174 results for tag: In the Word

Grieving With An Eternal Mindset

"Also, He has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end." Ecclesiastes 3:11b READ: When I lost Anna, it was as if a chunk of my soul was removed from inside my body. I had physical aching inside my chest, and a feeling of emptiness deep in my belly that welled up into my throat. Even my arms knew what was missing as they throbbed, heavy from her absence. In moments of despair, my mind was overcome with the desire for it all just to stop. I was never suicidal; I simply longed for an end to the pain that was so presently palpable. I had never felt that way before, not ...

Beauty in the Ashes

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11a READ: We don’t know. Pause there for just a moment. We don’t know what our suffering will mean for us as we move forward, as we learn to integrate our griefs and losses into our lives. There is the potential for trauma and heartache, yes, but there is the potential for post-traumatic growth. We don’t entirely know how our losses will impact us. But we do know that regardless of what happens, God is good, He makes beautiful things from our pain, and He has a plan—even if we can’t fully understand it. This verse in Ecclesiastes, possibly written by ...

In the Word: God is Loving

Welcome to Hope Mommies’ In the Word devotionals. Over the next several weeks, we will be looking at different characteristics of God—specifically reflecting on how each aspect of His character offers us hope in the midst of our grief.  As we study together, we encourage you to use the comments as a place to dialogue with us about what you are learning and share your answers to the questions below. We pray that you hearts will be encouraged as you dig into the infinitely beautiful character of God along with us!  “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” Jeremiah 31:3 R...

Consider What God Has Done

“Consider the work of God: who can make straight what He has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.” Ecclesiastes 13:14 READ: Lately, it feels like the whole world is learning the lesson that we Hope Mommies have already learned: we are not in control. If we were in control, we would not have chosen this path of adversity. If we were in control, we would “fix” things. “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” ...

Who Can Know God’s Ways?

Welcome to Hope Mommies’ In the Word devotionals. Over the next several weeks, we will be studying the book of Ecclesiastes together, which centers on the truth that life apart from Christ is empty and vain. In its pages, we discover how to view our lives with an eternal perspective, enabling us to press into the Lord regardless of our circumstances. In this series, we seek to explore the wise principles presented to us by "the Teacher" in order to better understand what it looks like to walk in the fear and joy of the Lord even in the midst of our grief. “As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a ...

Better Than Laughter?

"Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad." Ecclesiastes 7:3 READ: The world tells us that laughter is the best medicine. But this worldly point of view is incomplete according to what God teaches us through His Word. While a joyful heart is indeed good medicine (Proverbs 17:22), Ecclesiastes 7:3 also teaches us that, “Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.” Many believe it was King Solomon who penned this book after earnestly praying for godly wisdom. Many of Solomon’s teachings, found in Ecclesiastes, turn worldly thinking on its head. How is ...

In the Word: The God Who Sees

Welcome to Hope Mommies’ In the Word devotionals. Over the next several weeks, we will be looking at different names of God found in Scripture, and how these different aspects of who He is offer us hope in the midst of our grief.  As we study together, we encourage you to use the comments as a place to dialogue with us about what you are learning and share your answers to the questions below. We pray that you hearts will be encouraged as you study these names of God along with us! “She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.’” Genesis ...

In the Word: The Lord is There

Welcome to Hope Mommies’ In the Word devotionals. Over the next several weeks, we will be looking at different names of God found in Scripture, and how these different aspects of who He is offer us hope in the midst of our grief.  As we study together, we encourage you to use the comments as a place to dialogue with us about what you are learning and share your answers to the questions below. We pray that you hearts will be encouraged as you study these names of God along with us!  “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right ...

In the Word, The Lord, My Shepherd

Welcome to Hope Mommies’ In the Word devotionals. Over the next several weeks, we will be looking at different names of God found in Scripture, and how these different aspects of who He is offer us hope in the midst of our grief.  As we study together, we encourage you to use the comments as a place to dialogue with us about what you are learning and share your answers to the questions below. We pray that you hearts will be encouraged as you study these names of God along with us!  "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He...

In the Word: The Lord, My Provider

Welcome to Hope Mommies’ In the Word devotionals. Over the next several weeks, we will be looking at different names of God found in Scripture, and how these different aspects of who He is offer us hope in the midst of our grief.  As we study together, we encourage you to use the comments as a place to dialogue with us about what you are learning and share your answers to the questions below. We pray that you hearts will be encouraged as you study these names of God along with us!  “And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 READ: When my daughter died, I ...