Dear God,

I want to help my friends. I see them fighting so hard. The battles and struggles they are facing are making their hair turn grey and turning their smiles into frowns!

I try to encourage them, but no one wants to hear what I have to say. See, I have no answers of my own. No quick fixes. How can you fix the loss of a brother, a husband, a duaghter, a wife or a sister? I can't. How can I replace lost cars or homes or jobs? I can't. These things are lost forever and they aren't coming back. But you have them.

My friends are here. So beat down and depressed; I weep for them.

All of these things have happened to me during the course of my life. I've lost four homes and had to sell off my furniture piece by piece to feed my son and send him to school. My mom, my Grandmother, and my Papa all died within three years of each other. My family lives across the continent from me and my hustband. So I've learned to rely heavily on You. I know I'm not alone.

I've learned that there is no answer but Jesus. No provision but Jesus. No way out of the muck of our lives but Jesus. I can't do ANYTHING! I can't take my next breath without Jesus. My heart won't beat one more time without Jesus.

I could kick and scream and throw things and yell at God and believe the devil's lies that everything is hopeless and I'm a failure and I need to just go drown myself and be done with it. Believe me, these thoughts come more than we'd like to admit. I mean, come on be real. I'm telling the truth.

But while you don't mind us venting. Venting is a good release. We really need to understand that while our lives seem to be shattering into a zillion minute shards of what once was, you Lord have caught every speck; every last particle. You haven't broken these vessels for no reason. A beautiful fragrance has been released. One that catches the attention of many. Sort of the way chocolate chip cookies smell in the oven. But that's not all. You have set about creating something totally new. It won't even resemble the old vessel. We really liked the old vessel, but it's gone forever and a new vessel is being made.

Now we can kick and scream and throw a fit, demanding our old vessel back. But it's not going to happen. We can salvage momentos, but you are taking us forward anyway to a new beginning and a deeper purpose. We are here by your design and your desire. You alone hold the answers. It's time to stop all the kicking and screaming. It's time to stop trying to juggle all the pieces of what used to be our lives. There are just too many pieces falling through our fingers. But be sure: Jesus has every one.

Behold! The Master Creator of the universe is about to re-create a new life! He has chosen my friends to do a new and fabulous thing. If they'll trust Him completely and surrender to the potter's wheel, their future will be so bright they'll need sunglasses!

Oh Lord, remind them that the plans you have for them are for good and not for evil. Remind them of how dearly you love them. Let them feel your presence like never before. You are all the encouragement I know. Touch them now with the peace that passes all understanding. Quiet your children, Lord, and soothe them with songs of deliverance. You are their only hope. You are the only way out. You hold all the answers. Help them to see your hands in their lives. Help them to feel your presence. Let them know just how near you are.

Amen & amen.

Love Always,
 
Rose