BUT THEN….

It was Wednesday evening when I received the news of my young nieces’ unexpected passing.  Suddenly, my world turned upside down and went spinning out of control.  My thoughts went like this:

I can’t believe it – I just can’t understand how this can be real!

I can’t imagine! I feel so many emotions – I feel so is much sadness, pain and hurt and even numbness!

I have questions and more questions…they just keep coming!

So hard to deal with this all at once.

I have so much to do…packing, notifying, travel arrangements, being there for others while trying to work my own way through this – I am overwhelmed!

I have no control over the tears… I…I…I…

BUT THEN

God calls me to Him and says, “Come to Me and I will give you peace and rest.  I will give you strength and I will give you wisdom.  I am your Rock and your Hiding Place. I am your Anchor in this storm.  Be still and listen.  We will get through this together.  Trust Me. Keep your eyes on Me! I am with you and I will never leave you!”

It is the Lord who is my hope and my strength.  He is my firm foundation in this storm.  Thank You Lord!

Psalm 23 from Psalms/Now   Words by Leslie Brandt

The Lord is my constant companion.

There is no need that He cannot fulfill.

Whether His course for me points

to the mountaintops of glorious ecstasy or the valleys of human suffering,

He is by my side,

He is ever present with me.

He is close beside me

when I tread the dark streets of danger, and even when I flirt with death itself,

He will not leave me.

When the pain is severe,

He is near to comfort.

When the burden is heavy,

He is there to lean upon,

When depression darkens my soul,

He touches me with eternal joy.

When I feel empty and alone,

He fills the aching vacuum with His power.

My security is in His promise

To be near to me always,

and in the knowledge

that He will never let me go.