Release the Weight

Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail).

Casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.

Psalm 55:22 AMPC and 1 Peter 5:7 NASB 1977

I am so sorry for your pain. Your loss. Your dashed hopes. Your sense of hopelessness. Or anxious thoughts that torment you. Take a deep breath. Get level set. If you’re able, grab a cup of coffee and sit down a moment. Now, open your Bible or Bible app to Psalm 55:22 AMPC. Trace your finger across the words. These are the very words of God to you dear one. Read them out loud.

He acknowledges, that yes, you do have a burden. It hurts. It’s heavy. It’s not your imagination. Feel the pain of that raw reality. Feel the questions bubbling up in your spirit. Feel the ache. Then cast that burden upon Him. Release the weight of it into His strong arms. He’s waiting for you, to lay your burden down and leave it there.

Now, turn to 1 Peter 5:7 and do the same. Notice the reason our Lord wants us to cast our burdens and anxieties into His hands … He cares for us. For you. Astounding. We don’t pray because we’re “supposed to” or because He’ll be angry if we don’t. No. He cares for us. He knows the weight of our struggle. He knows the hopelessness we feel. Hand. It. To. Him.

Yet, even as I type the words, I am reminded of my own “casting” prayers … More times than I like to admit, I cast my burden into His hands, thank Him for taking care of it for me, and then promptly pick the burden back up.  My suitcase-of-difficulty tucked neatly under my arm as I walk away with the same burden I came to release. The same burden that I cast onto Him moments before. You laugh!

Whatever your pain or the pain of someone you love, acknowledge the burden of it and then cast it into His arms, as you walk away.  Leave it with Him. Knowing, “He’s got this.” Whatever the outcome, He’ll make a way. He will be faithful; He is always good.

“Heartache forces us to embrace God out of desperate, urgent need. God is never closer than when your heart is aching.”

– Joni Eareckson Tada

Father God, when I’m confronted with inevitable burdens of life, enable me to release the weight of those burdens into Your arms. Thank You that You care for me. For what affects me… Astounding. Thank You in advance for moving on my behalf. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

To help you on your journey, click here for a FREE pdf of the devotional, Stony Paths, learning to trust Him as we walk along the Stony Paths of real life, or to purchase a hard copy.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

Prep Work

Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him up and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. Thus they brought Joseph into Egypt.

As for you, you meant evil against me, 

but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, the saving of many lives.

Genesis 37:26-28  50:20A  NASB

Thus they brought Joseph into Egypt. If that phrase doesn’t leap off the page at you, maybe you aren’t familiar with Joseph’s story, or maybe like me, you tend to forget that our God often uses the detours and the pain and even the tragedy of our lives to position us just where He wants us. Just when He wants us.

Let’s take a quick look at the summary version of Joseph’s life. He’s his dad’s favorite son. Maybe a bit spoiled. Possibly a bit bratty. Definitely anointed by God. As a teenager, he’s granted visions of his future that include power and greatness. That’s the end of his story. It will come to pass because God said so. But hold on tight, with God’s call always comes God’s preparation. Of us. Of others. Of our circumstances.

For Joseph to walk out the reality of being second in command in the land of Egypt and the privilege of being used by God as His instrument of “salvation” for thousands… He experiences the pain of betrayal by his brothers. The degradation and hopelessness of being sold into slavery. The doing-the-right-thing yet cast-into-prison-anyway injustice of being falsely accused of rape and then incarcerated. For years. I’m sure this isn’t what Joseph had in mind when God gave him dreams of great blessing. But preparation for blessing is often painful and always necessary.

I have walked through seasons of preparation such as teen motherhood, the death of two of my children, divorce, betrayal and even my own addictions. These have produced in me a desperate dependence on, and deep love for, my Father God, along with an authentic empathy for those in pain. Such results, that seasons of comfort and ease simply cannot provide.

Preparation for blessing is often painful and always necessary.

What about you dear one? How have you been “brought into Egypt” through life’s difficulties? Have your painful circumstances blinded you to His sovereign hand? What are you walking through right now that may be a “season of preparation” for future blessing?

“Every experience God gives us, every person he puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see.” – Corrie ten Boom

Oh Father, enable me to rest in Your sovereign control over my life. Please help me to focus on the truth of Your Word rather than being blinded or surprised by the circumstances around me. You love me, You have a good plan for my life, and I can trust You… whatever the season. In Jesus’ name Amen

By Becky White for the Lord Jesus

Lord, If You Had Been Here…

The sisters sent word to Jesus saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” John 11:3

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was. John 11: 5-6

Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house. Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:20-21

When Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:32

Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” John 11:43-44

If you’ve never read the Biblical account of Lazarus (or it’s been a while), grab a cup of coffee, open your Bible to John 11, and prepare for emotional whiplash. And questions. Lots of questions, and possibly a whole new perspective on the “dead” things of your life.

Let’s take a look at the cliff-note version. Jesus, given news that a friend, whom He loved, was near death, chose to wait two days before even beginning the long journey to see him. In fact, the Word tells us that because of Jesus’ love, He purposefully waited. Waited while the sisters, who had sent word of the illness, longed for a miracle. Waited until death had occurred. Waited. Until there was no hope. At all.

Only when the situation was a complete impossibility, did Jesus show up on the scene.

On the outskirts of the city, Jesus was met with the heart wrenching, I-can-feel-your-pain guttural cry by Martha, “Lord if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” The other sister, Mary, uttered the exact words, guttural ache and all…. Can’t you just feel the pain reverberating from their question?

In their pain, it never occurred to them, even for a moment, that this Jesus, whom they sought in order to bring healing for their brother, would instead, raise him from the dead. That He would allow such tragedy as a vehicle to bring such glory. That He would risk being misunderstood and misjudged as uncaring, in order to grant them the gift of seeing God’s miraculous power first hand. On their behalf.  To be shared for all time – to encourage others in their “dead” and impossible circumstances.

Truly, I don’t know what has “died” in your life or how impossible it looks right now. But He knows. Has a marriage or a dream or a relationship died? Has a literal death occurred and your hopes for the future died as well? Maybe, like these two sisters, you’ve cried through tears, “Lord if You had been here.” Maybe you’ve reacted by turning your back on the One who loves you, hardening your heart as you’ve secretly cried, “Lord, how could You?” 

No judgement call here, I’ve done it myself a time or two or ten… I cried out as I buried two children and as I struggled through other chasm deep trials – some of my own making and some not…But in the end, I clearly see how He has faithfully used my pain, or done the impossible by bringing life out of a “dead” situation in my life as He walks me through it. Learning firsthand that if He has allowed “it”, He has a purpose and a plan for it and I can trust Him. And so can you dear one. So can you…

“If it is to be a great miracle, the condition is not difficulty, but impossibility.”

Streams in the Desert  10/14

Oh Father, I admit that I have thought, even if left unspoken, the words – “If You had been here…” I am ashamed at my lack of trust in You Father. When difficulties happen, what makes me think that You don’t have a plan? That You have lost control? That You can’t bring life from what has “died”? You are good and You are faithful…and You are for me… I love you. In Jesus name, Amen

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

Business Card Identity

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. John 8:36 NLT

It’s only the Truth you know, that sets you free. – Steve Campbell

I have a business card, though it’s probably unlike most you’ve come across. It doesn’t list my professional position or a bite-size version of my accomplishments, instead it reads, “He has taken my mess and turned it into ministry.” That pretty much sums up my life! The backside contains the Scripture: “Encourage the exhausted, strengthen the feeble, say to those with an anxious heart, take courage, fear not.” My business card authentically reflects what I intend to do in every circumstance I find myself, it also clarifies who I am. A servant of God, redeemed by His grace, and one who longs to honor Him.

I also have other “business cards” that attempt to define me. These don’t come from the printer, they come from our adversary, the devil, who prowls about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Devour with his well-timed lies and masterful deception. Maybe you have some too?

Victim. Ugly. Stupid. Hot mess. Unloved. Rejected. Loser. Unwanted. Mistake. Never good enough. Failure. Too far gone. Shall I keep going? I have to actively resist the tug to carry those cards around with me, pulling them out of my pocket as needed. Reading and rereading the lies or telling the lies to others, as I offer them my “card.”

What/Who defines you? Ponder it deeply for a moment, don’t rush this part. Have you allowed an outward physical trait or an inward sin or a temptation struggle to define you? Has past pain or trauma had the final say in who you are? Has the “success” or “failure” of your children, career, marriage, ministry or bank account been allowed to define you? For good or for bad, we can accidently allow something other than the Truth found in God’s Word (the Bible) to define us.

C.S. Lewis famously said that the most important question we can ask ourselves is, “Who am I?” to which he responded, “A servant of God.” At base, I am a servant of God. And if you’ve surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, that’s who you are as well. We may be other things in addition, but that is the defining factor of who we are. Let’s pull that card out. In all we allow our mind to dwell, in all we step out to do – we are servants of God and He alone defines us.

Father God, please help us walk in the Truth of who we are according to Your Word, as we actively resist the lies of the enemy that attempt to shape our identity. I am who You say I am. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

For info on a FREE pdf of Stony Paths devotional, click here

Try inserting your name as you speak this scripture out loud:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed (name) in Christ with every spiritual blessings in the heavenly places, even as He chose (name) in Him before the foundation of the world, that (name) should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined (name) for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed (name) in the Beloved. In Him (name) has redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon (name) . . . In Him (name) has obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will . . . In Him (name) also, when (name) heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of (name) inheritance until (name) acquires possession of it (Eph. 1:3-14).

Unknowns of Life…

He knows what is in the darkness…

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, You knew my path.

Daniel 2:22b NASB   Psalm 142:3a  NASB

The unknown. We all fear it. We avoid situations that cause it. We try to prevent it. But it’s unavoidable isn’t it? We have no idea what the traffic will be on our way home from work let alone the weighty unknowns of life. The unknown factors at work in our world, our country, our health or our families. Will a spouse walk out? Will a pink slip be handed us? Will a terminal diagnosis be given? Try as we might, there is no adequate preparation for the pain and shock of such unknowns. For such times of darkness. Darkness that has the capacity to cause us to feel overwhelmed by the fear of the unknown.

As I pondered the idea of the unknowns of life, my eyes fell on this, circled and highlighted in orange, sentence in my Bible; “He knows what is in the darkness.” Though I don’t recall why I highlighted the verse – at this moment, it jumped off the page at me. His Spirit speaking directly to me. “Becky, I know.” My Father knows what the darkness conceals. He knows my path, He illumines my darkness. He knows. I found genuine comfort embedded in that reminder.

Whatever form of darkness you’re facing today, trust the One who sees into the dark unknown and follow His lead through the murkiness of your circumstance.

Becky White

The unknowns, the around-the-corner issues of life are like a darkness that conceals what we desperately want to know. What’s next on the agenda of life’s challenges? A toddler’s sniffles or a marriage in distress? A cancer diagnosis or a broken-down car? A career move or a sudden death? A child’s rebellion or an out-of-my-comfort-zone season? Whatever the “darkness”, He sees, He is aware.

Whatever form of darkness you’re facing today, trust the One who sees into the dark unknown and follow His lead through the murkiness of your circumstance.

If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night, “even the darkness is not dark to you the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. Psalm 139:11-12 ESV

“Now, I know in my experience that Jesus’ light is stronger than the biggest darkness.”

Corrie ten Boom

My Father,

Try as I might, I can’t “prepare” for every potential difficulty that may occur (And You know I try!). Grant me the ability to rest in the knowledge that You see into the darkness of my challenges and have already made provision for all that will come my way. You are never caught off guard. Thank You Father!

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

Family Dinner

Meatballs by Rebecca A.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.

 Psalm 23: 5a    Psalm 145:16 NLT

Our monthly family dinner is a time of beautifully controlled chaos. Bursting with good food and loud conversation and chattering grandkids and craziness and drama and laughter and spilled drinks … and family. Talk of the latest ball game or promotions or inevitable life challenges can be heard mingled with the sounds of forks mindlessly hitting the plate to entwine bites of homemade spaghetti and meatballs. Family dinner in all it’s beautiful chaos. We love it.

As I read Psalm 23, I was struck that God prepares a table for us, but unlike the family dinner table, this table is prepared for us in the presence of our enemies. Right there, smack in the middle of enemies, our Lord is able to treat us to a meal. Enabling us to relax and sit at His table that’s overflowing with His peace, His presence, His provision. Not by removing the “enemies” but right there in their presence. In spite of them.

What “enemy” is in your presence today?

What “enemy” is in your presence today?

Grief. Loss. Rejection. Illness. Financial collapse. Fear. Despair. “What if” or “Why” questions… The Lord has prepared a table for you, for me…right there. Right smack in the middle of real-life.

Yet whether or not we sit and enjoy His offerings is our choice. We can be so distracted by the enemy that we miss His table all together. Or perhaps we’re waiting for the enemies of life to go away before sitting down to the table of His peace and presence and provision.

During family dinner, I can easily get so focused on the meal and spills and serving, that I neglect the gift of family right in front of me. As we encounter the enemies of life, we too can become so focused on coping or “doing” that we neglect the table He has prepared for us right there in the middle of our enemies.

Practically speaking, what does “sitting at His table” look like? A simple prayer of “Help” (no need to get theological, just cry out to Him) then opening His Word to read aloud a Psalm (23 or 37 or 46 are great places to begin). Together, let’s stop. Pull out a chair and sit at the table of His presence. Though there’s probably no Italian meatballs on the menu, what our Father God offers is beyond any culinary delight. He opens His hand and offers us His very peace and provision to fully satisfy the longing soul.

I do not shield you from hardship. I give you victory while in the throes of adversity.

– Francis J. Roberts

Father, Thank You for Your provision – for Your table in the very presence of my enemies. Grow in me a depth of faith that is able to relax at Your table regardless of what swirls around.  You are entirely faithful! How I love You! In Jesus’. Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus.

Brevity of Life

All my days were written in Your book and ordained for me before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139:16b Berean Study Bible

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Luke 12:25 Berean Study Bible

“LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.” Psalm 39:4-5  NLT

The LORD has done great things for us, And we are glad. Psalm 126:3 NKJV

Nearly two years ago, I almost died. Almost. Coronary artery disease. Widow maker. Near total blockage. Emergency open-heart surgery. Phrases that were foreign to me, are now an everyday part of my vocabulary. On that day, in that moment, the only thing that mattered was my relationship with Jesus Christ. With that as my focus, God enabled my husband and me to walk through the near panic and what if’s, immersed in His peace. Not a peace based on an assured outcome (there was not), but His peace based on His goodness and utter faithfulness, whatever the outcome.

Through that experience, I was reminded of the obvious – eating (fairly) healthy and exercising several times a week does not carry any guarantees. In the end, the stats don’t lie, ten out of ten people die. I was no exception. And neither are you….

In an era of the twin global pandemics of fear and viruses, some of us have behaved as if we could add an hour to our life with a few Clorox wipes. We cannot. God’s Word assures us that the days ordained for us have been established before even one began. The enemy cannot steal our life away. God has the final say. What we can do is make certain of our eternal destination (1 John 5:13), then live every moment for the glory of God (Isaiah 43:7). And in the end, rest in His faithful goodness. Whatever the outcome.

The goal of our life is not to arrive safely at death. Yes, we should do our best to stay healthy so we can serve our Lord by serving those He places in our path, but our goal isn’t simply old age. Our aim is to honor the One who willingly paid the payment for our sin, every day He grants us. Leave no change on the table. Serve Him with gusto. Our Lord mingled with lepers, I think we can attend church in person or volunteer to feed the hungry. In the end, He holds our lives in His hands, and the lives of those we love. Our days are but a breath or a puff of hairspray (in my case).

The goal of life is not to arrive safely at death.

Billy Graham has said that the one thing that surprised him about life is its brevity. So today, as I give thanks to my Lord and reflect on the year that’s gone by … as I reflect on the fragileness and brevity of life, I am moved to remind you as well. Live life to the full. If fear has become an unwelcome guest these past two years, push it back by inviting the Holy Spirit to have His way with you.

Father God, I am so thankful for the gift of life, for the gift of eternal life and for the gift of another year to serve You. I love You so and am so very thankful for Your goodness toward me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

Please check out Stony Paths, the devo borne out of the difficulties He’s faithfully walked me through. He’ll do the same for you, dear one.

I Only Have …

“And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” He said, “Bring them here to Me.”” Matthew 14:17-18 NKJV

For a quick refresher, Jesus’ disciples were confronted with an impossible situation, and they knew it. 5000 men, along with their wives and children needed a meal, in a time and place without Door-Dash or Uber Eats. When the disciples presented Jesus with the situation, Jesus said, “You feed them.” The disciples explained, “I don’t think You understand Jesus, we only have a few Ritz crackers and some sardines!” (Becky’s translation).  Jesus replied, “Bring what you have to Me.”

I know … it’s unlikely we’ll ever need to feed a stadium full of hungry folks. Yet, each of us are faced with our own versions of circumstances when “all we have,” isn’t enough. When we look our trial full in the face and know we lack what it takes to walk through it or fix it.

Times, when the diagnosis has been confirmed, when the divorce papers have been signed, when the casket lid has closed, when depression engulfs us or when the 2am phone call comes … when we face our own version of “I only have…”  What do we do? We give Him what we have. Trusting Him with the impossible.

Even when we only have …

Brokenness.

Disappointment.

Fear of what if.

Heartache.

Failure.

Rejection.

Questions.

Just enough.

Shattered expectations.

We give Him what we have as an act of trust. Lifting our hands in whispered prayer, “Here it is, Father. All that I have is Yours. Make a way where there seems to be no way, I turn this over to You.” Without attempting to figure out how He can possibly “feed 5000” with our meager, hot-mess offerings, we simply trust Him. Once we’ve given all we have to Him, let’s open His Word. For encouragement, Psalms anywhere will do. For wisdom, Proverbs is our go-to place. Let’s intentionally listen for His voice of direction or comfort or even conviction. In His great faithfulness, He will meet our needs in ways that are beyond our imagination.

In the end, Jesus not only enabled the disciples to feed all the folks in need, but just to show us how He delights in moving on the behalf of those who wait for and trust Him, there were 12 baskets of sardines and crackers left over! A gift basket for each disciple.

Let’s be willing to offer Him what we have, and He’ll turn our crumbs into a feast of His faithfulness for all to see.

All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife, but He made something beautiful of my life.

– Bill Gather (Something Beautiful song lyrics)

Father God, I offer back to You all I have – my meager strength, lack of wisdom and hot-mess situation … and thank You ahead of time for doing the impossible. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

For a FREE pdf the gritty devotional, Stony Paths. or to purchase a hard copy and check out other items, visit the products page.

Whose Voice is that?

The following is a devotional I wrote (and just came across again) about 15 years ago. As much as I hate to admit it – I still have to wrestle through this issue. Maybe you do to. Perhaps you don’t get tripped up with the same lie, maybe the lie you hear, and fall for, is completely different. Whatever the case – listen closely … whose voice are YOU hearing?

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.  

God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

John 10:27   NASB ~ 1 john 4:1 NASB ~ 1 Corinthians 14:33 NASB

Sometimes, as I pray for my family, I inwardly hear, “You should spend time praying for the nations or the president or your friend who’s sick”, so I shift my prayer focus and then I hear, “You haven’t spent any time in the Word today, what makes you think you can pray effectively if you haven’t listened for God’s voice?” Later in the day, I’ll grab a cup of coffee, dig into some office work and then hear, “You really should be helping the kids with their homeschooling, that’s much more important.” Pushing myself away from the computer, I go help with math or review a spelling assignment and then I hear, “Some Mom you are, your teenage kids can’t even get their school work done without you sitting right beside them.” By this time I am completely worn out and feel like a complete failure.

Alright, no laughing! Sure, it’s easy to see the cycle of craziness now, but not so simple when you’re in the midst of it!

While you may not fall for this particular ploy of the enemy, I would bet there are others that trip you up. Does he whisper to you, “A real Christian wouldn’t do that”? Perhaps he tells you, “You haven’t prayed long enough, read the Bible enough or ____________ enough to be of use to God”? Maybe you hear the flip side of that lie, “God doesn’t really expect me to__________, that’s for “super spiritual” people.

See what I mean? It’s not that easy to spot when you’re in the midst of it.

Why do we fall for such lies? Speaking for myself, it happens when I don’t take the time to discern the voice I’m listening to. if I did, I would recall that the Holy Spirit gently leads, corrects and instructs, He doesn’t coerce or criticize, or cause me to feel driven. Ever. Criticism and coercion is the M.O. of our enemy, not our Shepherd.

Eventually I realized that the “voice” I was allowing to guide me wasn’t the Holy Spirit or even my conscience – it was the enemy. I had permitted myself to be pulled in every direction and not only lost my peace in the process, but didn’t accomplish what God really want to accomplish through me that day.

Okay, I guess you can laugh now!

“Readers are advised to remember the devil is a liar.”

C.S. Lewis

Father, Please give me the ability to distinguish Your Holy Spirit’s voice from the clamor of the enemy. Enable me to quickly spot the ploys of Satan that get me off course and into confusion.  I appreciate so much that I can be real with my needs and frailties, knowing You will accept my heartfelt cry of brokenness. Thank You, Jesus.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

Click below for FREE pdf my devotional of, Stony Paths. To purchase a hard copy or check out other items, visit the products page.

Learning to Trust Him as we walk along STONY PATHS – 09.24.2021Download

Dealt Cards

I trusted in, relied on, and was confident in You, O Lord, I said You are my God, my times are in Your hands.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of sympathy and the God of all comfort,  Who comforts (consoles and encourages) us in every trouble (calamity and affliction), so that we may also be able to comfort (console and encourage) those who are in any kind of trouble or distress, with the comfort (consolation and encouragement) with which we ourselves are comforted (consoled and encouraged) by God.

Psalm 31:14b-15a & 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 AMPC

 “That’s just the hand I was dealt” says the person that endured a crummy childhood or was born into poverty or family disfunction. Or when life throws a few curve balls such as a spouse walking out or a child rebelling or coping with the pain of infertility or dealing with a prolonged illness. That’s when we would love the chance to say, “Re-deal”, I have a crappy hand!”

Recently, over lunch with a friend, we talked about some of our own “dealt cards” such as childhood trauma, relationship betrayal, death of children, life-threatening illnesses, financial difficulties and some cards that are too sensitive to bring out into the light. On the drive home, after our lunch discussion of dealt cards, I mentally opened my hand, fanning out my life’s cards. I was stunned at the Lord’s perfect wisdom and providence in His dealings (no pun intended) with me. Though I would have passed on several of the cards or traded if I had been given a choice, I clearly see that each has its purpose. Through “the hand I was dealt”, The Lord has provided me a platform authenticated by suffering – to minister to others in a way that would have been impossible without those cards of difficulty.

You see, I can pull out my card of betrayal and share authentically with someone going through divorce or desertion. I can pull out my card of grief at having buried two children as I listen (and hug) the one burying a spouse or child. I can pull from the deck my card of illness after walking through a near-death sudden illness, as I listen to their fears or “what ifs.” The Lord has graciously given me the opportunity to say with authenticity, “I’ve been there, I know what that feels like… and He has faithfully walked me through it… come, let me show you.”

If we are to be good comforters, we must first need comforted.

Anonymous

Alright dear one, what cards have you been dealt? Fan out your hand, look clearly at the cards you’re holding and ask yourself…How can I leverage this “card” for His glory and another’s good?

Precious Lord, God of all comfort – thank You for showing Yourself strong on my behalf as You simultaneously comfort me and enable me to comfort others with the comfort I’ve received from You. I stand amazed at Your faithfulness and goodness toward me! In Jesus’ name, Amen

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus