I experienced a specific kind of grace-filled surprise the past few years, following a time of unrelenting trauma in my life. In the process, I believe I’ve gotten a clearer view of the subtle and powerful ways the God, who sees me, can handle my pain and move me toward restoration…

Over the past few weeks we have unpacked “The Only Psalm”, (Psalm 62) and listened as David declares God as his Rock, Rest, Rescue and Refuge. He quickly dismantles any dependence on any other “rock” for safety and then exhorts listeners to “pour out your hearts to God” who alone is our Rock, Rest, Rescue and Refuge..

The truth is, there are times when I’d rather do almost anything than discipline myself to do the work of recovery from a hard time in my life. But the nature of the work required for recovery can be surprising…

Letting go essentially means giving up on getting your own way in life—loosening your grip on the way you thought it was supposed to be. If you insist on dictating the terms of your comfort and your restoration, you may be missing the God Who sees you and comes to you in unexpected forms.

Yesterday I closed the devotional with these words: No one person can give another a foolproof guide for surviving painful times in our lives. People are just too different—and the God who sees each of us individually deals with us in different ways.

I believe with my whole heart that God always sees us, always loves us, and is actively, redemptively involved in our lives at any given point, even when terrible, awful things have turned our lives upside down….

Yesterday, I closed the devotional with these questions: And in the midst of it all is that cry of Who: “Who is this God Who has asked me to trust Him, Who promises to be with me and care for me and redeem and restore me?

The phone call came while I was just about to embark on writing this chapter. It concerned my friend Mona—my beautiful colleague and helper who has traveled with me and had my back for endless gatherings—and her youngest son, Mitchell.

David calls back to us, from a life of conflict, war, sin, forgiveness and redemption that he will trust in God alone. As I wrapped up last week’s devotionals I knew we needed to see a practical application of what it means to trust in God alone.

I love watching God transform David from misery to mercy to ministry. The earth shifted beneath David’s feet in the worst possible way. His beloved son, Absalom, intentionally betrays him, gathering around him a growing army willing to take down God’s anointed King…

When the world shifts beneath your feet, on what or whom do you turn for help? What about in the mundane moments of life? On what do you set your hopes?…

Many years ago, before cell phones, I couldn’t find my keys so I was stuck home by myself instead of attending Bible study. From my perspective, this was bad news because I was an emotional wreck and needed the encouragement I get from being with my friends.

Do you remember learning the times tables? How many hours did you spend with your mother holding up three by five cards with equations like these…

In the years after the deaths of our son Mark and his friend Kelly, I was ever on alert for messages, i.e. treasures, sent by God to remind me that He is the Lord my God and He calls me by name (Isaiah 45:2, 3). Often, those treasures came through the Scriptures.

Growing up is hard, especially when you tend toward emotions that quickly spiral out of control. Wise parents recognize that the babies in their home are just that, babies, toddlers are toddlers, middle schoolers are middle schoolers and teens are teens…

We are camped out in Psalm 62 and the longer we stay, the more treasures we discover. David writes Psalm 62, The Only Psalm, in the context of a hard lived life. King David, anointed by God, is a Warrior King…

“Trust in God” is a platitude we offer to hurting people that can evoke hope or despair. If the person has a love affair with Jesus, then our reminder to trust God might help remind them of His faithful love demonstrated through the sacrifice of His son, Jesus…

“Grammy, who are you talking to?” Our little grandson, sitting in the back seat of the car while I drove to the store caught me. I talk to myself. A lot. I take advantage of solo car rides to practice teaching a Bible study or workshop. I review conversations while cleaning. Instead of thinking…

The word “steadfast”, interpreted “stayed” in the ESV version of Isaiah 26:3, is from a term that means “to lean, to rest, to support.” Someone who is steadfast is steady because she is leaning on something that is supporting her. The person described in Isaiah 26:3, 4 experiences peace because she is leaning on the Lord…

Our world longs for peace, yet it alludes nations. Our hearts are restless and many people reveal how “peace-less” they are by their critical and intolerant hearts. Almost every woman I know wrestles with her identity, asking, “Am I enough? What is my purpose? When will it be my turn?” There is often a low grade feeling that there has to be more, that I need to do and be more…