This past Friday, I received one of those phone calls you dread taking. It was the call where you look down at your cell phone, see the Caller ID, and immediately know something is very wrong because that person doesn’t usually call, certainly at that time of day. I hesitantly hit accept, said hello, and sure enough, my dad was on the other end telling me that my mom was in the hospital, having suffered a possible stroke.
Many kids, when getting a call like that, would immediately jump in the car and race to visit. That’s certainly what I wanted to do, but I was a thousand miles away (my mom lives near St. Louis). All I could do was pray. So, I prayed, but if I am being honest, I was praying some rather raw prayers.
My mom is 70, which is young but not super young. She recently went through a round of battling cancer – with all the corresponding radiation and chemo – just last year. And now…..now this? I was praying for God not to let this be too much for her. To give her strength and peace.
But I was also asking, “God, where are you? Why this? Why now? This seems unfair. Did you somehow forget that my mom leads a Bible study and literally teaches people about you? Did you forget that in her downtime, she volunteers to clean her church, your house, each week? To me, at least, my mom is basically a saint, and this is what you let happen to her? Cancer and now a stroke?” Again, the prayers were pretty raw.
I’m not the first person to pray this way. Even some people in the Bible expressed similar thoughts. Psalm 13:1-2, Psalm 22:1-2, and Psalm 42:9-11 are a few examples.
Facing challenges is not just reserved just for me, my mom, and a few random people in the Bible. No, it’s for everyone, including people of faith. Odds are, you have had a hardship in your life. Maybe you are facing a difficulty right now. If you’re not, just wait a breath or two, and you likely will be soon.
The reality is: we all encounter challenges, struggles, and situations that leave us feeling unsure and afraid. Maybe, like me, it’s the health of a family member. Maybe it is your own health. Perhaps it is finances, work, or lack of work. It could be a kid or a spouse. Maybe you’re heartbroken, or your mind isn’t what it used to be. Possibly you really messed up and are facing the consequences of your own actions. Maybe something happened to you that is completely out of your control. Each of our lives are different, but life, for us all, comes with its fair share of tests and challenges.
In whatever we are going through, it is essential to remember we can trust in God’s faithfulness.
“Trust in God’s faithfulness.” That’s easy for me to write about; it’s fairly easy for most of us to say we will do; but sometimes, it’s a tough thing to live out. It’s difficult to trust God when it feels like life is trying to run us over.
Scripture, however, reminds us that we can trust Him even in the fiercest of storms. One passage that I go to in difficult moments is Psalm 46. Psalm 46 shows us that even in the wildest of storms, God’s faithfulness remains unshakable, unwavering, and everlasting.
God’s Presence
Psalm 46 shares that God is ever-present – Verse 1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” We can feel like we are alone, but He is there. We sometimes feel like we are holding the ship together ourselves, but in reality, He is there on the deck, helping us keep on course even when we are getting blown all around. I couldn’t physically be there for my mom at the hospital this past week, but she was not alone. God was there with her. You see, storms do come in life, but God’s faithful presence remains constant through them all.
God’s Presence + God’s Strength
Psalm 46 also tells us that God’s presence brings His strength – Verses 2 and 3 continue by saying, “Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way, and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam.” “Therefore,” because God is an ever-present help (verse 1), we don’t have to be afraid. Why don’t we have to be afraid, even when the earth “gives way” and its “waters roar”? Because God isn’t just present, he isn’t just there on the sidelines cheering us on; no, he is with us in the fight. He is there with us, bringing all His strength to help us fight the battle. And because God is on our team, the battle is stacked in our favor. Having God on our team is like putting last year’s Major League home run leader, Aaron Judge, on my son Lucas’ little league team. That wouldn’t be fair. Each game would be a complete blowout. That is what it is like having God with us in the storm. We have the heaviest hitter there batting for us.
(Note: For those of you I just offended by my referring to a New York Yankee, I apologize. Feel free to pick your own favorite non-Yankee major league baseball player for the illustration. I simply chose him as he had the most home runs last year. For the record, I am a Redsox fan. Go, Sox!)
God’s Presence + God’s Strength = God’s Protection
And because God is strong, He can protect us. I’ve never had a bodyguard. But, if I ever needed to hire one, I would hire the biggest, strongest, most muscular, martial arts-trained bodyguard I could afford. God is the strongest bodyguard ever, and he is with us. Psalm 46, verses 7 and 11 both read, “The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” He is our fortress. A fortress is secure. Even if a large army comes against it, it is not easily destroyed. It is a shelter from the greatest of threats, and it shields us from every danger outside. God is with us, God is strong, and therefore, like a fortress, he can protect us no matter what comes our way.
My mom’s story ended well. After an overnight stay in the hospital and a barrage of tests, a full stroke was ruled out. There is still the chance that she had a small TIA (mini-stroke), and she’ll require more tests and follow-up, likely a change of medication, but presently there are no permanent effects of her episode. Speech, face, and mobility are all fine. God was with her in her storm.
Not all stories end like my mom’s. Sometimes the diagnosis isn’t good, and the effects are permanent. But, even when the storm lingers, even when it lasts a lifetime, God is still faithful. The apostle Paul spoke of an ailment he faced all his life (2 Corinthians 12:7-9), never to be cured despite praying repeatedly that he would be. Yet Paul knew that God was still present with him, that he was strong enough to sustain him, and that he would protect him. So, despite all the challenges Paul faced, and he faced quite a few, Paul could rest knowing that Christ’s “grace was sufficient” and that He would sustain him through all storms that would come his way.
Today, maybe you are facing a storm. Maybe your world is shaking. Whatever you are going through, you are not alone. God is with you; he is present. And with his presence, he brings his strength. That strength is a fortress for you to stay safely in so you can weather any storm that may come your way. My hope and prayer for us all is that although the storms may rage and the entire world may be shaken, that we will always hold on to the unshakeable faithfulness of God.
синхронный переводчик заказать dzen.ru/a/aRDuRn3LkCngCegS .
Самоограничение: возможность сделать лимиты на пари и https://staylesta.com/2025/11/06/loto-igra-kakoj-net-ravnyh/ депозиты. вы можете попробовать их с помощью персональный кабинет. Двухфакторная аутентификация: Дополнительный степень предохранения при посещении на страницу для мобильного приложения Лото Клуб.
КЛЬОВО)))))))
you have the opportunity try your gaming adventure with a huge welcome bonus in amount up to $3,000, and for the Golden Buffalo usa online casino for UK players you are entitled to additional 30 spins.
adstreampro.click – Bookmarked this immediately, planning to revisit for updates and inspiration.
aviator bonus game http://www.aviator-game-winner.com .
aviator x aviator-game-best.com .
it переводчик цена telegra.ph/Oshibka-lokalizacii-pochemu-vash-IT-produkt-ne-ponimayut-za-granicej-11-09 .
ТОП бюро переводов в Москве teletype.in/@alexd78/iF-xjHhC3iA .
лучшие бюро переводов teletype.in/@alexd78/iF-xjHhC3iA .
армированная пленка Компания ПОЛИСИНТЕЗ производит тенты из высококачественных материалов, обладающих водонепроницаемыми и устойчивыми к ультрафиолетовому излучению свойствами.
promosprinter.click – Appreciate the typography choices; comfortable spacing improved my reading experience.
синхронный перевод заказать dzen.ru/a/aRDuRn3LkCngCegS .
J’ai une affection particuliere pour Mystake Casino, ca offre un plaisir vibrant. Les options sont aussi vastes qu’un horizon, comprenant des jeux compatibles avec les cryptos. Il offre un demarrage en fanfare. Le suivi est d’une precision remarquable. Les transactions sont fiables et efficaces, mais des offres plus importantes seraient super. Pour conclure, Mystake Casino est un must pour les passionnes. Notons aussi la plateforme est visuellement vibrante, incite a prolonger le plaisir. A souligner le programme VIP avec des avantages uniques, offre des recompenses continues.
Aller Г la page|
Players will also be quick to notice the Tumble feature in action. Every time players land a winning combination, the winning symbols are blasted off the reels and replaced with new ones. A new payout calculation follows, and if this creates another winning combination, the process repeats itself. The tumbles continue until no new winning combos are created. I confirm I am over 18-24 years old, depending on my location. Extra bonuses abound in Olympus straightforward play slot’s gates, which increase its appeal to USA players. Apart from free spins, the game’s Olympus bonus gates randomly drop multiplier orbs between 2x and 500x, therefore increasing your prizes like a jackpot in a poker showdown. Clearing winning symbols, the tumble feature lets new ones fall for chain wins. To start the bonus round, land four or more scatters for 15 free spins; multipliers accumulate for bigger prizes here. Real-money and gates of Olympus demo slot modes allow the Ante Bet doubles your scatter odds for a 25% bet increase. Testing these qualities in the olympus free demo confirms that you are ready to unleash Zeus’s whole wealth and helps you plan.
https://pointcookre.com.au/casino-slots/how-to-play-gates-of-olympus-1000-a-uk-guide/
Cerita sukses dari para pemain Gates Of Olympus membuktikan bahwa strategi klasik tidak pernah benar-benar usang. Dengan kombinasi sabar, fokus, dan timing yang tepat, pola lama tetap bisa bersaing dengan trik modern mana pun. Bagi yang baru ingin mencoba atau ingin nostalgia dengan gaya permainan awal, trik Zeus klasik ini masih sangat “worth it”. Kadang, cara lama justru jadi jalan paling cepat buat nikmatin sensasi menang besar tanpa ribet. Let’s have a look at the symbols that you’ll find while spinning the reels on the Gates of Olympus slot machine. Some of the icons that you’ll come across include a crown, a goblet, a ring, a timer, and different coloured gems. You’ll also find a Zeus scatter symbol while spinning the reels and landing a certain number of them on the reels will award you with Free Spins. The highest paying symbols here are the crown and the timer, while the lowest ones are the green and blue gems. When landing between 12 to 30 of the crown, timer, ring, or goblet icon, this pays a maximum of 500 coins, while matching at least eight symbols pays a minimum of 150 coins.
adscalehub.click – Pages loaded fast, images appeared sharp, and formatting stayed consistent.
Automatizovany system https://rocketbitpro.com pro obchodovani s kryptomenami: boti 24/7, strategie DCA/GRID, rizeni rizik, backtesting a upozorneni. Kontrola potencialniho zisku a propadu.
promovoltage.click – Bookmarked this immediately, planning to revisit for updates and inspiration.
clickdynamics.click – Navigation felt smooth, found everything quickly without any confusing steps.
бюро переводов teletype.in/@alexd78/iF-xjHhC3iA .
it переводчик заказать telegra.ph/Oshibka-lokalizacii-pochemu-vash-IT-produkt-ne-ponimayut-za-granicej-11-09 .
salesvelocity.click – Color palette felt calming, nothing distracting, just focused, thoughtful design.
it перевод telegra.ph/Oshibka-lokalizacii-pochemu-vash-IT-produkt-ne-ponimayut-za-granicej-11-09 .
Я думаю, что Вы ошибаетесь. Давайте обсудим. Пишите мне в PM, поговорим.
is many methods of payment with https://plisio.net/blog/are-crypto-igaming-sites-safe, different from payment by credit card or other common methods of payment.
ko lanta
Вин 1win 1win – современная платформа, предлагающая широкий спектр возможностей для любителей азартных игр и ставок на спорт. 1win официальный – это гарантия безопасности и надежности. Здесь вы найдете все необходимые инструменты для комфортной и прибыльной игры.
Процесс вскрытия в вселенную онлайн-лотерей на платформе loto club kz спроектирован с учетом максимальной простоты и несложности для http://www.caribbean-property.com/mir-loto-kak-igrat-i-vyigryvat-1776596547/ непосредственного пользователя.
кайт хургада
ко ланта
лучшие бюро переводов teletype.in/@alexd78/iF-xjHhC3iA .
https://xnudes.ai/
clickmotion.click – Loved the layout today; clean, simple, and genuinely user-friendly overall.
adlaunchpro.click – Pages loaded fast, images appeared sharp, and formatting stayed consistent.
marketsignal.click – Mobile version looks perfect; no glitches, fast scrolling, crisp text.
Осваиваешь фортепиано? нотя для писанино популярные мелодии, саундтреки, джаз и классика. Уровни сложности, аккорды, аппликатура, советы по технике.
promorocket.click – Pages loaded fast, images appeared sharp, and formatting stayed consistent.
Бетсити Лига ставок – это не просто букмекер, это целая платформа для любителей спорта, желающих превратить свою страсть в нечто большее. Здесь каждый может найти для себя возможность испытать удачу и проверить свои знания, делая ставки на самые разнообразные спортивные события.
Бутафория получается, какая то
como eu ja mencionei, nos fazemos todos os esforcos esforco para lista jogos Internet locais de jogo – em que voce tem uma chance para jogar no site, marsbet pt para prazer.
Je suis enthousiaste a propos de Mystake Casino, on y trouve une vibe envoutante. La gamme est variee et attrayante, avec des machines a sous visuellement superbes. 100% jusqu’a 500 € avec des free spins. Disponible 24/7 par chat ou email. Le processus est fluide et intuitif, en revanche des recompenses supplementaires dynamiseraient le tout. Pour conclure, Mystake Casino garantit un amusement continu. De plus le site est rapide et style, incite a rester plus longtemps. Un atout les tournois reguliers pour la competition, cree une communaute vibrante.
VГ©rifier ceci|
J’ai un faible pour Casinozer Casino, il procure une sensation de frisson. La bibliotheque est pleine de surprises, incluant des paris sportifs en direct. Le bonus d’inscription est attrayant. Les agents repondent avec rapidite. Le processus est transparent et rapide, de temps a autre des recompenses additionnelles seraient ideales. Pour faire court, Casinozer Casino merite une visite dynamique. De plus la navigation est intuitive et lisse, permet une immersion complete. Particulierement attrayant les tournois frequents pour l’adrenaline, offre des recompenses regulieres.
https://casinocasinozerfr.com/|
J’ai une passion debordante pour Casinozer Casino, c’est une plateforme qui pulse avec energie. La selection est riche et diversifiee, comprenant des jeux crypto-friendly. Le bonus de depart est top. Le support client est irreprochable. Les paiements sont securises et instantanes, parfois des bonus plus varies seraient un plus. En bref, Casinozer Casino merite une visite dynamique. De surcroit la plateforme est visuellement captivante, ce qui rend chaque session plus palpitante. Un avantage le programme VIP avec des recompenses exclusives, propose des avantages uniques.
Commencer maintenant|
Je ne me lasse pas de Mystake Casino, ca donne une vibe electrisante. Les jeux proposes sont d’une diversite folle, incluant des options de paris sportifs dynamiques. Avec des depots instantanes. Le suivi est d’une precision remarquable. Le processus est transparent et rapide, cependant des bonus diversifies seraient un atout. Pour faire court, Mystake Casino offre une aventure memorable. En bonus le design est moderne et energique, facilite une immersion totale. A signaler les tournois reguliers pour la competition, propose des privileges sur mesure.
http://www.mystakecasinoappfr.com|
J’ai une passion debordante pour Casinozer Casino, on y trouve une vibe envoutante. La selection est riche et diversifiee, incluant des paris sportifs en direct. Le bonus d’inscription est attrayant. Les agents repondent avec efficacite. Les gains arrivent en un eclair, cependant des bonus plus varies seraient un plus. Dans l’ensemble, Casinozer Casino est un lieu de fun absolu. Pour couronner le tout la plateforme est visuellement vibrante, permet une plongee totale dans le jeu. Egalement super les evenements communautaires engageants, offre des bonus constants.
DГ©couvrir davantage|
growthstream.click – Navigation felt smooth, found everything quickly without any confusing steps.
Блог для новичков https://life-webmaster.ru запуск блога, онлайн-бизнес, заработок без вложений. Инструкции, подборки инструментов, стратегии трафика и монетизации. Практика вместо теории.
TurkPaydexHub
TurkPaydexHub se demarque comme une plateforme de placement crypto de pointe, qui met a profit la puissance de l’intelligence artificielle pour fournir a ses clients des atouts competitifs majeurs.
Son IA analyse les marches en temps reel, identifie les opportunites et met en ?uvre des strategies complexes avec une finesse et une celerite hors de portee des traders humains, maximisant ainsi les potentiels de profit.
Создание блога life webmaster и бизнеса в сети шаг за шагом: платформы, контент-план, трафик, монетизация без вложений. Готовые шаблоны и понятные инструкции для старта.
TurkPaydexHub se distingue comme une plateforme d’investissement crypto de pointe, qui utilise la puissance de l’intelligence artificielle pour proposer a ses membres des avantages concurrentiels decisifs.
Son IA scrute les marches en temps reel, detecte les occasions interessantes et execute des strategies complexes avec une finesse et une celerite inatteignables pour les traders humains, optimisant ainsi les potentiels de rendement.
primedigital.click – Navigation felt smooth, found everything quickly without any confusing steps.
win crash game http://aviator-game-predict.com .
Je suis accro a Casinozer Casino, il offre une experience dynamique. Les options de jeu sont infinies, comprenant des jeux crypto-friendly. 100% jusqu’a 500 € avec des free spins. Le support est rapide et professionnel. Le processus est simple et transparent, parfois des offres plus importantes seraient super. En somme, Casinozer Casino garantit un amusement continu. De plus le site est rapide et style, ce qui rend chaque partie plus fun. Egalement genial les evenements communautaires vibrants, assure des transactions fiables.
Lancer le site|