God's Love and Presence ⁽²⁹⁾

God Sets the Lonely in Families "God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land." — Psalm 68:6 (NIV) Loneliness in grief is not a sign of abandonment. It is a sign that…

God Will Meet All Your Needs "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." — Philippians 4:19 (NIV) God does not promise to meet all your wants. He promises to meet all your needs. That…

Fullness of Joy "You make known to me the path of life; you fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." — Psalm 16:11 (NIV) Joy in grief sounds like mockery until you understand what joy actually is. Joy…

Turn to Me "Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted." — Psalm 25:16 (NIV) Loneliness is not merely the absence of people; it is more acutely the ache of feeling unseen. David prays, "Turn to me," because he…

Heal Me or Hold Me "Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise." — Jeremiah 17:14 (NIV) Illness exposes what comfort hides. You learn how fragile strength can be and how…

Sustained on the Sickbed "The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness." — Psalm 41:3 (NIV) Chronic illness strips life down to basics. You ration strength. You plan around pain. You lie awake while the night drags. This…

I Will Sustain You "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." — Isaiah 46:4 (NIV) Chronic…

Into the Wilderness "Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her." – Hosea 2:14 (NIV) When love ends, you are left with empty rooms, unfinished sentences, and a silence that presses in. Nothing…

When Love Ends Abruptly "The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit — a wife who married young, only to be rejected," says your God. "For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion…

2 Corinthians 4:16 "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." — 2 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV) Paul does not hide the reality of decline. Outwardly, life breaks down. Bodies weaken, strength fades,…

Isaiah 57:15 "For this is what the high and exalted One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: 'I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the…

Psalm 61:2 "From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I." — Psalm 61:2 (NIV) There are days when strength runs out and the heart feels thin.