March Hope Whispers

Trudy Den Hoed

“For wherever I am,
though far away at
the ends of the earth,
I will cry to You for help.
When my heart is faint
and overwhelmed,
lead me to the mighty,
towering Rock of safety.”
Psalm 61:2 TLB

Lead Me to the Rock

“God doesn’t sweep the broken up into a dustpan and discard it. In order to reach the broken in our world, God Himself broke, allowing His own Son to die a broken death on a cross for us. God brings beauty in the broken. God loves the broken. God uses the broken.” ~ Elisa Morgan

“When tragedy makes its unwelcome appearance and we are deaf to everything but the shriek of our own agony – when courage flies out the window and the world seems to be a hostile, menacing place – it is the hour of our Gethsemane. No word, however sincere, offers any comfort or consolation… and yet it may happen in these most desperate trials of our human existence that beyond any rational explanation, we may feel a nail-scarred hand clutching ours.” ~ Brennan Manning

Nature is a Retreat of Hope

“The earth has
music for those
who listen.”
Shakespeare

Thank you to my brother John for these photos.
(🙂 Please respect copyright laws. 🙂)

How are you doing through the virus crisis? Physically? Emotionally? What breathes hope into your heart? Are there any specific prayer requests you have? If you don’t feel comfortable sharing them in the comments, please feel free to email me.

 

34 thoughts on “March Hope Whispers”

  1. Glorious photos, Trudy, and such comforting quotes you’ve shared with us today! Yes, we are taking things one day at a time, staying in isolation, and knowing God is with us every step of the way. Hope you and yours are hanging in there, too!
    Blessings!

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    1. I’m so glad you found comfort here today, Martha. Changes are happening so quickly, aren’t they? “Knowing God is with us every step of the way” gives such hope. Yes, we’re hanging in there, too. Thank you, and blessings to you, too! Lord, please hold Martha and her family in the palm of Your hand!

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  2. Lovely photos and quotes Trudy. I haven’t read Brennan Manning for awhile and thinking it would be good to take in his words again. So beautiful and phrases you can camp on for a long take, breathe in and release like a breath prayer. My energy level is low most likely due to not a lot of human contact. My son will be coming to live with me for a month next week before he moves into his new residential home (thought it best until the Covid19 crisis slows a bit). (He has intellectual disability and lives in supportive home environments and goes to a day program for special needs adults.) Although it will be challenging a bit as the programs have shut down for him, I think having the company will be good for me and for our relationship too. But love prayers around that situation. hugs!

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    1. Oh Lynn, I’m so sorry for how this has upset the needed steady routine of your son. I’m sorry your energy level is low, too. I’m glad your son can be with you. I’m sure it will be good for both of you. I’m so glad you found some refreshing breaths here. Lord, please fill Lynn with the energy of Your love and communion, give her special wisdom with her son, and give both of them to feel Your love-scarred hand in each of theirs!

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  3. Nature truly is a comfort and a Retreat of Hope. Through it we appreciate life’s cycles of decay and death leading to new life, change and growth. Witnessing the joy of animals and the beauty of landscapes is a tonic and has a calming effect on our souls. It helps that your brother’s images are stunning, of course!

    And the quotes you have profiled speak out hope. Brennan Manning’s words are worth sitting with and wrestling over sometimes because he has a great gift of distilling biblical teaching into relatable anecdotes which challenge, inspire, encourage and calm.

    When I struggle to think straight or write much during these fatiguing, virus-laden days, I always find hope in God’s word and those of others who can express the inexpressible. Thank you for bringing the hope we have in Christ alive to us through your inspiring, insightful posts! Love, hugs and blessings of health and strength to you, dear friend! xoxo 😊❤️

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    1. Oh yes, Joy, nature truly is a calming tonic! I’m so glad you found inspiration and encouragement here. I started your book this morning. 🙂 So far, I especially love God’s whispers to you about our broken places being grace entrances and how His grace opens us more, making us beautiful by His love. Thank you for your encouraging words in this book. I love how you use nature, too, as an analogy to our souls. Love, hugs, and blessings of health and strength to you, too! Lord, please hold up Joy’s weary body and fill her soul with Your infinite love and grace to carry her through the difficult days of chronic illness!

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  4. Thank You for sharing such a beautiful and inspiring post dear Trudy! Your photos and thoughts always seem to come at just the right time. And I love that song so much. God just blessed us so dearly with our landscaper coming to do a yearly clean up for us! I cried again, like last year, but even more this time. Such a gift of LIFE in this world of heaviness right now. He is our Rock of faithfulness! Love and hugs and blessings for you Dear friend.

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    1. It’s amazing how God sends us the hope we need in His perfect timing, Bettie. My heart leaps for joy that God sent you a gift of LIFE in the midst of this heaviness. It’s comforting when the dead leafage is cleared away and we can more easily see the new life abound. Love, hugs, and blessings to you, too! Lord, thank You for faithfully sending gifts to buoy Bettie up from all the heaviness of life, and continue to lift her with Your Presence as she goes through such a difficult journey of physical pain and weakness!

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  5. Thanks for sharing these encouraging quotes and wonderful photos, Trudy! I especially love the red and orange bird! Hope you are doing ok. I am fine just now – much more settled than I was and I saw God answer prayer in an unexpected way this week so I am feeling encouraged. Love and blessings to you!

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    1. I’m so glad you’re encouraged here, Lesley. I didn’t put the names with the photos, but that bird is a Vermillion Flycatcher. So beautiful! I am doing ok, trying to remind myself to stand on the promises of God. Thank you. I’m so glad you’re feeling more settled. So will you share what unexpected way God answered prayer? Love and blessings to you, too! Lord, thank You for unexpectedly answering prayer and sending encouragement to Lesley’s heart. You know how passionate she is in the callings You have led her to. Please continue to encourage her heart in this crisis!

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      1. Thanks for your lovely prayer, Trudy! The answered prayer was about work. Three quarters of our staff were being put on furlough this week because we can’t do most of our usual work right now.
        I was sure I would be asked to continue working, which I was fine with, but there are two colleagues who are also two of my best friends, and the thought of working in such a weird situation without them was really worrying me. I felt that I might become really isolated.
        When we were first told the specifics of what would be happening I was told that one of them would continue working with me, so I was happy with that. Then today I discovered there had been change of plan and the other one will also be working so we will all still be together!
        It’s not a decision any of us expected when so few other people are being kept on just now, but we work so well as a team so we are glad to be able to continue that.

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        1. I’m so happy for you, Lesley! For all three of you. 🙂 Thank you for sharing this. God bless you in this work, even though it may be different not being able to gather children in groups or going into schools.

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    1. I’m so glad, Lisa. Thank you for sharing. It’s such a blessing that Jesus never leaves us alone and He knows we also need each other. Lord, thank You for never leaving Lisa alone and for providing online friends who understand us. Lord, You know how our hearts sometimes swing between anxiety about this overwhelming crisis and the peace we can find in You. Please help Lisa and all of us to hear in our hearts Your whispers of “Peace be with you!”

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  7. Trudy, the quotes and the photos spoke to my heart! The quotes had me nodding my head in agreement. And the photos were breathtaking. Thank you for sharing hope through visuals and words.

    Our family is navigating the changes one day at a time. Some days go well, and others . . . not so much. But, daily I’m spending time with the Lord, and He strengthens me (us) for everything we’ll face, doesn’t He?

    Sending you hugs and peace in the midst of this trial, friend.

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    1. I’m so glad the quotes and photos spoke hope to your heart, Jeanne. One day at a time is all we can do, right? Or maybe one moment at a time? The quick changes make our heads spin. Yes, He strengthens us for everything we’ll face. Even when it comes to dealing with difficult teen years, especially now. Sending hugs and peace to you, too! Lord, you know how difficult these changes are for everyone. You know every heart, and You know Jeanne’s struggles infinitely more than any of us. You know her husband’s and teen boys’ hearts, too. Please give each of them the strength to rough out this storm! Please speak peace to each of their hearts! Help each of them to feel Your nail-scarred Hand leading them!

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  8. You do such a good job at finding the perfect quotes. They always give me something to think about. Your brother has such a gift for capturing beauty in his photos. Please thank him for contributing them to your blog. Praying you are staying healthy and positive during this season of uncertainty. Love and hugs!

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    1. Thank you for your kind words and prayers, Mary. I just emailed my brother with your message. 🙂 I believe he has a gift, too! Love and hugs to you, too! Lord, thank You for being our Certainty in these uncertain times. Please keep Mary and her family safe and at peace! Give Mary special strength with being isolated, and help her to feel Your loving arms around her!

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    1. Thank you, Jennifer. Ah yes, “staying grounded in God’s love and Word” is so important, isn’t it? Bless you, too! Lord, please give Jennifer and all of us the grace to stay grounded in Your love and Word. All other ground is sinking sand. Give Jennifer and her family the strength to brave this storm!

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  10. Your brother’s photos are always so beautiful, Trudy. What’s bringing me hope right now? Reflecting on God’s faithfulness in the past and remembering He doesn’t change. And also connecting to friends, near and far. Like you, of course! Love and hugs …

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    1. Thank you, Lois. Love and hugs to you, too! It’s hard sometimes to pull our gaze off the troubles and grief, isn’t it? Lord, You know the difficult time Lois is going through. Nearly a year since both of her parents passed so soon after each other, it can still hurt so much. You understand that more than anyone. Then this virus crisis on top of that and so many changes. Lord, Please help her to keep. reflecting on Your faithfulness in the past and remembering You are our unchanging God. Help her and her family and all of us to feel Your love-scarred hand leading us and giving us strength! Thank You that You never leave us!

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    1. Thank you, Dolly. When my brother sends his photos to me, they brighten my days. 🙂 I’m grateful he allows me to share them so they can give hope to others, too. Thank you also for your prayer! May God do the same for you! Love and blessings to you, too! May we cling to our HOPE in Jesus!

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