And I cling to His love...

My dear readers, I'm sorry for such lack of posting lately.  I'm finding it hard to put into words a description of this newest storm of life -- I've lost track of how many times I've started a post only to delete it because nothing is coming out right.  Even this is a pathetic attempt at giving you something -- anything -- at the very least, a request for prayer, because I so need His strength and comfort right now.

To praise Him in the storm, to bless His name while feeling the searing pain of loss.  It is bittersweet to experience the joy of knowing a loving Father while my heart bleeds with sorrow.  Such an odd thing to go from singing His praises in one breath to overflowing with tears the next.  How can I feel so empty and mere seconds later feel so full of His grace?

I don't bother with all the "why" questions.  Why me?  Why now?  Why again?  It's simple: we live in a world full of sin and evil, and we are still waiting for Christ's return to make all things new.

I cling to the hope of the joy we will feel on that day -- such joy -- to see the loved ones waiting for us on the other side.

And to see the face of our Lord, the great Comforter, who daily grants me the grace to look to Him for strength, who daily binds the wounds on my heart -- not just daily, but hourly -- this one whose love for me goes deeper than anything I could imagine.

How to praise Him in the storm?  The answer to this is also simple: He loves me.  No matter what life throws my way, this will always be true.  I will always have the love of my heavenly Father, and so I praise Him.  I can find rest and comfort in knowing that I am surrounded by His powerful arms of love, now and always.

"The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord." Job 1:21 (NKJV)

"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'" 2 Cor 12:9a