Suffering is an inevitable part of life, but it’s not a road we walk alone. In the darkest moments, God’s presence is our anchor, offering comfort, strength, and hope. For those feeling hopeless, the promise of His nearness reminds us that suffering is not without purpose and that His glory outshines our pain.

Do you ever think about when you first encountered Jesus? Have you felt like there was some part of that missing in your heart? Do you remember when you first encountered Jesus and the fire burned brightly?

As Americans, we are blessed to live in a country that values freedom and democracy. As believers in Jesus, our true freedom comes only in our relationship with Jesus Christ. Galatians 5:1 states “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” Let us thank God for setting us free from bondage through Jesus’ victory and the liberty He purchased through His shed blood.

Of course, everyone has a unique story about their father. Maybe you are a father who is estranged from their children or never met their children. Jesus understands.

A lot of us have had dreams that haven’t seemed to work out and we have wound up disappointed, discouraged and in despair. We may have just said oh well to ourselves and just written it off as too late or too dead.

However, I have been sensing for a while God is rewriting our stories to make them better than we could have ever imagined.

Everyone one of us has been hurt in the past and we all seek to be known and understood by others. God didn’t create us to live in isolation, but to live in relationship with our spiritual family, even if there are differing opinions or perspectives. We can still agree that God is good and loves people so much that it is inconceivable to us, really.

As I was walking, God began speaking to me about how Emmie’s reaction to other dogs was based on her hurts and fears was not very different than how we react when we have not been healed of scarred and renewed our mind to see things differently than what we had known.

When we moved into our home last year, I really wanted to plant a Lily of the Valley immediately in front of the front door in the little garden as a tribute to God, a memorial of sorts. We had been walking through a valley, but I wanted to honor God for His faithfulness, goodness and beauty even in the midst of trials and tribulations. Jesus says in Song of Solomon 2:1, I am the rose of Sharon, And the lily of the valleys.

Honor is an amazing word. To give honor means to prefer. It means to give preference to God, His thoughts, and His ways. When we choose to honor God we are telling God I lean into you as the one who knows all things and what’s best for me.