Clear Shining After Rain

October 11, 2026

Maria Dread, Fear, God's Mercy, suffering , , , , Leave a comment

“. . . like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds . . . (with) clear shining after rain.” — 2 Samuel 23:4

North Alabama welcomed a new day this morning after yesterday’s storm. With forecasts predicting flooding and high winds from a tropical weather event, we hunkered down Friday night, on edge yet praying for the best.

At dinner, we prayed for all those who would have to show up for work and those with funerals and weddings planned for this autumn Saturday. But thanks be to God, we awoke to gentle but constant rain and moderate winds.

This day’s new mercies, in the form of blue skies and friendly, scattered clouds, remind me of a few lines from William Cowper’s 1773 hymn, God Moves in a Mysterious Way:

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Don’t you find that we DO dread certain future events? Medical procedures, travel, and difficult conversations often have us meditating on the worst possible outcome.

As I write this, the infant daughter of a former student of mine is battling bacterial meningitis. This morning, scans showed damage to her brain. I can only imagine what her parents and grandparents are struggling to understand.

I don’t pretend to understand why God allows such suffering, especially in the life of a helpless baby. Yet I cling to what Scripture tells me: His mercies are new every morning. He is sovereign, and He is good—even when His purposes remain hidden from us.

I can’t resist sharing another verse from Cowper’s hymn:

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

The storm that just passed reinforced once more that I don’t control much. Just my response, in reality. But that is a relief, because our times are in God’s capable and loving hands.

His mercies soften our suffering

July 4, 2024

Maria God's Mercy, Psalm 109, Uncategorized Leave a comment

… he stands beside the needy, ready to save them. Psalm 109:31 NLT

We’re watching Season 4 of The Chosen. One of Jesus’ followers dies shortly after Jesus heals the man born blind. Angry puzzlement surfaces when the Savior does not revive this one.  But we do see him enter grief with his mourning friends. Although he must follow the Father’s will, Jesus sorrows.

This morning, lingering over Psalm 109, I thought of what we watched last night. Verse 31 says Jesus STANDS next to us in our suffering. Standing up signals his readiness to act.

How comforting to know how close he is.  He intends to save me.  But I must leave my rescue in his hands, the how and when and what that looks like.

I also see how being needy is what qualifies me for his help. It is good to be needy and to admit it. Sometimes I’m afraid of future suffering (guaranteed!). But I know God is loving and per Psalm 108:4, has stacked today’s mercies higher than the sky.

Jesus’ practical advice

January 6, 2024

Maria Anxiety, God's Mercy, God's Promises, God's Provision, Matthew 6, Problems, Promises, Psalm 23, Unbelief, Watchman, Worry , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

“So, don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:34 NLT

If you were to analyze all that you are anxious about this moment, what percentage would be about today’s events or circumstances? Do you think more of your ‘worry bank’ would be directed and spent on hypothetical future problems?

Up until this morning, I’ve always reacted to Jesus’ reality check about ‘enough trouble today’ with a ‘Thanks a lot, Jesus! Just how is that supposed to make me feel better? ‘

But while meditating on Psalm 23:6, the Spirit triggered my memory and I looked up to see just where Jesus had announced this common-sense advice. Matthew 6:34 follows his command that THIS day we focus foremost on the Kingdom of God and its spread. Forestalling our, ‘but what about ….?,’ he assures us that all today’s needs are being met, right now.

A dear friend of mine currently feels buried by fears of the future regarding new work projects. He feels burdened by all the unknowns. He is also very skilled and practiced at imagining the worst. (I’m not sure who would win that competition, he or I!)  So, scouring Scripture this morning, I searched for fresh encouragement for him. It just so happened that this week’s BSF lesson on John 10 has us re-reading Psalm 23 to find descriptions of Jesus as our good shepherd.

I have always loved the first part of verse 6 (NLT): Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life…My mom often talked about the image of God’s ‘Hound of Heaven’, (title of one of Francis Thompson’s 1890 poem) chasing us, almost glued to us as a shadow.

As I applied this truth to myself and the things I often fearfully imagine, I teased out what God’s kindness, mercies and his faithful loving favor toward us imply. In other words, I saw clearly what I and all of us who know God should do each day. Kind of like wearing an ‘If X, then Y’ pair of glasses.

If God’s ‘tob’ and his ‘chesed’ are chasing me today and every day, then:

  • Maybe I should slow down and enjoy them.
  • Certainly, I should be expecting them, and be on the lookout for each one, like a watchman assigned to a tower.
  • That way, I can thank Jesus at the end of the day, mentioning concrete occasions of when I saw his provision.
  • Furthermore, I’ll always have a fresh crop of examples of God’s love to distribute to thirsty people who are desperate for hope.

So, back to my friend; here’s how I hope to encourage him.  Instead of dreading what he imagines he might have to face in these new job possibilities, I will gently counsel him to stay IN today, trusting Jesus’s promise that he will provide. That statement about ‘enough trouble today’ means today’s rescues and mercies have been planned and already remedied, BUT to meet ONLY today’s needs.

As John Piper points out: the root of all our worry is unbelief in God’s promises.

God won’t supernaturally make us count on him and not worry.  But he gives us plenty of practice to trust his character and throw ourselves on his guaranteed vows.