Three years ago today our family was shell-shocked. We were scared, confused, abandoned, hurt. We felt fearful, heart-broken and lost.
Today, Stephen preached at a friend's church and during the service, they called all of us to the front and prayed over us. People left their pews, circled around us, laid their hands on us, and prayed. I couldn't help but think how far we've come.
Three years ago we received so many sweet words, prayers, notes, gifts, visits, and even offers to beat up a few Baptist deacons and their wives! Those things got us through some rocky months. But more than anything, the comfort we received from the Lord reassured us that we were loved and cared for by Him. He saw our pain, He knew our pain, and He loved us.
Jesus redeemed our lostness, our pain, our worry, and our sadness. One of Samuel's favorite songs when we was a toddler said, "I'm trading my sorrow, I'm trading my shame, I'm trading them all for the joy of the Lord." Oh people, we have done that! We have traded all of the happenings that day for all the goodness of the Lord.
I'm not saying we are where we want to be. We're not. I'm not saying we are perfectly content and happy all the time. We're not. But we are working hard at doing what the Lord wants for us.
Time does help heal wounds, but the Lord does quite an awesome job at it too!
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