Psalm 143:11/Bring My Soul Out of Trouble

                                   Joshua Looking Up


Are you in trouble today? You know the kind. Spiritual anguish and sorrow so intense you feel you may perish from a broken heart.

I understand. I've suffered on the same path as you.

Listen to what David says: Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.

Do we understand what David means here?

Everything we do, say, feel, and believe is to give glory to God. That doesn't always happen, isn't that correct? We're so frail. So human. So needy before our Lord.

Please take a moment to write down this scripture. Post it on your frig or the bathroom mirror. Memorize it.

I'd like to suggest a book that moved me from the stuck position, during my journey of loss. Margaret Brownley's Grieving God's Way: The Path to Lasting Hope and Healing.

Here's my prayer for us today:

Father, please help us to stay in forward motion in our grief. Please show us if we are stuck, or going through the grieving in a way that pleases You. Wrap Your arms of protection around us grieving parents. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Until next time . . . pray.

Psalm 143:8/Cause Me To Hear

                       Joshua & his dad at the Grand Canyon


As grieving parents, are our ears stopped up today? Have they been for awhile?

My hearing becomes stuffed full of cotton more times than I care to admit. I don't see God working in my life. I don't sense Him in the moments when life almost chokes out my trust in God.

Look at what David wrote: Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. Psalm 143:8 KJV

King David never stopped trusting in the Lord. That is profound to me, one with such a wee faith. I long to trust the Lord, but it's hard work. I've never stopped trying, but it's still hard work.

I also found more in this first part: Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning;

I can not count the mornings after Joshua's suicide when I woke, feeling a black hole in my heart. And a dull void in my brain. Even at the present, I know the trigger days when I wake and the blues will cloud my mind. Days like Joshua's birthday, death day, his favoritie holidays.

How about you? Do you ever feel as I do?

God bless you, dear reader, and this my prayer: Father God, please give those of us grieving parents Your strength to rise up and know that You are ready to meet us in the mornings. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Until next time . . . hear.

Psalms 142:4,7

The first post of the Psalms was a bit long as an introductory. From now on the others will be treated as devotional style posts. Think of them as itty bitty bites of comfort that may help you through your day.

 From King David:
4. I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me; refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. 7. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me. Psalm 142: 4,7


Is this how you feel? No man or woman knows you or understands the pain you feel over the loss of your child? Truly no one can perfectly understand how you feel over your loss. There is only One who can and does, and that's the Lord.

The verses between four and seven are of David pleading with Lord, God, and God heard and rewarded him. It is important to turn to God first, and then humans with listening ears will come as our reward. For only God can comfort us as we need.

My prayer for today:
Father, I ask that you help us parents of loss who grieve over our child. Please allow us to sense Your presence, and thank You for that a head of time. In Jesus name. Amen.

Until next time . . . open your arms to Jesus' love.