. Our struggles in life will change, but our focus should not.

God is the author of our story, through all seasons. Wherever your station in life, if you’re alive, He’s not finished writing your story. To me, that reality in my life IS the Good News of the day and I’m looking forward to the next chapter!

Jehovah Shalom – The LORD is Peace.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, How thankful we are that You are our peace. You are for us, and you are with us. Even though there are times of great sorrow and pain when we might not sense Your presence, Father we know, based on Your Word and our total trust in You, that Your presence goes before us. We simply could not make it without knowing that. Help us to share Your love and light with those placed in our daily walk of life. May we all be good representatives of Jesus Christ, our Savior, and Lord. I pray this in His name, and that He will always receive the glory and honor. Amen.

Someone We Can Trust

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

Years ago, probably in the 1990s, my husband and I enjoyed watching the popular sitcom, “Home Improvement” on TV. In the show, Tim Taylor, played by comedian Tim Allen, was characterized as a cocky, overambitious, accident-prone know-it-all. Tim joked around a lot, even at inappropriate times, much to the dismay of his wife, Jill.

On the show, Tim was a former top salesman for Binford Tools, and the “Home Improvement” show was based around his Binford-sponsored show, “Tool Time.” It was like a show within a show.

Because Tim was accident-prone as a handyman, there were often disasters on and off the set. Many “Tool Time” viewers assumed that the accidents on the show were done on purpose to demonstrate the consequences of using tools improperly. However, many of Tim’s accidents were caused by his devices being used in an over-the-top manner, designed to illustrate his mantra, “More power!”

While going down memory lane with this show, I also thought about Tim’s neighbor, Wilson W. Wilson, Jr. who was often the go-to guy for solving Tim’s many, and frequent problems. While the two engaged in conversation as Tim verbally grappled with his problems, Wilson’s eyes and forehead were only visible as he stood on the other side of Tim’s backyard fence. The viewers never saw his face; just another little quirky aspect of the show. Wilson was a strange kind of character but usually offered sage advice to Tim. In a funny kind of way, I liked his character a lot.

I got to thinking how we’d all probably like to have a trusted neighbor like Wilson on the other side of the fence, always there for us; and someone who has the wisdom we often need. In reality, that usually isn’t the case. But, we do have Someone. So, let’s take these thoughts to a much higher level, if we may.

Although we have never seen the face of God, He has given us many ways to recognize Him. He has the greatest wisdom anywhere. Talk about sage advice! He’s got it! He is always working behind the scenes in ways we don’t know about and many times don’t understand. He has a good plan for each of us, our family members, and our friends. Things might not point that way, but we must remain trustful, hopeful, prayerful, optimistic, and faithful to our beliefs and what we know to be His truth. He never leaves us and is always there to help us in those situations of life where we need extra strength and wisdom.

We all have needs and concerns and we, too, grapple with hard places in our lives. I am confident, based on God’s Word, that He sees each of His children and He knows what we are going through. We will never be alone in our hard seasons of life. Through Jesus and the Holy Spirit, He will bring peace, guidance, comfort, and the wisdom we need to continue to let our light shine in the darkness of any situation that we face. Only He can do that!

Prayer: Dear God, we thank You for being our perfect Heavenly Father. How comforting it is to know that we can call on You at any time day or night. I pray for all who are experiencing trying times; and who need someone they can trust. May they lift their concerns and hearts upward to You, the only One who will give them security, hope, and the peace they need to go forward. We pray this in the name of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Check Your Baggage

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Several years ago, Ray and I flew to Miami, FL to board a cruise ship bound for the Southern Caribbean. Since I have always been guilty of overpacking for trips, our luggage was already packed to the hilt when we checked in at the Austin airport. Because I’m a contingency planner, I always want to have extra clothes, etc. just in case I need them. Many times I carry things I never use that end up not benefiting me during the trip, and I am left with the extra burden of having to unpack these things when I return home.

During the cruise week, I went about buying little gifts here and there for the grandkids. Having promised our granddaughter Sophie some sea shells from the Caribbean, I found lots of large conch shells on the beach in Turks & Caicos. Even though they were heavy, I knew that Sophie would love them! By the time our week was over, I had collected quite a bit more than I had planned on taking home.

When the cruise ended, we returned to the Miami airport only to find at check-in that our luggage was way over the acceptable weight limit. Not wanting to pay the extra fee, we did what we had never done before—rolled our suitcases over to a table that was there for folks like us (me, really). There we began to unpack and dispose of those things we considered non-essential. As we repacked, I made sure to include a few of those pretty shells for Sophie. 🐚 Finally, after about 20 minutes of working feverishly to correct course, we had the weight back to 50 pounds and the threat of having to pay an additional fee was over.

The story above reminds me of another type of baggage we humans are sometimes prone to carry on our shoulders and in our hearts. Heavy bags of Guilt. Shame. Anger. Resentment. Unforgiveness. Hurt. Grief. Disappointment. Jealousy. Negativity. There are many more I could list, but I’ll stop there. From experience, I’ve learned that it is much better to take a good look at what bags are needed, versus those that will never be beneficial for our spiritual and/or emotional health. The things that hinder our relationship with God and others have no place remaining with us. In letting go, we will experience the freedom of never being weighed down by the heaviness of our emotional baggage. Laying it down and checking it permanently in at the foot of the cross will bring unimaginable peace.

I pray that all who read this have only the essential amount of luggage needed to make your trip through life more enjoyable. May you never be constrained by the heaviness of holding on to that which won’t be of any benefit to you on life’s journey.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, through Your unfailing love, we marvel at how You stand ready to rid us of the heavy loads we sometimes carry. Father, help us to leave all things that so easily beset us at the foot of the cross. Give us the strength to never take them up again, knowing that You sent Jesus for this very reason—that we might be free from anything that hinders our walk with You. We can never thank You enough for all You’ve done for us. I pray these things in the name of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, who died for our sins past, present, and future. Amen.

More Than Enough

“Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” Psalm 90:1-2 ESV

As I read the above verse of scripture, I am encouraged when I think back over what has now been many years of my life. I remember and am thankful that God has helped and protected me through His mercy and goodness. He has provided more than enough for my needs during times of struggle, hardships, and times when I didn’t know which way to turn. He has been there to guide me toward what is best for me even when I didn’t always give Him my best. It has been through those super hard times of grief and sorrow that He has comforted me as no one else could ever do. I can never thank Him enough for loving me that much!

I have found that regardless of where we are in life—in times of difficulty or the calmer seasons, God will meet us right where we are. As we remember all He has done for us in the past, we are encouraged and strengthened with renewed hope for the future.

Today will be a brighter day as we keep our hearts and minds on the main thing—following the way that leads to peace and comfort no matter what comes our way. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ is as close as the mention of His name.

Prayer: Father we thank you for being more than enough. To know that You are with us when we face challenges in life brings peace and hope for better days ahead. It is during those hard seasons that we can face our struggles knowing that we are never alone. Help us to always honor you in all we do. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Dark Times Never Last

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

“Most of the time, God doesn’t reveal what’s next—and we can’t begin to anticipate what the future holds. But most of us never learn to walk by faith until we walk in the dark. So, if it’s dark, keep walking and trusting. Every step you walk with Jesus will lead you to where He has planned for you to be.” Jennifer Rothschild

I have found the above to be true. Dark times have taught me a lot about trusting and leaning on the only One (Jesus) who has and will always carry me through. It’s all about trusting Him first, and then embracing whatever His plan for my life involves—then walking in faith toward it. As I apply Jeremiah 29:11 to my life, there is peace in knowing that my life is in His hands.

God is so good and I’m thankful that He is always with us. While others may fail us, He never will. His mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness!

Prayer: Thank You, Heavenly Father for always being there for us. There is no one like You and we humbly recognize Your power and majesty. You turn our dark moments into days of sunshine through Jesus who died for our sins. Please help us to look to You when we doubt, grieve, or feel discouraged. May we remember Your many promises to love and care for us, to direct us, and to strengthen us. We love You and can never thank You enough for the many blessings brought to us through Your grace and kindness. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Through It All

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Isaiah 43:2-3

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1

What a powerful thought as I am reminded that amidst trials and hardships, Jesus has always been my source of strength. It is through these times that I have learned to depend upon His Word and more fully rely on Him as my help.

God does not always bring us around storms, but walks with us through those times so that we might learn to trust Him more fully. As the words to the song “Through It All” say, “If we never had a problem, then we would not know that God could solve them, nor would we know what faith in Him could do.”

I continue lean on and trust Jesus as He directs me in ways that I could never have imagined. He is my total source of strength. I pray that He is the source of your strength today as well.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for staying beside us through the tough times. Help those who may be going through such a time to fully rely on You for their strength. May they place their trust in Christ alone. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Forever Ours

“You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.” Psalm 59:17

How uplifting and encouraging it is to see those who have been tested in the crucible of crisis going forward in faith. I can think of many who have served, or currently serve as role models for me in this area of my faith walk. Their experiences serve to teach that God will ALWAYS provide the strength and encouragement needed when facing life’s battles or during times of uncertainty.

Today, there is a calm assurance that God will never abandon His people. He will forever be our Hope, our stronghold, our refuge, and our strength. He will give us the desire to continue living out our lives for Him. We don’t deserve such love, but this is the nature of who He is because He loves us more than we could ever imagine. Through His Word, we are able to consistently draw from the well containing His never-ending supply of living water.

Enjoy this day you’ve been given. Pray for those around you who are currently facing their own personal crisis. Ask the Lord to make you a channel of blessing to someone today. My prayer is that out of your life, Jesus will shine.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for this beautiful day, created by You, for our pleasure and Your good purposes. Help us to make a difference in someone’s life as we go through the traffic lanes of our life today. Give us an abundance of Your love, joy, peace, compassion, and kindness—enough to share with others. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Keep Your Focus On God

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27

“God’s peace will be with us through every circumstance. Our struggles in life will change, but our focus should not. God is the author of our story and He is not yet finished writing it. That IS the Good News of the day.” Carolyn Canizales, November, 2010

The paragraph above is a little excerpt from something I wrote 13 years ago. I LOVE that the things of God NEVER change. Our circumstances come and go, but He remains the Great I Am!

When I wrote those thoughts, I had no idea how my circumstances would change some five years later. I did not know that my only biological child, my daughter, Shelly, would be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, fight a valiant battle for 17 1/2 months, only to succumb to its ravages. I did not know the depth of grief I would experience and sometimes still do.

I also did not know the healing and blessings that would come to me during and after this traumatic season of my life. God has been so good to restore joy in my heart. As I interact with the little ones in our family who have been born since that dark period in my life, I see that God continues to write a beautiful story for me. He has also lavished His love upon me by giving wonderful family members and friends who have stood by me through thick and thin. I will forever cherish each one.

Yes, there are circumstances I’d rather have skipped, but truthfully, the hard times have served to bring me closer to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Realizing I cannot make it on my own, I lean into His strength and guidance all the more. That’s exactly where He wants me to be, and I’m so thankful for that.

Friends, whatever you are feeling today, don’t let your circumstances pull you away from a strong dependence on God. The closer you get to Him, the more you will realize that He has been there all along. And…..that He will never leave you!

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, how we love You! You are the perfect One to save, love, and guide us. We aren’t meant to know what’s ahead. If we did, we could not bear it. But in Your love and power, You beckon us to trust You daily for things seen and unseen. In our dependency on You, we will have the strength to be aware of the needs and cares of others. Help us to love and serve You as those who have been through pain and difficulties, but have come out shining even more brightly for Jesus. I pray this in His mighty name. Amen.

Making a List

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27

“Jehovah Shalom – The LORD is Peace. Where is God in our plight or pain? We must remember that He is with us every step of the way and will bring peace, not fear, to our hearts.” 11-28-13

I wrote the above paragraph nine years ago. As I once again read the message it holds, I began to focus on the peace of God that I have experienced in the midst of challenging times.

As a spiritual exercise, I listed all of the hard things within these last nine years—loss of loved ones, health related issues of self and spouse, adjusting to a new normal in my daily life, needing supernatural strength, having to make some hard choices that personally I didn’t want to make, some things too personal to post, and many other events that have changed my life in ways I would never have dreamed. The list was long. But God’s peace and presence was with me during these times.

After listing the tough times, I then listed the untold blessings that have come my way these last nine years. There have been such wonderful moments that are too numerous to write in this post.

There’s one thing for certain about the good and the not-so-good moments or seasons that come into our lives. It is through our faith and trust in Jesus, that we WILL experience God’s presence, peace, and faithfulness.

Perhaps today, you would want to remember those life events of the past few years. I know some can be sad, but have found that we can see the blessings intertwined into those moments, as well. Sometimes, it is a very bittersweet place to be, but if we look, it’s a place where we are able to see a fraction of our life from God’s perspective. We are able to catch a glimpse of how He continues to lavish His love on us.

My prayer today is that you will remember the peace you’ve felt through your challenging times and know beyond a doubt that your faith sustained you, and that it still does, even up to this very moment in time.

The truth remains that God’s peace will be with us through every circumstance. Our struggles in life will change, but our focus should not. God is the author of our story and He is not yet finished writing it. That IS the Good News of the day.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, how comforting it is to know and experience the peace You bring to every situation that we have ever faced or will ever face in life. This world is not our home, for we have a home in Heaven awaiting us of which we can only imagine. Thank You for peace in our hearts that passes all human understanding. Thank You for carrying us through those times of hardships and uncertainty. Thank You for loving us so much that You sent Your only Son to take our sins upon Himself so that we might have the choice of eternal life spent with Him. Help us to focus on the many blessings that You have given us. You are not only a perfect loving Father, but very generous and One who lavishes Your grace upon us. We thank You and can never repay the debt of love we owe. We commit to praise and honor You completely all the days of our life. I pray these things in the name of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

What Does Christmas Mean to You?

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

What does Christmas mean to you?

From my earliest memories, it seems I’ve always known the true meaning of Christmas. My siblings and I were taught about Jesus from childhood, but truthfully, as a little girl, I didn’t have the maturity to fully understand the Greatest Gift of all until I was a bit older.

I did like the idea of Santa and always looked forward to the gifts he brought on Christmas Eve. We never waited until Christmas morning! That was just our family’s tradition.

There were many things we McDaniel’s looked forward to on Christmas Eve. Besides the wonderful food and gifts, we would also build a roaring bonfire for use in popping fireworks, or “firecrackers” as we called them. You’ve never lived until a firecracker goes off in your hand! Oh, that is so painful!!

One Christmas, after I knew where the presents came from, I remember my mother “accidentally” finding a $20 bill inside one of my dad’s old coat pockets in the closet. Although I was no more than 10 years old, I can still see the big smile on my mother’s face. You see, that was her Christmas miracle! Unknown to the kids, there was no money for gifts that year. Mother’s find assured her that each of her children would have a gift waiting for them under the tree on Christmas Eve!

Things didn’t cost much back in the dark ages. $20 would go a long way!! I don’t recall what I got for Christmas that year but have always remembered how excited I was that my baby brother got a big Texaco tanker truck.

My family was not wealthy by any means. We never went without a meal and had what we needed. As children, we somehow understood that our parents were doing the very best they could and we never complained—well, maybe I did when I tired of repetitive peanut butter sandwiches in my school sack lunch.

We were country people and I would not take anything for having grown up that way. Our parents taught us hard work ethics, patriotism, and respect for others. And we were taught about Jesus. Those are gifts that money can’t buy.

As I think back to Christmas 2020, the pandemic was in full swing and we weren’t able to gather as a family. Our table was bare and there was no rushing to get ready. It was different on so many fronts. Still, we were joyful because of the true meaning we held deep in our hearts.

For Christmas 2022, we wait with joyful anticipation for the gift of our family’s presence. We will enjoy a nice meal, watch the little ones beam with excitement, open gifts, and share good fellowship. We will greatly miss those who aren’t able to join us, and those who are celebrating in Heaven. We will always remember their valuable contribution to our family.

A long time ago, I learned that the true meaning of Christmas is NOT about opening presents. It’s about inviting Jesus, the greatest gift ever given to mankind into our hearts.

My prayer for family and friends everywhere is that you will gather with those you love; that you will take the time to reflect and renew your body, mind, and spirit; and that you will accept the Greatest Gift of all freely, humbly, and without reservation. Merry Christmas!

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