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Abiding in Him

How little did I know my word of the year, abide, would be so needed when God pressed it to my spirit. What I thought was encouragement to grow deeper in Him—to abide, refresh, restore—was His preparation for the trials of the new year quickly coming at me. The pastoral scene we picture of the branch abiding in the vine (John 15:1-8) has been more of trial while holding fast to the Savior. I trust this time of “pruning” in my, and my family’s life, will produce good “fruit” and ultimately glorify Him.

First came the fall in early January that I took coming out of a café that sent me to the ER with a broken right hand, broken tooth and glasses, mild concussion, and multiple bruises, aches and pains. But that’s minor compared to the tragedy my youngest son is experiencing 1,400 miles away.

He, and others who shared a home with him, were brutally attacked in their sleep by someone who they had taken in out of the cold. Attacked and the house set on fire. Though he was stabbed multiple times, my son ran upstairs to get the others out of the house to safety, but his selfless act was costly. He was severely burned over 40% of his body and has undergone multiple surgeries—with more to come—and has a lengthy road to recovery ahead.

My heart breaks for him, and I am unable to be with him and comfort him.

I continually pray and trust God to take care of my son, and Psalm 91 is a constant companion:

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.

Psalm 91:1-2 ESV

Dwell, shelter, ABIDE, refuge, fortress, trust… the Almighty, Most High God.

Praying the Psalms over my son, even though he can’t hear me, brings comfort to me in the belief that God is pouring this mother’s heart into son Joshua’s spirit, and the Holy Spirit—the true Comforter—is relaying the truth of His word into his soul.

Do you have a favorite Bible verse of comfort?

Please share it in the comments; and if you are in need of prayer, please email me so I can pray for you.