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My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
Psalm 63:8 (KJV)

We all have stories…

Some awesomely, wonderful chapters and some very, very hard ones. This chapter we find ourselves in today is a hard one.

Years ago, before my husband, Steve, left his earthly home for Heaven, I came across a really funny saying, “When something goes wrong in your life, just yell, ‘Plot Twist’, and move on!”

I thought that was just so funny – until one day, the story of my life was interrupted by a terrible and unexpected ‘plot twist.’ Then, the saying lost any humor once found.

God is Faithful in the Plot Twists

How hard is it to revisit some of the chapters of your story?

If we were given a beautifully bound book with our stories written, we would not go through that book and tear out the hard, sad or ugly chapters before sharing it with another.

If you are a new widow, even wonderful memories can bring such pain. It was the same for me. But there came a time in my widowhood when I intentionally made my heart and mind go to those chapters.

Surprisingly, I did not feel the gut-wrenching pain as before — but the sweetest comfort — like a healing balm to my soul.

As I remembered the really hard chapters, something different happened.

It was there I was reminded of God’s faithfulness, His goodness and evidence of His deep and never-ending love for me.

In those chapters, I also remembered the most wonderful scriptures He had given me to carry through that season – words that are still deeply hidden in my heart today.

All chapters of our story are so vitally important.

Ripping out chapters would leave a reader lost to the importance of the beautiful characters involved, how God worked in the lives who played such vital parts to the story – the legacy left, and the love story remembered.

Intimate and personal Words from God.

After my daddy passed away in 1987, my mother gave me his Bible. It was a treasure for me as I read the years of notes he had written in the margins.

Twenty-one years after she gave me his Bible, I was the victim of a violent assault. It was a terrible, and frightening day, and I know that God saved my life. The next morning as I read my daddy’s Bible, I opened it to Psalm 50 and noticed that he had circled Psalm 50:15 in red. It said:

“And call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify My name.”
Psalm 50:15 (KJV)

Sometime before 1987, the Holy Spirit led my daddy to circle a verse in red ink that I would find 21 years later.

Go with me now to 2011.

Newspaper headlines: “Texas Wildfires Out of Control”

On the morning of August 30, 2011, Steve and I left our home for work just like any other day. That night we stood on an aisle at Walmart, an empty basket in front of us, with only the clothes we were wearing. Our house was one of many that burned to the ground that day.

One week later, we were finally allowed to go ‘home’. As we walked through the rubble and ash, God reminded me of this verse.

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.”
Isaiah 61:3. (KJV)

When we want to ask “Why, Lord?”

In each of our stories, there are many chapters. Most of the hard chapters were shared with our husbands. I remember standing with Steve — that empty basket in front of us after the fire. I also remember him holding me the night after the violent man attacked me.

Who stands with us now?

OUR GOD — who is not taken by surprise by ‘Plot Twists’ — for there are none in His perfect plan and purpose for our lives. In His compassion, we are carried and comforted through His Holy Spirit.

There were important messages found in the verses I have shared today…

In Psalm 50:15…

“You shall glorify My name, Kathy.”

And the message of Isaiah 61:3 — Not only did God promise to bring beauty from the ashes, but He has also given me a testimony to share of His faithfulness in every season — even the hard ones.

“That you might be called a tree of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, Kathy, that He might be glorified.”
Isaiah 61:3 (KJV)

Ask the Lord to help you write your story. It is a beautiful one that needs to be shared.

Lord Jesus, we ask You to help us write our stories so others may read of Your love and faithfulness in every season. It is Your unending love that carries us in this chapter of our lives. Use us, Father, for Your glory. We praise Your Holy name. Amen