Unexpected Hope and Love
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John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” This past week has been a difficult one. I had three unexpected and troubling events that happened – all with different people and situations. Throughout the week, I was extremely disappointed, I was hurt, I was wrongfully accused, not |
because I did something, but because I “should have known” … WHAT??? Am I a mind reader?!? By the time the third event happened, I realized I was on the edge, and I just had to leave the situation. Thankfully two of the events, although difficult and disappointing, have been resolved. I’m not quite sure the other one ever will. It’s totally in God’s hands to bring about resolve in that situation.
My husband, David, has been very supportive throughout all of it. We have prayed about the situations together, talked them through and resolved what we could. When we look to God, He can bring us unexpected hope and love. That's just what He did for me this week...
In addition to it being difficult, it has been busy. We have a big garden, and it’s harvesting and preserving time. I have been drying herbs. One of my favorite herbs is nasturtiums with their pungent, peppery flavor. They have waterlily shaped leaves with bright and sunny orange, peach, red and yellow flowers that peak through the leaves. I cut and gathered bunches of them to hang from my living room light fixture to dry. I also cut all the flower blossoms to hang in their own little bunch.
In addition to it being difficult, it has been busy. We have a big garden, and it’s harvesting and preserving time. I have been drying herbs. One of my favorite herbs is nasturtiums with their pungent, peppery flavor. They have waterlily shaped leaves with bright and sunny orange, peach, red and yellow flowers that peak through the leaves. I cut and gathered bunches of them to hang from my living room light fixture to dry. I also cut all the flower blossoms to hang in their own little bunch.
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At the end of the week, feeling spent and exhausted I sat on the couch and cried. David came and sat by me, putting his arm around me, and we prayed. As I opened my eyes, I looked up at the bunches of drying nasturtiums hanging from the light. To my complete amazement one of the buds that I thought would just dry up had raised its little head up and bloomed! It was like pure sunshine breaking through dark clouds! The sight of it filled me with such unexpected hope and love. In that
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moment I felt God pouring His love and hope right into my heart through that beautiful, bright little bloom. It’s as though He was repeating for me what He had told His disciples in the verse I listed above! He has overcome the world!
I certainly don’t understand the heartache I experienced this past week, but God sees and understands. He has a plan through it. He has promised that He works all things out for good if we trust in Him.
I certainly don’t understand the heartache I experienced this past week, but God sees and understands. He has a plan through it. He has promised that He works all things out for good if we trust in Him.
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This week He gave me the unexpected hope and love I needed at the right moment. I am in awe of who He is and what He does!!! And, every day another bud or two on those drying nasturtiums bursts into bloom. I continue being amazed by God!!!
Romans 5:2b-4 …but we also glory in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put |
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us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Romans 8:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
With Christ's Love, Violet
