Why I trust God, fight through fear, and have faith when Life feels like too much.

Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death… God is here.

Psalm 34: 2–3

I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.

There are many times in our lives when things can become tough and things can become challenging.

Spending time in Hospitals.

Discussing Diseases.

Tracking a timeline of successful Recovery.

Hearing the powerful words of Cancer.

These are deeply emotional experiences.

We all walk through hardships.

We all have things behind the scenes that no one ever sees that we experience every single day of our lives.

We each have a different story to tell.

We each have a different story that needs to be heard.

We each have a story deserving to be heard with its own unique value.

There are things in this world that breed darkness like pain and suffering, death and disease.

There are things in this world that bring light like love and laughter, joy and glee.

No matter the trials and tribulations that I face on a daily basis, or the great mountain peaks that I reach throughout the week, because of my faith, I will praise the Lord — my God with all of my strength all of my days.

I know that I have only reached the highs of my life by riding on the shoulders of giants. I know the blessings that I have been given and all the many experiences that I have had are all thanks to my Lord and Savior.

If the Bible teaches me that all good things come from God, I must trust in this or thus deny the truth that His Word provides.

As A. W. Tozer suggests in the widely acclaimed and praiseworthy, The Pursuit of God, God’s word is dynamic and it is fluid.

It is never ceasing to exist in our present life. Presence is Present.

So though we may have times in our lives where we walk in the valley of the shadow of death, we are comforted during this time and we have guidance, love, support and security within our hearts, despite how the world may look around us.

If I believe that all good things come from God, then I must realize the friendships and relationships that I have with those close to me — that are good — are also of God.

Like I said earlier His presence is always present.

God lives within the relationships and the friendships that we have with others.

His love is showcased through the beautiful display of caring and comforting, providing love for those that we care so much about.

The love that we have for other people, and the action of love that we show them, is but just a microcosm — a glimpse of something so much greater — of the love that God has for us each and every one of us.

As we cherish the relationships we have in our lives, God cherishes the relationships He has with us so much more.

So in that, I must realize and I must grasp and I must come to grips with the fact that God’s love will never leave me and His comfort will never leave me.

As my mom is currently in the middle of surgery at IU Hospital for her Crohn’s disease, I can’t help but to allow these truths sink into my heart.

Today is the 1st day of classes at Ball State University, where I am finishing up my senior year as I pursue my degree to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. I jumped into this medical field specifically with the inspiration to help people just like my mom and many others who battle through so many health issues related to food and nutrition.
Food can be our Medicine my friends.

Though today is the 1st day of class, my professors have been gracious enough to allow my absence due to my mother’s surgery.

I’m sitting outside the pavilion.

Waiting.

Waiting.

Unknowns.

Many Unknowns.

I trust the surgeons.

I trust the nurses.

I trust the Hospital.

But most of all, I trust God.

He is here.

His Presence is Present.

God is here.

He was present in the warm and bubbly personality of the nurse, which took my mother back to her room for surgery. The smile of the nurse, her sheer joy, her happiness… to see its influence on patients in this difficult setting — it’s a beautiful thing.

It is Good.

It is God.

He remains present as I sit outside at a table, seeking a less sterile environment and respite from the influence a hospital environment can present.

The fresh air helps me think, breathe, and relax as well.

Today is the day of the Solar Eclipse as well.

The changing of light to dark — dark to light.

The time of a new moon.

The turning of a page.

A new chapter of life.

Today may well represent the exact same for my life.

I do not know what the future may hold.

I do not know what God has for my life, my mother’s, or the opportunities we have together in the future.

I do not know the outcome of the surgery or how long or well she may recover over the course of the coming weeks...

Psalm 23: 4

Yes, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Yet, I rest in His embrace.

Matthew 11:28

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

So I finish this post reminding myself of God’s presence.

I finish this post praying for His comfort to be laid upon my mom and my family.

I also pray for your own comfort, your own joy, and your own embrace of His presence.

If you are walking through a present trial in your life, dealing with baggage, or suffering to any degree, you understand that so easily darkness can wash over our lives and hide all light that ever been present or currently exists.

Yet I want you to know, and to trust, the fact that God is here. His comfort is never ceasing, and it will never leave.

May we close our eyes, lift our eyes to the Heavens, and let our hearts cry out.

Dear God,

Right now is hard. Right now life seems bleak and destitute. There are so many things I am dealing with, that I feel stress about, and I can feel so overwhelmed and unprepared to take on these challenges. There is so much pain and hardship in my life and in the lives of those around me, God. I just want to take this moment to come to you.

I want you to come here God.

I want you to sit next to me, to place your hand on my shoulder and just say, “It will all be okay.”

My heart cries out for your comfort, for your love. So I pray you may open my eyes and open my heart to these things, Lord.

May I see you and experience you in a greater way during these difficult days.

May I grow closer to you and you closer to me as I continue in this journey.

I don’t know what lies ahead, but I know you will be with me along the way.

I know you love me — and I love you to.

Amen.