Perseverance and Trust

On By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

Joy in Hard Times (Daily Refresh, 2-10-26)

Nobody enjoys suffering. It’s hard to find joy in the midst of trials or difficult seasons—it’s much easier to feel sadness or misery.

That’s why Paul’s encouragement in Romans 5 may sound contradictory. Paul was writing this to the church in Rome experiencing suffering from ungodly rulers, and yet he encourages them to rejoice in their suffering. 

It wasn’t enough to just endure suffering—he tells them to have joy. Paul knew that it wasn’t natural to be joyful in hard times, but through the work of Jesus, Christians have peace with God and access to faith (Romans 5:1-2). Faith allows us to hold onto the hope that suffering isn’t the end of our story. 

Because we know that God works within our difficult situations, we can have patience and perseverance for God to complete His work. Perseverance refines our character. As we wait on God, we become people who look more like Jesus, and our trust in God grows stronger. This increases hope within us. 

It’s not easy to have hope when you’re suffering. But as we trust in God, we are strengthened to continue to endure. When we look at suffering from God’s perspective, we begin to realize that He is working to bring glory to Himself in every situation.

God has shown us through the Holy Spirit that He loves us. He suffered and gave Himself for us so that we could have a relationship with Him, and He will continue to give us everything we need to live a life that honors Him.

So consider how God is working in your life, even through difficult seasons. Think about the ways God has poured His love into you through the Holy Spirit. Ask Him for strength to persevere, and let that perseverance develop into a strong character that hopes and trusts in God even in hard times. And when persevering gets difficult, hold onto this truth: God has given everything for you, and He will never leave your side.

My Thoughts

Hallelujah! The last word in my life, the only one that matters is from God! That last sentence means so much to me. Persevering has been difficult; a broken foot in September and wearing a heavy boot until mid-November; shoulder pain starting in December; a poor report from my rheumatologist; and generally fatigued from constant lack of sleep. I am not complaining, my friends, but I am laying out the facts of what I have been dealing with for the last six months. But…God! I am holding onto God’s truth with everything I have. He has already given it all, and He promised to me right there with me. There’s a hymn I would like you to look up and listen to that the Holy Spirit just reminded me of as I was typing. It’s called “Through it All.” We used to sing this song in a small church in South Carolina. At the time, I am sure that I just sang along, thankful that my “all” hadn’t been so bad so far. Now, I can say that even when it is bad, I “have learned to trust in Jesus, I have learned to trust in God.” He is my hope, my stay and the reason that I can persevere.

This is another week of medical appointments, with physical therapy twice, my kidney doctor today and ortho tomorrow. My sweet husband takes me to all of my appointments, waits for me outside or, in the case of ortho, goes in with me to hear what is happening with my shoulder. Please keep him in your prayers, too, as he faithfully walks through these trials with me. I appreciate your prayers, but I know that no matter what the test results show and the diagnosis/prognosis is, God is in control. He has never left me in the 50+ years since He came into my life and I am confident that He never will.

Whatever you are going through, please take time to rest in His presence and soak in His love. That will help you, as it helps me, to get through the next thing. Nothing, not one thing, can separate us from the Father’s love! And that is where the joy is!

Choose Joy

On By vickleaIn Scripture5 Comments

First of all, I want to share that I believe that there is a huge difference between happiness and joy. I think happiness depends on our circumstances, but joy is a fruit of the Spirit and comes as we lean into Him. Having said that, I want to assure all of my readers that I am not happy about my health issues, but I am still filled with joy because I am leaving all of the problems in God’s hands and He is giving me peace. It’s a daily thing, coming before His altar and presenting my thankfulness and my petitions as well as my frustrations over thin bones, one kidney and a shoulder that is giving me fits. He already knows, doesn’t He?

God’s closeness to me means that in the midst of pain and anxiety, I can still have joy. He has promised me that He will take care of me, and I believe Him.

Circumstances change, but God never does. Thus we can rejoice in His constancy, His faithfulness and His love.

I wish I could honestly say that I am always faith-filled and peaceful, but I am not. There are days when I am angry at the circumstances, doubting God’s love and crying out my rage to Him. But you know what? He is big enough to take it and His response is to fill me with His peace. It’s like He says to me, “Are you done now? Okay. Now, take this peace, calm down and remember that I am right there beside you.” Then His peace puts a shield around me so that the next thing that happens doesn’t knock me over. I am learning to bend with the circumstances of my life, to accept who God made me to be and to have peace and joy knowing that nothing gets to me unless it goes through Him.

So, how do I try to maintain that peace and joy? By memorizing this verse and saying it to myself. Is what I am thinking pure, lovely, admirable, praiseworthy, true, noble and right? If not, I need to choose to redirect my thoughts. That generally means to change my focus to the Lord and others and not on myself.

This prayer is from the YouVersion Daily Refresh today and it meant a lot to me. God is truly my Anchor in a stormy sea. Whatever I face is not too big for God to handle. I just have to trust in Him and open myself to be filled with His joy. Again, I remind you that I am not always happy, but I am joy-filled.

Amen and amen. In good times, in bad times, in all times, God is always good and deserves all of the glory!

The Lord Is My…

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

What does the Lord mean to you personally? There are many names of God: Provider, Healer, Savior. I want to explore what the YouVersion says when I search for “the Lord is my…”

As my shepherd, the Lord can be completely trusted to take care of me, to watch over me and to provide for my needs. He cares for me so much that when I was wandering around lost, He sought me out, found me and brought me into the fold.

Rock…steady and trustworthy. Fortress, a place of safety. Deliverer, from all and any who would harm me. My strength, when I think I cannot go to one more doctor and do one more test. God is right there, giving me the encouragement and strength to just get it done. My shield, the One who stands between me and those who desire to hurt me with their words. This includes the enemy of my soul who wants me to be burned by his flaming arrows. The horn of my salvation, the one to whom I run for protection. In the Old Testament, the people could run into the synagogue and grasp the horns of the altar where they could be protected from those who pursued them. And finally, my stronghold, He is my safe space. Nothing touches me in the presence of God unless He allows it.

Refuge, strength and a very present help. God doesn’t wait on the sidelines as an observer, waiting to see if we come out of our trials or not. He is right there with us, in the middle of the wilderness and the storm. He holds us up and walks us through it. For me, that means even when I don’t want to move forward into another unknown medical problem, God is right there with me, letting me know that His presence is going with me and “nothing will happen to me today that God and I cannot handle together.”

Right after the Israelites fought and won their battle against the Amalekites, this was the response of Moses. What is a banner?

When Israel faced the Amalekites in battle at Rephidim it wasn’t with overwhelming force, an experienced army, or the best commanders. It was as a transient tribe of herdsmen escaping slavery in Egypt and travelling uncertainly to a promised land they hadn’t seen in over four hundred years. They were trespassers travelling through the lands of fierce fighting peoples. They travelled with women, children, herds, and all their possessions. The battle was for survival, for hope, for a future.

But they travelled with something else too, something else that no other nation on earth had – a pillar of fire, a cloud of smoke, the very presence of God. Israel did not fight its battles alone. No matter how inexperienced or overmatched they were they were never the underdogs. No matter how desperate they felt they were never at a loss. The great general, the perfect protector, the LORD was with them. The very name used in Scripture is Jehovah Nissi – “the Lord is my banner”. Moses experienced both physical and spiritual victory with the Lord’s banner waving over the battle.

When Moses built the altar and called it, “The LORD is my banner,” he was creating a place of remembrance, a celebration of victory, an expression of thanks. He was making a declaration, one that any follower of Jesus can share in today: The LORD is my banner and we are the LORD’s. It was a declaration not just of who God is and what He has done, but of who were as His people.*

*Information from Bible Study Tools

What is God to you? The Lord Is My Everything and All I Need!

Jesus Is All I Need-John Wilds

A Mighty Fortress

How Great Thou Art-Dutchforward

A Life Filled with Hope

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

Fight Fear with Hope (Daily Refresh, 2-05-26)

It seems there’s always something to worry about: natural disasters, current (and potential) wars, shaky finances, relational brokenness, unmet expectations, political/cultural/racial divisions, senseless violence, our kids, our jobs, our health, and more—much more. But many of the things we fear are largely out of our control.

We can’t always control what happens to us, but we can choose our response.

You can constantly be worried, negative, anxious, fearful, critical, and bitter. Or, you can be known for seeing the good in people, choosing joy, offering encouragement, looking for God’s fingerprints, and always finding something to be grateful for. In either case, the cycle feeds itself. 

Like hummingbirds are attracted to sweet things while vultures scour the earth for dead things, we will always find what we are looking for. Why? Because darkness and light both exist. Good and evil are everyday realities. And we must decide who we’ll trust, and how we’ll spend our lives. 

There are plenty of scary things happening in the world, but—because of Jesus—there is always good.

Even on our darkest days, Jesus is the light of the world. He’s already carrying the weight of the world on His shoulders, which means we don’t have to. He has already made a way where there was no way, which means we can follow the path He has blazed. The Holy Spirit is already compelling us and leading us and teaching us and comforting us, which means we’re not alone.

The hope we have in Christ isn’t just wishful thinking or positive vibes. It’s hope that’s based on truth—on facts and faith.

So what can we do? The Bible says:

“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12:25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We can fight anxiousness with hope.
We can ward off worry with truth-filled encouragement.
We can resist fear by offering life-giving words.
We can refuse to settle for living scared.
We can expose the darkness to light.

So the next time you feel anxiety and fear weighing down your heart, ask God for help and encouragement. Remember, He is closer than a prayer away.

My Thoughts

As usual, the devotional today was just what I needed. Lots of anxiety about various issues have been pressing in, but I have chosen to look at God while diving into His Word for the comfort and strength that I need.

I went to my arthritis doctor yesterday for a bone density test and a consultation with the doctor afterwards. The news he shared with me was bad, but since I know Who made me and the eternity that awaits me, I am choosing not to be discouraged. He told me that I cannot ever lift over five pounds because my spinal column can collapse. And my hip has a high probability that it will fracture if I fall. And my wrist won’t just fracture, but the bones there are so thin that they will shatter. Then, he told me that there are no medications he knows of to help my bones because of my single kidney. So, he wants me to see my endocrinologist to see if she has any suggestions.

I really, really like and trust my endocrinologist. She takes all the time she needs to be with me and generally assures me that she will research my problems until she has an answer. I don’t know that she will have an answer for me, but I do know that her soft-spoken words help me stay calm. She doesn’t falsely claim that all will be okay; rather, she says she will do all she can to find an answer.

Meanwhile, when I spoke to my family about the situation, they were first upset for me and then I told them that God is writing the end of my story. Not the doctors. So, whether I pass away from kidney failure, another stroke or fractured bones that won’t heal, or even something else, God will be with me. He has never left me and this new scan did not catch Him by surprise, nor is He in heaven wringing His hands over the results. God is doing what God does every day, taking care of me and you and His world. I choose to live a life of hope and for me, that means continuing to live with God first, family second and friends next. Am I rejoicing over the prognosis? No, but neither am I sleepless and anxious. I know who is in control, and it’s not me or the doctors. God is and was and always will be in control of what happens to me; thus, I walk into a certain future because it is one God planned for me. And all He does is good! 🙂

Walking Home

On By vickleaIn Scripture4 Comments

I didn’t walk home very much when I was young and in school. I usually took the big yellow bus. But once in a while, I did walk home and I remember that it was always with a group of friends. We chatted and laughed together as we ambled home, stopping frequently to look at whatever caught our attention. It took us a while to get home, but we always made it and with a smile on our faces.

Fast forward to today. We are each “walking home” and I pray for each of you that you are making this journey with a friend or cherished loved one.

The Lord is preparing a forever home for each of us. Wonderful news…every day brings us closer to reaching that destination!

A whole new city that God is preparing for us! This is too awesome for us to imagine, that God is going to live among us, there will no longer be any need for the sun for light and there will be no more night. No more sorrow or pain or tears! To arrive, we have to keep walking.

I found this quotation in one of my devotionals and created this graphic on Canva. I thought it was perfect for what I have been pondering lately. We are all in this together, helping each other up when we stumble, encouraging each other to just take the next step. After all, we are “walking each other home.”

Where I Belong-Building 429

Look at Yourself First

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

A Look in the Mirror (Daily Refresh, 2-04-26)

As humans, our default setting isn’t exactly selflessness. We often judge ourselves by our intentions, but judge others by their actions. We can be quick to accuse without first looking in the mirror. 

But Jesus calls us to live differently:

“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”
Matthew 7:12 NLT

Often referred to as the “golden rule,” it’s a brilliant litmus test for discerning how to respond to people in the face of hardship, uncertainty, and pain. 

Here are some ways we can apply this verse to our daily lives:

WHEN SOMEONE HURTS YOU…

Think: Have you ever hurt someone, either accidentally or intentionally? And when the mistake was made or realized, did you want to be screamed at and given a harsh consequence, or did you long for grace and a second chance? 

To the extent that we forgive, we are forgiven. So what if, today, we give others the same grace, compassion, and mercy that we’d like to receive?

WHEN SOMEONE IS STRUGGLING…

When you personally experience hardships, you might seek counsel from a pastor or mentor, but you probably also want a friend who will listen and help you process. You want someone to come alongside you who can handle your honest thoughts, and help you navigate the hurt in this world. 

Just as we need people to encourage us, we are also called to be that source of support to others. So today, consider what you can do to point people to God’s love and truth. 

WHEN SOMEONE HAS ANNOYED YOU…

People can be irritating at times. But if you’re ever considered an annoyance by somebody else, would you rather that person talk bad about you, or have patience with you? We are all works in progress and are all called to show mercy and grace. 

So this week, when you’re tempted to lash out at someone requiring a little “extra” of you, or dismiss someone who’s getting on your last nerve, consider asking yourself: If I were them, what would I want? 

If we want to live like Jesus, we need to do what He asks of us. And Jesus explained a key mindset in following Him—to treat others how you want to be treated.

My Thoughts

The practical advice in this devotional really spoke to me in all of the places that I needed a big reprimand. The devotional is exactly correct. I let myself slide, thinking to myself, “Well, I meant well.” But I hold others to the letter of what my expectations were. For example, in the middle of the cold wave, the heat duct in our bedroom stopped warming the room. Instead it was sending out a blast of cold air. My husband couldn’t get under our house to check things out until it was drier and at least a little warmer, so he went outside on Monday. He was there for several hours and when he came back in, he said he fixed the crossover but didn’t get to our bedroom. What?!? That’s the only room in the house without the heat working and it has been going down to the 50’s there at night. I was irate and more than a little flabbergasted that he worked on every vent except the one not working right. I let him know exactly how I felt, using the phrase that “I wish I were his renter because then it would be fixed.” Yesterday, I had to repent. We had to go to two of my medical appointments and Harry was tiptoeing lightly around me, not knowing if I was going to explode again or not. He did explain that that part of the house is more difficult for him to reach and in order to work there, he has to prepare the ground, make it lower and then try to work on the insulation and vent. All in continued cold conditions and with the ground very wet still since I’ve continues to cover the yard. I told him that I understood and that he needed to get to it on better days, like when Virginia warms up some. Today’s devotional certainly applied to this situation. If I had taken the time to ask Harry why he couldn’t fix the part that he definitely knew needed a repair, I would have found out the truth before I flew out of control at him. I wouldn’t want him to treat me that way, but I neglected to look in the mirror, didn’t I?

Unfortunately, I think that is true of most of us. Remember the Lord said that before we worry about the speck in the other person’s eye, we need to get the log out of our own. My offensive behavior towards my husband was purposeful and hurtful to him. He didn’t mean to upset me; he simply did not have the capability to do that part of the house without additional tools and time that he didn’t have.

I could go on and on with examples of when I needed to extend grace and operated with judgment and little thought or kindness. I would like to say that I have learned my lesson, but I am a work in progress and I know that I will continue to act in ways that are not how I should act. I just pray that this devotional will help remind me to think before I speak and to take a deep breath as I look into my mental mirror. Then, I can hopefully speak in love and not in anger. I am so grateful that God deals with me gently and desires me to grow, not to stay the same.

Comfort in God’s Word

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

He Comforts Us (Daily Refresh 2-03-26)

In ancient Israel, the rod and staff of a shepherd protected and guided the sheep, and even reminded the sheep that the shepherd was there. And so King David (who was a shepherd as a boy) used the metaphor in Psalm 23:4 to convey this truth: God was his protector and guide. 

King David faced death many times and had enemies bent on killing him. He also dealt with his own sin issues and personal mistakes. But in the midst of all this, he repeatedly turned his attention to the faithfulness and assurances of God. 

Where did he find these assurances? 

King David would have been a student of the Hebrew Scripture, the Torah—the first five books in our Bibles. 

To a Hebrew, the Torah wasn’t just a story about God, it was the very Word of God. It was authority, promise, and guide. It was this Word that David based his life—and his psalms—upon. David could write about God’s character because:

1. He knew the Word of God.
2. He experienced the faithfulness and goodness of God based on that Word.

We, too, have this—and more. We have the revealed Word of God from the ancient prophets in the Old Testament, the words of Jesus while on earth, and the revealed words of Jesus through the apostles and authors of the New Testament. In other words, we have what David had:

1. We have the Word of God.
2. We can experience the faithfulness and goodness of God based on that word. 

Read what Jesus said to His disciples:
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. 
John 16:33 ESV

Like David, we don’t have anything to fear, because God is near—and He is our comfort. Knowing Scripture helps us confidently believe that God is and will be a faithful protector, guide, and presence to those who love Him. So today, commit to getting God’s words deep within you.

My Thoughts

We just went through over a week and a half of below freezing temperatures here in central Virginia, preceded by ice and snow and then wind. I prayed a lot before the storms, during the storms and after the storms. What did I pray for? For protection, for our power to stay on and for us to continue to have water and heat. In the past, an ice storm generally signaled to us that our power would go off, sometimes for days. This time, with such cold temperatures, we knew we needed electricity. Our son contacted us and told us to go to a motel, that he would reserve a room for us. But we told him “no” because we didn’t know how long it would take for the storm to pass and everything to settle down. We told him that we were praying. He still continued to check on us and ask us if we were sure we didn’t want to go to a motel. He knows we live rurally and once the storm hit it would be almost impossible for us to get out to a shelter. In staying here, we may have been considered foolish, but I kept my mind focused on God’s being a shield and on His faithfulness in the past.

We can count on God’s Word when we have it hidden deep in our hearts. John 14:26 says that our Advocate, the Holy Spirit, will teach us all things and remind us of everything Jesus taught us. Part of those “things” is all about His constant caring, faithfulness and love.

Today is the day I go to get my crown fitted. Am I thrilled about my first outing in ten days being to the dentist and then to the pulmonologist? No, but it needs to be done and I am fully trusting that God will be with me in this procedure, too, just as He has walked alongside me in so many other trials and tests. God is faithful, all the time, in all ways. Life doesn’t stop and pat us on the head and tell us that today there won’t be any problems. Instead, God tells us that we are to be courageous no matter what we face because he is always with us. Even through bad storms and very cold temperatures. Even when we go to the dentist. And I am especially trusting Him to get me across the ice to the car this morning as I leave. He is right there as I fear falling, reminding me that He is holding on to me.

With God at my side, I can face an unknown future, and so can you!

Our World in Chaos

On By vickleaIn Dr. Denison’s Forum, Hymn, Song3 Comments

I have pondered a lot over the happenings in our world lately. It seems that the whole world is “on fire” and no one is interested in putting the fire out. Protests all over the U.S., civil unrest over government agents doing what they were hired to do, and general disharmony throughout the world. So, what exactly is happening? I venture to say that Christ’s coming is ever closer and these events are part of getting us ready. Am I a prophet foretelling the coming of Jesus? No, of course not! I am just pointing out that we need to be ready whenever He comes back and, for me, looking at world events, the sooner the better. But He is waiting until the Father tells Him to “go” and we are waiting, too. In our time of patience or impatience, depending on the day and the events therein, we are to continue praying, working, and doing. The world’s events do not change what God has asked us to do.

I have said for a while now that the United States, along with most, if not all, nations, have lost their moral compass. For me, my moral compass is God and His Word. Denison’s Forum has an interesting perspective on the situation in our nation and the world, so I am presenting that here for you to read. Scroll down until you reach the section about the resignation of Brooks and then keep reading. Parts of this were eye-opening to me while others just made me nod my head in agreement, saying, “Yes, that is what is needed.”

Denison’s Forum, 2-02-26

I want to end my blog today with a reminder that no matter what is happening, God is there and He is always faithful.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness-Dutchforward

Worship the King

On By vickleaIn Scripture, Song4 Comments

I am a little sad today because it is still so icy here in Virginia that it is dangerous to be out and about, especially if you are prone to fall as I am. So, no church today. In fact, our pastor made a video of the parking lot and it’s mostly a sheet of ice. He says that they are having the 11:00 service only (we usually have four services) and only those with four-wheel drive should plan to attend. So, I will be watching the streaming service online and I am thankful that is an option. With the ice and cold and snow and cold, I have been inside, missed appointments and not very cheerful these days. God reminded me this morning that He is still the same, in the cold and icy places, too. So, I am choosing to worship and hope that you will join me.

And a song from Chris Tomlin:

O Worship the King-Chris Tomlin

Have a blessed day and stay safe and warm!