Blessings wrapped in trials...

I was invited to have dinner with two incredible women last night. One, a young mom and the other a soon to be grandmother. Both have experienced heartache. Both have experienced trials. Both are women who know from experience where their strength comes from. And I had the privilege of sharing a meal while they shared their hearts.


As we ate and laughed and talked about life, the conversation turned to God's goodness. We remembered together what brought us all to that table. The tapestry that only a loving and merciful God could weave together. We recalled how I received a phone call one day asking me to call a young mom who was new to the church and needed a place to learn and be loved on. The phone call came from my sweet friend who died suddenly a year ago. She was the definition of hospitality and loving well. She began the tapestry by making that phone call.


I then called the young mom and invited her to my home for Bible study. She came. She listened. She slowly began to share her heart and her hurt. The women in my den embraced her with prayer and love. She began to experience community. And she loved us well also. The door to freedom was slowly being opened.


A year or so later, I received another phone call. This one was a call of help and need. Things had escalated at home. She no longer felt safe there. She needed a break and needed somewhere to go. A name popped in my head. I made a phone call. My other friend's heart was open and so was her home. The connection was made and another door to freedom was opened.


My friend who opened her home had been in my Bible study years before. She had gone through a divorce after many years of marriage. She was on the other side of healing. She was allowing God to use her story to help young girls. Her heart and her home had been prepared over the last few years and she was in a place financially and spiritually to offer long term help.


The last few months have been full of healing and learning and blessings. None of it has been easy. Both of my friends would tell you that none of it has been fun. The reality of the situation is hard and ugly and painful. But the blessings are real too. They are illuminated among the darkness of the situation. Something only God can do. Beauty for ashes.


As I drove home in the damp fog last night, I was keenly aware of my headlights cutting through the mist. I could only see a few feet in front of me until my lights illuminated what was around the corner. I was overwhelmed by the privilege of being a small part of God's big picture. His faithfulness never ceases to amaze me. Both of these women have allowed me to pray for them and with them through their trials. And He has allowed me to see His faithfulness in action. 


It doesn't always happen like that. We don't always get to see the blessings. But when we do, we need to recognize them and celebrate in the middle of the trial. That is what last night was about. The pain is not over. The situation is not resolved. The answers are still not clear. But in the middle of it all, we celebrated Who God is.


A young mom who is looking forward into an unknown future. An older mom who is looking back over a life of hard lessons. And a humbled mom who is blessed to have a glimpse into God's handiwork. He is faithful. He is merciful. He is the door to freedom.

I purchased this Peace for you with My blood. 

You receive this gift by trusting Me 

in the midst of life's storms. If you have the world's peace-

everything going your way- you don't seek 

My unfathomable Peace. Thank Me when things 

do not go your way, because spiritual blessings 

come wrapped in trials. ~ Jesus Calling