As I thought about the heartaches many families are facing on this day, I was struck by how suddenly life takes twists and turns.  On one day, the pace of life is humdrum and routine.  The next day, we are faced with unimagineable trials and crises.  How are we to prepare for such shocks?   

At a Women of Faith conference, I once heard Shelia Walsh say that when we pray, whether we get the answer we hoped for or the answer we dread, our God is still the same.  Those answers we dread are the moments that define and shape our faith. 

Psalm 11:3-4; 7 draws attention to the keenly important things we must remember in those moments.

 3  The bottom's dropped out of the country;
      good people don't have a chance"?

 4   But God hasn't moved to the mountains;
      his holy address hasn't changed.
   He's in charge, as always, his eyes
      taking everything in, his eyelids
   Unblinking, examining Adam's unruly brood
      inside and out, not missing a thing. 
   
 7 God's business is putting things right;
      he loves getting the lines straight,
   Setting us straight. Once we're standing tall,
      we can look him straight in the eye.

Let us never forget that God is in the business of "putting things right."  We probably will not see how the brokenness before us can ever be whole again.  That's okay; we don't have to see how it can be whole.  We don't have to understand.  We only have to trust that the God of all Creation does see and know all things. 

Father, I pray this day that those whose hearts are broken will breathe deeply and draw into their innermost hearts the mercy, love, and compassion that only You can provide.  I pray that Your children will rally 'round these hurting ones ministering in love and tenderness.  I give thanks that You are the God who sees and knows all that Your children need to be whole and purposeful.  In Jesus' most precious name, Amen

 The advice the song gives is to “suck it up…and enjoy the ride.” It reminded me of the glaring difference for believers who are facing tough times.  We can take our heartaches and fears to God and ask Him to guide us, comfort us, protect us, and strengthen us.  We don’t have to depend on our own ability to endure the dark days.

 I know many believers who have faced the toughest things there are to face in life--death, loss, illness, rejection from loved ones, loss of income, and countless other hard times.  They each testify with praise to God for seeing them through those dark days.  They don’t regret depending on Him during those times.  I can personally tell you that God grew me in those deep, dark valleys in ways I would never have grown otherwise.

 I celebrate my relationship with a God who demonstrates His powerful provision especially when the valley is deep and dark.  I prefer this song to the country one I heard today:

When the valley is deep
When the mountain is steep
When the body is weary
When we stumble and fall

When the choices are hard
When we're battered and scarred
When we've spent our resources
When we've given our all

Chorus:
In Jesus' name, we press on
In Jesus' name, we press on
Dear Lord, with the prize
Clear before our eyes
We find the strength to press on

In Jesus' name, we press on
In Jesus' name, we press on
Dear Lord, with the prize
Clear before our eyes
We find the strength to press on
To press on