Today
would be the 45th birthday of our daughter, Christy Marie. Her birth
and her death a few hours later greatly impacted my life as I sought to better
know the God Who permitted this tragedy. Each year we put daffodils on her
grave on her birthday. May this devotional thought offer hope to you during
this time of unexpected circumstances. You will survive.
Guilt
Trip to Avoid: I am at fault.
Trust
in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek
his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6
It’s My Fault by
Shirley
When I became pregnant, our young sons
were excited at the prospect of a baby sister or brother. But I soon
experienced early contractions and had to be confined to bed and later
hospitalized. Five weeks before my due date the doctor sent me home, saying
that even if I delivered, the baby would be fine. He was wrong.
Christy Marie was born early on an
April Fools Day morning, but I felt God had surely played a cruel April Fools
Day joke on us. Her lungs were not fully developed, and she soon found heaven’s
air easier to breathe. We were devastated, and I felt guilty. If only I had not
sat up when company came. If only I had prayed more. If only . . . .
Life is full of “if only’s,” but
events cannot be undone. We must accept that our Sovereign God permits deaths
and tragedies. It may take years to work through grief, but the good news is
that we can trust God’s grace to use difficult experiences to conform us to his
Image.
Take the Joy Ride: Solomon showed
his wisdom when he penned verses about trusting God. That is truly the secret
to a happy life. We will never have all the answers, but we can trust the one
who does and accept what we cannot change. Write out any “if onlys” you have
and tuck them away. In a year, read them to see how God has used the struggles
of your life to grow you as a Christian.
#Turning Guilt Trips
into Joy Rides
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