Are you discouraged? Are you feeling hopeless and helpless? So much goes on in our lives and in the world that can make us feel this way. But God…
It is often in our deepest discouragement that hope can become the most alive. Hope sings when we feel like crying. It doesn’t mean our troubles go away, but hanging onto HOPE in GOD anchors our souls and gives us renewed strength to keep going forward one step at a time.
When I woke up from hernia surgery, the nurse kept asking me what’s wrong. I couldn’t tell her. Then she asked, “Are you having a hard time breathing?” I nodded. She put me on oxygen and I slowly breathed more easily.
And so it is with our hearts. Without the oxygen of God’s faithful promises breathing life and hope into our souls, we can sink into the pit of discouragement and our way out can seem so impossible.
During the first few days after surgery, God calmed my heart with His promise that His everlasting arms are always underneath me. Lifting me up and carrying me through.
Then at the end of that week I ended up in ER with breathing difficulties. I lay there crying out to God, “Why this setback now, too? I no longer feel Your arms holding me up. Please help me!” Then He reminded me that even when I don’t “feel” Him, He is still with me, because His love never fails. He brought to my mind how Jesus suffered the agony on the cross of being totally forsaken by His Father so that we would never, ever be deserted.
The stress of the surgery triggered a major flareup of my breathing issues. It has been a difficult month trying to get on top of it, but it has made me even more grateful for every moment of easier breathing.
One night a couple of lines from a beloved, old poem of Annie Johnson Flint was impressed on my heart:
“For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth and giveth and giveth again.”
Yes, God gives and gives and gives again! Why? Because the riches in Jesus are bottomless! It may sometimes feel like He does more taking than giving, especially when we’re crying out from the bottom of the pit of discouragement. And yet, in the end His giving infinitely exceeds the troubles and losses we go through.
“Fear not, little flock, whatever your lot,
He enters all rooms, “the doors being shut,”
He never forsakes; He never is gone,
So count on His presence in darkness and dawn.”
Paul Rader (1921)
Nature Retreat
The older I get, the more I need to allow myself to rest, not only in body, but also in spirit. To rest in God’s gifts and signs of His love. To allow the fuel of His love and grace to replenish me.
One of the ways God does that for me is by immersing myself in His creation. He uses it to reassure me that He is in control of every situation in our lives and in this world. That His power can work through any of our impossibilities. His creatures call out to my spirit, “God is faithful! He will take care of you! He will never abandon you!”
“God is an artist of Nature;
He paints in colors, so rare,
The bursting bud in the Springtime,
The lovely trees everywhere …”
~ Gertrude Tooley Buckingham
My sister-in-law, Linda, took these pictures a year ago at the Tulip Festival (also known as Dutch Heritage Festival) in Holland, MI, and has given me permission to share them here. So beautiful!
My brother John introduces us to the amazing Arizona Carpenter Bee.
John recently sent me some Arizona “signs of spring.” Awesome!
A Flurry of Favorites
Enjoy this link where Photographer Kim Wormald
shares some of her favorite bird photos. Awesome!
What struggles or losses are you going through?
What does God use to replenish, revitalize, and refresh your spirit?
Freed to Fly 
Oh Trudy, I am so sorry your are facing this long Flare-up after so much difficulty with your surgery and recovery too. You are in my prayers dear sister. May the Lord continue to speak such precious gifts from His love to you! You have shared it all so beautifully, and brought tears to my eyes. It’s been a time of sadness for me, as my brother was put on hospice, and I could see no way that I would get to visit him. But then the Lord broke thru and allowed my Dr to prescribe a very high dose of Prednisone so I could endure the trip! He really does take care of His children! Thank you for always sharing the encouragement that God brings to you. Love and hugs and prayers. ❤️🙏
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Oh Bettie, I’m so sorry about your brother. It can be so hard when our hearts want to do what our bodies won’t allow, right? I’m so glad God opened a way for you to still see him. I don’t like the side effects of Prednisone, but it surely does help calm down inflammation! Thank you for all your prayers and all the encouragement and understanding you give me. You are in my prayers also! Love and hugs to you, too!
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I’m sorry to hear about your flare-up, too, Trudy. May God keep showing you His presence through even the tiniest of His creations (such as wasps eggs!). You and I are kindred sisters in immersing ourselves in nature to be reminded that “His power can work through any of our impossibilities.” Amen! And the tulips are beautiful. Growing up in Southern Ontario, tulips were abundant! But here out west in the prairies, they are not popular (maybe due to our cool springs). So, I appreciate get a little bit of a dose of tulip beauty from your sister ‘n law.
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Thank you so much, Lynn, for your kind words and prayer. I’m so glad you enjoyed the tulip beauty. I do feel that kinship with you in how immersing ourselves in nature can renew our spirts. 🙂 Your nature photos have so often refreshed my heart. Love and blessings to you!
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My heart breaks for you and all you’ve endured after the hernia surgery and subsequent breathing problems, Trudy, but the Lord restored your hope and it sounds like you are on the mend. May our loving Father be praised!
Here in Georgia, we are long past tulip season, so seeing these photos from your sister-in-law was truly thrilling. Such a gorgeous testimony to God’s wondrous creation. And of course, I always look forward to John’s photos here. I’m stunned by how talented he is. Here’s to hoping May will be a spectacular month for you!
Blessings!
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Thank you for your compassion, Martha. “May our loving Father be praised!” Amen! I’m so glad the tulip photos delighted your heart! Yes, my brother truly is gifted in photography. 🙂 I hope May will be spectacular for you as well! Love and blessings to you!
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Hi, Trudy.
I wish you can be embraced, day after, by the Love of God.
Hope you to feel better.
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Thank you so much for your kind words and prayer, Amvn. I pray you may be embraced by God’s love as well! Love and blessings to you!
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Hi Trudy, I’ve been praying for your strength to be renewed … I’m so sorry that April was hard for you. I’m glad you found the energy to write this post; it encouraged my heart today. Your sister-in-law’s tulip photos are beautiful–so much vivid color! We used to sing the hymn “He Giveth More Grace” at my childhood church, and I loved reading those lyrics again. I’m so thankful that God “giveth and giveth and giveth again.” Much love to you this evening, dear friend.
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I so appreciate your loving support and prayers, Lois! I’ve been praying for you, too, that God will give you His all-sufficient grace to get through all the changes in your life and that He gives you strength to be able to do more of your gardening this year, even if you have to rest in between. I know how gardening boosts your spirit. 🙂 Much love to you, too! Love and blessings of more of God’s never-ending, giving grace!
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Oh dear one, this has been such a hard, trying season for you. That you’re here writing and sharing and encouraging is such a testimony to God’s grace and healing touch in your life. Please be kind and gracious to yourself as your body mends. We’re all here, cheering you on. One day at a time.
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Awww.. Thank you so much, Linda. Over the years you have been such a support as you encourage me to be kind and gracious to myself. I am quick to feel guilty when I can’t perform as I’d like to, and you have helped me so much in that area. Thank you for cheering me on. Yes, one day at a time. I have to keep reminding myself! Love and blessings to you!
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Oh, Trudy! I’m so sorry to hear about your health issues. I pray the Lord will lay His healing hand on you soon. This post was very encouraging to me and much needed. You always make your posts so beautiful, too. And I loved seeing those amazing tulips. Your blog is like a breath of fresh air. God bless you, sweet friend.
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Thank you so much for your caring concern and prayers, Cheryl. I’m so grateful you were encouraged here. Are you and your family doing alright? Love and blessings to you!
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Romans 5:5: “and hope does not make ashamed“.
Great photos
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Thank you, David. That’s a great verse to share. Blessings of that love of God spread in our hearts!
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I don’t like to imagine you struggling to breathe, friend. 😦 I hope that things have settled back down now after the stress of the surgery. You always have the most beautiful photos to share. Thank you, Trudy. Take care! xoxo
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Thank you for your kindness, Lisa. It’s a bit up and down, but I’m doing so much better than I was. 😊 I’m so glad you enjoy my brothers’ photos. And this time my sister-in-law’s, too. Love and blessings of peace and strength in all your trials!
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