Following on from what I wrote about this verse before, I was also struck by the end part of the verse. In the NIV it reads: “Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Or as in The Message: “when the time comes.”

I’ve always been quick to let my mind wander far ahead of the “now” and to worry about all the things that could, or might happen. It’s a hard habit to stop!

In my current situation, I don’t know how things will turn out and I’m probably going to have to take some risks as I step out into that unknown future. Things might not work out as I hope they will.

I’m not really relying on God if everything is in my hands and I always have something to fall back on–am I?

Maybe I haven’t been letting God be my safety net–I’ve been too busy relying on myself.

My dad reminded me recently that I shouldn’t worry about what hasn’t happened yet. That fits so well with the beginning of this verse, where I’m reminded that my focus needs to be on “what God is doing right now”–not on what will happen.

Dad also said that even though I’ve been in this kind of situation before; where it looked like there was no clear path ahead, a solution has come along at just the right time. It’s true, I have had similar situations on a few occasions before. Some of those solutions were not what I would have even considered before that time. But when I look back and see how things turned out, they were just right for me–in that time. God led me through the uncertainty.

Chronic illness can seem like a lot of hard things; sometimes just one after another, or maybe it is just one big thing that doesn’t seem to ever get any easier. This verse promises us that God will help us and be there for us, when those tough times come–no matter how many, or how often that is. God is there all the time, but when the times come that we need Him most, He definitely comes through for us.

Prayer: Father, please help us to continue to trust in the truth that You will always be there for us when the time comes, that we need You. You continue to amaze us as you do immeasurably more than we can even think or imagine.(Ephesians 3:20) Amen.

About the Author:
Fiona Burrows lives in Melbourne, Australia. She is thankful for the difference God makes in her life, and the lessons He is teaching her, as she lives with chronic back pain. She enjoys finding time for reading, writing, and photography, and to travel when she is able. You can contact her in the Sunroom.

You can now read this on your Kindle. Find out more at http://TodaysDevotionOnKindle.com

When have you been aware that God has done immeasurably more than you thought He could in a difficult situation? Do you draw from those times when new challenges arise?

My wife and I were “Helicopter Parents.” Having a child of the Millennial Generation, like so many parents of our time, we hovered over our Millennial child, raising her carefully with much involvement in her life.

In the book “The Millennials” by Thom S. Rainer, and Jess W. Rainer, we are described quite well, as are the Millennial kids. In general the parents of Millennial children stay heavily involved in their lives well into adulthood, and the children want it that way.

The problem is, we were never meant to continue parenting these kids well into adulthood. Though we are always their parents, and they are always our kids, somewhere along the line we need to turn the parenting job over to God, because parenting adults is God’s job, not ours. As much as we might like at times to bring them home, send them to their room, ground them, guide them, and correct them, at a certain point in our lives and their lives we need to leave the correction and discipline in God’s capable hands.

Recently I was talking on the phone with my mother and she said something that struck me as a bit comical. She told me that only now, well into her sixties, has she finally begun to “grow up.” And I think it is true that throughout our lives, well into our adult years, we continue to “grow up”, to learn, grow in wisdom, grow by experience and by added knowledge. Sometimes God still corrects us when we get off track; He still teaches us the things we need to know to live good lives, the education never quite ends.

When we are afflicted it is tempting to think that God is correcting us for some perceived failing. But the fact is we often suffer for no other reason than that we live on this earth in frail bodies subject to pain and suffering. Nevertheless, God can teach us, and we can “grow up” through our suffering and hardship. We can gain wisdom and insight from the terrible events and difficult paths in our lives. When we have traveled the road of suffering we can help others along the way, and act as guides through the path of hardship.

God is our eternal parent no matter what our age. And we all have to “grow up”, some sooner, others later in life. But it is encouraging to know we have a loving Father who watches over us and guides us throughout our lives, and it is particularly wonderful to know this truth as we travel the path of affliction and hardship.

Whether you are a grown up, or a child when it comes to affliction, know that your heavenly Father is with you, watching over you, and willing to help you along the difficult paths you face in life. Do not despair, and do not be discouraged, whether sixteen or sixty there is a Father who loves and cares for you. Allow Him to direct and strengthen you as you continue to “grow up”.

Prayer: Dear Lord, as parents and children we face many challenges. And when we walk the path of affliction, it is then that we especially need Your
guidance. Amen.

About the Author:
Karlton Douglas lives in Ohio with his lovely wife. He has found that the only thing more difficult than being a parent is “growing up” as an adult.

You can now read this on your Kindle. Find out more at http://TodaysDevotionOnKindle.com

Do you find that it is sometimes difficult to “grow up”, especially while facing affliction? Have you considered that God is Your Father, always watching over you, and ready to guide you?

Most of us probably long to hear God’s voice speaking directly to us. In our lives of pain we want answers. I believe God does speak to me but not always in the ways I expect, and I had a humorous example of this recently.

Each morning I pray for the Lord to satisfy me with His unfailing love, because I quickly allow the fears and concerns of my health to rob me of this Biblical truth as well as others. One morning I was apprehensive about some dental work to be done that day as well as some ongoing concern about my eyes.

I love hearing the birds in the morning and I open my window while praying. We have a red-bellied woodpecker that comes to my feeder. Each spring he also enjoys drilling on our drain pipes, and this year he is drilling more often than usual. Sometimes I get quite annoyed with him!

That morning as I was praying rather desperately about my teeth and eyes, he began drilling loudly. In that drilling God spoke very clearly to my spirit–“How many times do I have to drill into your head the truth that I love you, that you don’t need to fear anything because I will be you through it, that My grace has been sufficient for 54 years and always will be? These physical problems are my ways of drilling these truths into your head until you learn to trust Me completely.”

I laughed out loud! God can be quite creative in His teaching methods. I was still not looking forward to the dentist, but I knew I would make it through. I also knew God would direct me concerning my eyes. Now I am praying I will learn my lessons completely and move on. I am ready for a break from the drilling and God probably is too!

Prayer: Lord how thankful I am that You love me enough to keep teaching me even when I am a slow learner. Help me be aware of the ways You reveal Your love and grace to me and may I learn my lessons well. Amen.

About the author:
Bronlynn Spindler lives in VA and is blessed to have the support and encouragement of a wonderful husband and three grown daughters. God’s grace and strength have brought her through thyroid cancer and continue to sustain her through ongoing back pain, depression, headaches, multiple sensitivities, eye pain, and fibromyalgia. You may view her blog of devotionals at www.aplaceofsprings57.blogspot.com.

You can now read this on your Kindle. Find out more at http://TodaysDevotionOnKindle.com

What means has God used to speak to you in your pain or illness? Are there specific lessons You see Him trying to teach you through them?

I have a family history of poor feet and mine, along with hammer toes and nearly two decades of rheumatoid arthritis, have left my feet quite a mess. About ten years ago I was down to one pair of sandals. I literally could not find one pair of shoes that my feet fit into or that I could put weight down onto my foot. I wore those sandals every day for over six years. Thankfully I live in San Diego, but even in the rain I would make a dash for shelter, as a few drops of rain could make them fall apart.

By the time a doctor helped me find a pair of shoes that fit, I had glued the straps over and over and had literally been putting duct tape on the bottom of the soles to try to keep the little rocks out of the holes. I will forever be grateful for the doctor who took the time to find me shoes (though I am in need again and those shoes are out of stock!)

When you live with any chronic condition, things like finding shoes that fit before your sandals wear out can be a major concern. So when I read this verse about God not allowing the clothes these people wore–or even their sandals–it warms my heart. God did punish their actions by keeping them in the desert for forty years, rather than seeing that Promised Land. However, God was still concerned about them.

Most of us are familiar with how God provided nourishment through the daily manna, but God also knew that the practicalities of shoes and clothing were vital. It was important to their health and well-being (lack of shoes could make one susceptible to infections), but it also was proof that God understood their daily needs and nothing was too little to ignore. When you have to walk dozens of miles each day (the line of Isrealites alone traveling was approximately 150 miles long*), sandals that don’t fall apart most certainly should have helped their attitude.

Our illness can feel like that desert. And when you look down at your shoes, like me, you may see straps that are barely held together. perhaps that miracle of endless clothing durability is not occurring in your life. But I encourage you to see what “should be” falling apart in your life, based on your circumstances. What has God been holding together in your life that you may have been taking for granted?

Has your car started on mornings when you were positive it was nearing its end? Have you expected a medical treatment and didn’t need to have it? Did you meet someone who became an unexpected best friend? Did you find a coupon for something you had to buy, but didn’t know if you could afford?

God always provides, just like He always heals. But how He does it may be happening in ways you have yet to discover in your life.

Prayer: God, sometimes I become so focused on all of my needs that are yet unmet that I forget to notice the things that You have taken care of. James 1:17 tells me that every good and perfect gift is from You. Remind me each day of all the practical needs in my life You meet. Amen.

About the author:
Lisa Copen is the founder of Rest Ministries and she lives in San Diego with her husband and son. She is gradually learning how to balance motherhood, family, illness, and ministry, but she still knows it will be a lifetime lesson. You can see the books she has written, including, Why Can’t I Make People Understand? at the Rest Ministries shop.

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What practical need has God met for you? Can you think of something that you hadn’t recognized before, like sandals that don’t fall apart, that other people with chronic illness may think, “oh, yeah. I completely forgot about that need that God meets!”

* According to Exodus 12:37-38, the Israelites numbered “about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children,” plus many non-Israelites and livestock. Numbers 1:46 gives a more precise total of 603,550. The 600,000, plus wives, children, the elderly, and the “mixed multitude” of non-Israelites would have numbered some 2 million people, compared with an entire Egyptian population in 1250 BCE of around 3 to 3.5 million. Marching ten abreast, and without accounting for livestock, they would have formed a line 150 miles long.

I have intolerances to many things so I have started examining food labels carefully. Recently I was going to make something for company and discovered an ingredient that was not good for me. I was telling my mother how hard it is to find things that I can eat. She laughingly said maybe I should not check the ingredients and what I don’t know won’t hurt me. She wasn’t serious of course, but it made me stop and think about that expression in relation to my physical and spiritual health.

There are times when what I don’t know won’t hurt me, but when it comes to food, that is not the case for me. Checking labels on everything I buy requires time. Not buying and eating certain foods requires self-discipline. When I do these things though, I feel much better.

I can apply this concept to my relationship with God as well. Of course there are aspects of God that my finite mind can’t comprehend, but not learning and growing in my knowledge of Him will affect me negatively. If I don’t take time to study God’s character and attributes I will experience unnecessary doubt and fear, because I will not be viewing my problems in the light of His goodness, mercy, and sovereignty.

If I don’t learn more of Jesus and the way He lived, I will not grow in becoming more like Him. If I don’t practice self-discipline spending time with God and making godly choices, I won’t have the knowledge and strength to fight my battles.

What I don’t know can hurt me. Conversely, what I do know can help me, and spiritually I can never know enough about God. I will have all eternity to keep learning, but I can get a good start now.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me the ability to learn and grow. Thank You for Your Word and the wealth of other Christian resources available to teach me more about You. Give me the wisdom and self-discipline to keep growing and to make wise choices for my physical and spiritual health. Amen.

About the author:
Bronlynn Spindler lives in VA and is blessed to have the support and encouragement of a wonderful husband and three grown daughters. God’s grace and strength have brought her through thyroid cancer and continue to sustain her through ongoing back pain, depression, headaches, multiple sensitivities, and fibromyalgia. You may view her blog of devotionals at www.aplaceofsprings57.blogspot.com.

You can now read this on your Kindle. Find out more at http://TodaysDevotionOnKindle.com

Can you think of a time when what you didn’t know, did hurt you? Did you remember this saying then?

My husband and I come from athletic families. Sports have always been an integral part of our lives. We have football, basketball, and soccer players; ballet dancers, ice skaters, and cheerleaders; kick boxers, wrestlers, and martial artists.

Paul’s words, in the above scriptures, make me think of my son, Joshua, who teaches self-defense and kickboxing. He also works out four to five days a week. The discipline pays off. His muscles are well defined. He has energy and stamina that I can only dream about.

His movements are fluid, quick, and precise. The defenses are so ingrained in him that the techniques are reflexive–like they are a part of his body’s natural makeup.

He’s passionate about his particular sports: Krav Maga, Crossfit, wrestling, kick boxing, and self defense training. He is dedicated to every aspect of fitness–the exercises, the diet, and giving his body time to recover.

We talk quite often about his goals. He’s only eighteen, but his main goal in life is to be a righteous man, as God defines righteousness in the Bible. He says that since he was sixteen, he has desired to live a life of righteousness and become a man of character and honor. I pray that God will fulfill Joshua’s desire for righteousness in a special way.

When people meet him for the first time, they are intimidated by his size–six feet, two inches and 215 pounds of solid muscle. When they listen to him speak, however, they recognize a young man whose love and passion for Jesus guides his life more than anything else. Joshua is a young man who works harder to build his spiritual strength and character, than he works on developing his physical body.

I am definitely encouraged and challenged by my son’s commitment. As I face the daily struggles of physical pain and limits, I find myself relying on God to help me focus on my relationship with Him and not my circumstances.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us care for and train our spirits with the same diligence that we use for our physical bodies.

About the Author:
Dorothea lives in California with her family. Although she has endured the challenges of chronic illness for more than 20 years, she trusts in God’s grace to help her get through each day.

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Question: Is there a young person in your life who inspires you and challenges you with their devotion to Jesus?

Sometimes I think about the words spoken to me over 25 years ago. One of the medical specialists said that I’d be lucky to be able to work for 10 years. Even though it’s been some time now since I worked full-time, I did for more than 10 years and since then I’ve been blessed by jobs enabling me to work shorter hours, particularly over the last four years.

So I reckon that specialist was wrong–or maybe he didn’t know how stubborn I’d be, or the desperation of wondering how I support myself if I don’t work, that’s driven me to keep on pushing through the difficulties and pain.

Just lately, I’d been feeling like it’s got harder and I wondering what other options I might have. I have a wonderful boss who has been so accommodating this last year or so, and I feel like it’s only because he has been so supportive, that I’ve managed to keep going.

Last week, he told me that things are going to change for him and it looks like my job will disappear–sometime in the next few months. I was shocked, though I guess there have been some signs that I didn’t take seriously enough; but while we talked about what I wanted to do, I wondered if this might be the time for me to stop pushing to do what I’ve felt up until now, I must do.

The above verse reminds us that we are not supposed to worry and I love the way “The Message” puts it.

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. . . ” (Matthew 6:34)

It’s been hard to stop my mind from worrying about what I should do; what I can do; how will this work out; and what next?

What I should do? Don’t worry. Remember that I can always depend on God. His guidance, His understanding and support, His provision and His presence.

What I can do? Pray and ask others to pray. Look for the windows that may open as doors close for me. Be open to different opportunities.

How will this work out?I don’t know, but I do know that God has provided for me in sometimes very unexpected ways, many times before.

What next? I’m not sure and it may be some time before I have an answer to that. It might even involve taking some risks and letting go of some things that have given me security in the past. God knows what will happen and where I’ll be next month, next year, or whenever. I just need to trust in His plan for my life.

Prayer: Father, I have been blessed to do so much more than I believed I would be able to and I recognise that is only with Your help. Thank You so much. Help me to continue to trust the future to You. Amen.

About the Author:
Fiona Burrows lives in Melbourne, Australia. She is thankful for the difference God makes in her life, and the lessons He is teaching her, as she lives with chronic back pain. She enjoys finding time for reading, writing, and photography, and to travel when she is able. You can contact her in the Sunroom.

You can now read this on your Kindle. Find out more at http://TodaysDevotionOnKindle.com

What have you been worked up about lately that you need to trust God to work out? How do you best remind yourself of that, when you worry?

I love watching someone’s tears being wiped away by a loving parent, relative, or friend. That interaction is so precious. Maybe it’s seeing the concern and care taken to collect each and every tear. Maybe it’s knowing someone else cares so much about you they will gladly wipe away your tears that stirs my heart. Whatever the reason, it’s an emotional scene for sure.

For those of us going through hard situations, tough physical challenges or tight finances, tears can be a regular occurrence. When I read this passage, the tenderness expressed by David here made me shed some tears. Several other versions say it this way, “You Yourself have recorded my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your records?” (HCSB)

To me, this is a reminder that God sees every one of our tears; He collects them so not one will be forgotten or missed. Essentially, God is saying He grieves right alongside us. When we are hurting and sad, He is hurting and sad. When we are happy, He is happy. He is the truest friend we’ll ever have.

Wow, what a loving picture of God’s affection toward us. It encourages me greatly to know that God cares that much about me to collect my tears in His bottle! Know that whatever you are going through God does see you and mourns along with you. Let your tears fall onto His hands; He cares so much about you (1 Peter 5:7).

Prayer: Dear God, Your love and compassion touches me greatly. My soul takes comfort in knowing you collect each and every one of my tears. Thank you for never letting me go through something alone. Amen.

About the Author:
Bridget Gazlay resides in beautiful West Michigan. She struggles with fibromyalgia, endometriosis, IBS, kidney stones, and migraines. She works full time but writes and designs fabric art on the side. Bridget’s prayer is that anyone who comes across her writing or artwork would see she allows, “God’s creation to be my inspiration.” Find out more about Bridget at, www.pfccreations.com.

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How has God encouraged you through your tears?

Perseverance–that word may trigger varying emotions, some being negative. When I think of perseverance, I think in terms of me persevering, not God. I get tired of persevering, even though I know His word says it is accomplishing a good work in me. Then I read a thought-provoking statement in one of my books. The author said that when we want to give up we need to persevere with God because God perseveres with us.

How does God persevere with me? When I doubt Him over and over again, not learning my lessons from previous situations, He continues to show Himself faithful. He does not give up on me when I give up on Him. At times He may be my last resort but I am never His last resort. When I disappoint Him, He never rejects or abandons me. He keeps forgiving, keeps loving, keeps strengthening, and protecting.

Aside from the fact that perseverance is beneficial for spiritual maturity, I want to choose perseverance out of love for all God has done for me. When I get tired of waiting for medical appointments or test results, I remember that God persevered through countless years of problems with humanity, waiting for the appointed time to send Christ to earth for me.

When I feel I can’t endure any more pain or sacrifice, I remember that Jesus persevered through life and death on earth because of me, suffering more than I can comprehend. When I’m tempted to give up on God, I think of the way the Holy Spirit perseveres in drawing me back.

When I persevere I am working together with God. Remembering that fact will give me the persistence I need to keep going until the work is finished. Then God and I will rejoice together, and that’s worth persevering for!

Prayer: O Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee; I give Thee back the life I owe, that in Thine ocean’s depths its flow may richer, fuller be. (Hymn O Love That Will Not Let Me Go) Amen.

About the author:
Bronlynn Spindler lives in VA and is blessed to have the support and encouragement of a wonderful husband and three grown daughters. God’s grace and strength have brought her through thyroid cancer and continue to sustain her through ongoing back pain, depression, headaches, multiple sensitivities, and fibromyalgia. You may view her blog of devotionals at www.aplaceofsprings57.blogspot.com.

You can now read this on your Kindle. Find out more at http://TodaysDevotionOnKindle.com

How have you seen God persevere with you in your life?

When my daughter was a little girl I told her: “No matter what you do I will never stop loving you.” I take comfort in the fact that God’s love far exceeds my own, my ability to love my child comes from God, for God is love. And no matter how much I love my child, God’s love is infinitely greater than my love.

We all fail each other and ourselves in numerous ways. Because we are weak and frail human beings, subject to human passions and faults, and living in bodies affected by sickness and disease, affected by human weakness, we fail to live up to God’s standards, and sometimes leave each other disappointed.

I find that it helps me to allow for the shortcomings of others by reminding myself that I sometimes fail God and others. I sometimes fail to live up to my own standards, my own hopes and expectations. We will all fall flat on our faces sometimes and we should not be shocked and awed by the fact others will at times disappoint us as well.

If we allow room for the failings of others we will save ourselves much frustration and disappointment. And if we allow space for the weakness in others, we may find them more willing to accept our own shortcomings.

Those of us with disabilities and continual health issues correctly expect a bit of leeway from others when it comes to our afflictions. I think this can make us more sympathetic to all sorts of shortcomings from those around us. We, better than most people, know how easy it is to come up short in life, to fail to accomplish everything we want to accomplish.

When others fail to meet our expectations, we ought to give them space for their shortcomings since we expect the same from them.

What a comfort it is that God is patient with us, and how encouraging that God’s love is unfailing. He is our guide in relating to others. Because He loves us so much, and overlooks our many faults, we can make room in our hearts to love others and forgive them their faults.

Just as we are likely to disappoint the expectations of others because of our afflictions, we must make an effort and make allowance for others and their various weaknesses. Sometimes they will disappoint us with moral failings. We understand better than most “the weakness of the flesh” as the Bible says.

Our weakness may not be sin related, but we know how well circumstances and surroundings can affect one’s actions and abilities. Our capacity and understanding for human failings should be huge because of our experience with affliction.

The love and grace of God upholds us in affliction. God’s love and mercy, His compassion and kindness can be a great comfort to us in affliction. We are sobered by just how weak the human body can be, and just how much it fails us, and yet because of our experiences in affliction we can express love and compassion that is born out of affliction and our experiences with suffering. Of course we could let our experiences make us bitter and hard in our hearts, but the better path is to learn from our difficulties and let our challenges soften and teach rather than harden and embitter us.

Take comfort in the fact that God’s love for you is unfailing. Know that no matter how much you fall short in life, God is not willing to give up on you. And as you face your challenges and difficulties, be willing make room for the shortcomings of others, we are all imperfect beings, and we share the imperfections of humanity.

Prayer: Dear Lord, be patient with us and help us to be patient with others. Forgive us our weaknesses and failings, and help us to forgive others as well. Amen.

About the Author:
Karlton Douglas lives in Ohio with his lovely wife. He is author of the book “Chronic Illness” available in the Amazon Kindle store.

You can now read this on your Kindle. Find out more at http://TodaysDevotionOnKindle.com

Are you grateful for the fact that God loves you no matter what you do? Are you willing to love others no matter their shortcomings?

My prognosis is poor. Still is no cure for my illness, multiple sclerosis. The only guarantee I have is that my disease will progress. Medication can slow the progression. Small comfort.

Is there something to hold onto when the world offers little hope?

Here’s an option. Look beyond this life to heaven.

So the choices are: dwell on the current situation or consider glory in heaven.

Painful life now or pain-free eternity.

Hmmm. . . I’ll pick the eternal focus.

But the daily problem remains. The pain is a loud shout. The promise of a renewed body is a faint whisper.The remedy? Drown out the haunting howl of hurt with precious promises.

Psalm 73:26 says,“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

I resolve to fill my head with sweet truths of His faithfulness. But the dueling drumbeats sound:

My feet ache. . . God is the strength of my heart. My hands hurt when I make a fist. . . God is the strength of my heart. My energy is depleted. . . God is the strength of my heart. My energy is depleted. . . God is the strength of my heart. Cognition problems creep in the fear floods my heart. . . God is the strength of my heart.

Eventually the divine drumbeat is all that remains: God is the strength of my heart.

Each day is like changing the channel in my brain. One station broadcasts fear and pain. Another offers hope.

The Rotten Reality station spews cruel messages: Time to get out of bed. I am too tired. Why is life so hard?

I switch to the Blessed Assurance station. God is the strength of my heart.

I slither out of bed. Then stand immovable. Waiting for the sensation that signals my legs are ready to carry me. Better make dinner while I still have the strength. No one knows how exhausted I am. How I am going to do the errands I have to do? Poor me!

Switch to: God is the strength of my heart. . .God is the strength of my heart.

Next thing I know, I’m functioning. Joyful.

Prayer: Dear Protector of my soul, when my future seems so uncertain and even bleak with this illness, I remember that You have a plan for my life. This affliction often makes no sense, but Your Word tells there is a purpose in all things. “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.” And, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Thanks be for the blessed assurance of eternal life with You! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

About the Author:
Vicki understands special needs as a patient, parent, and professor. She has had multiple sclerosis since 1993. Her 31 year old son was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. She’s taught special education as a teacher, administrator, and adjunct professor. Through her online community she reaches out to other parents of children with special needs. http://theblogfrog.com/1505794

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What uplifting verse echoes in your mind throughout the day?

White knuckles grasped the arm rests. “Just a bit of turbulence,” the flight attendant’s voice cracked as lightning reached for us and thunder yelled at our arrogant plane flying through his sky.

Too frightened to feel fear, I mashed my nose into the plastic window as dark clouds turned opaque. Rain pelted the window. The lightning flashed around me. The interior lights flickered out. Darkness had conquered our plane.

I looked around hoping to see the flight attendant in the glow of the emergency row lights. Nothing. I looked out the window, hoping to see a break. Nothing. I closed my eyes and considered the age old analogy of pushing through the storms of life: keep walking through it, the storm will pass.

But we did not fly through it, we flew up–into it. The trajectory forced my head against the back of the seat. Why continue flying up? We needed to land.

Milliseconds loitered until white flashed in the window again. I pressed my face back to the plastic as the plane surged through the top of the cloud. I looked down to see the storm we escaped, but the turmoil below hid, cowering beneath the rippling marshmallow cloud-floor. I saw no ominous clouds, only sunshine and beauty reflecting off a fountain of wispy clouds.

I am learning to push through storms when they attack, but the quickest way out of the storm is straight up. Above the storm, the sun still shines.

Now I know, when lightning and thunder join forces with rain, I have no armor. I cannot fight. But I can look up. And in the heavens, I can see their weaknesses and remember that beyond them, the sun beams.

Prayer: Father, I see the storm in my life and I know I cannot fight it. I am overwhelmed by the pain. Help me look up so the rains of despair do not drown me. Amen.

Welcome to our newest writer!
Andrea Hitefield lives in Dallas, TX, and is a current student at Dallas Theological Seminary. She loves drinking tea and watching the storms pass by her apartment window. She enjoys finding small treasures to help her deal with a life of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.

You can now read this on your Kindle. Find out more at http://TodaysDevotionOnKindle.com

What ways can you look up when the storm pelts you with rain?