Learnable Moments For Moms: Devotions To Discover God In The Everydayনমুনা

We had an unfortunate event in which my toddler fell off of a counter head first onto the tile floor in the kitchen. Yes, my child and I have survived every mother’s nightmare. My newborn was only three weeks old at the time, and I didn’t want her anywhere near the emergency room of the hospital. So my husband took my toddler to the hospital while the baby and I waited in the car (trying pretty unsuccessfully to remain calm). My husband called me throughout the process to give me updates.

 When he told me that they were going to do a CT scan to check for any brain damage or skull fractures, I immediately started worrying about how my two year old would do during the test. I could picture her going inside the dark tube filled with loud noises and being strapped down so that she would stay still. The whole process sounded like a traumatic disaster waiting to happen. My husband called me again as soon as it was over and I frantically asked about how she had responded. 
“She was completely fine!” he said to my relief, “When she saw it she said, ‘Look, Daddy, a tunnel!’” Thank goodness she loves tunnels. But honestly, I think her resilience in the situation came from the fact that her Daddy was with her.

READ

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,  he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 23:1-4

APPLY

These well-known verses in Psalms don’t say “even though I might walk through a somewhat low-light valley” they say “though I walk through the darkest valley.” There will be times in life when we walk through the darkest valleys of loss, pain, rejection, fear, and loneliness. The dark valleys are a guarantee in life. However, we have another guarantee that gives us peace and hope in the valleys, and that is that the Lord is with us in the midst of it. 

Being in God’s presence doesn’t change the circumstances, but it does change our perspective in them. Instead of seeing the impossible, we see our God, with whom nothing is impossible. Instead of seeing death, we see Christ, who is our eternal life. Instead of being overcome, we experience the Holy Spirit, who gives peace that passes understanding. Even scary moments can seem like an adventure when our “Daddy” is near!

PRAY

Father, thank you for the promise that you will be with me in the difficult seasons of life. I pray that you would give me your perspective when the circumstances seem too difficult.

REFLECT

How has God changed your perspective on a dark valley in your life?