May 17
Today’s Truth
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NIV).
Friend to Friend
I’ve been through hard times. I’ve asked the question “why?” on many occasions. I’ve begrudgingly said goodbye to family and friends in order to say hello to strangers and scary new places. I know the matter of being shattered.
There was a season when Brad and I lived in four different homes, in four different states, within four years. From Ohio to Pennsylvania to New York to North Carolina, we made our way across the East Coast with three little ducklings in tow.
So much of what had been comfortable and familiar was stripped away. God was surely leading me to a place where I would have to trust Him and lean on Him in ways I never had before. And it was a grind.
Broken became my middle name.
In that season the only thing I could do was hunker down, spread out my mom wings, and care for the babes in my nest.
I changed diapers, chased toddlers, and cherished nap times.
Our state-to-state journey was exhausting. With each move, I experienced both bitter and sweet moments, but the aftertaste of the bitter moments seemed to linger a little longer than the sweet ones.
It was a difficult four years.
I’ve heard it said, “If the mountain was smooth, you couldn’t climb it.” There’s a lot of truth to that. Through the mountain of pain I scaled with each move, God brought me closer to Him and taught me important lessons that I surely wouldn’t have learned otherwise. Lessons about trusting God with my friendships, with goodbyes, with loneliness, with family, anger, stress, and faith. Through it all, I’ve come to know this for sure: God can be trusted in all things—even the hard things.
“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters”
(Psalm 18:16 NIV).
I know from personal experience that in painful, tear-filled, exhausting days, God is still good and can still be trusted. He reaches down and takes hold of His weary children. He draws us out of deep waters. He is faithful.
I’ve witnessed His strength in my weakness.
I’ve felt His comfort in times of loss.
And though we aren’t always kept from experiencing shattered matters, we never have to endure them alone.
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, Thank You for always being by my side and for giving me Your strength and grace when I am simply weak and broken. Please help me look to You in every shattered matter.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
What has you weary or worrying today?
Let’s pray together today. Meet us in the comments section to share your heart and pray for one another.
More from the Girlfriends
Struggling to see a beautiful faith picture? Feel like giving up? Exhausted and worn? Gwen’s book, Broken Into Beautiful, is filled with Scriptural truths and stories of how God brings restoration to the hearts of those wounded by painful life experiences. Explore God’s healing and hope for your life today as you read Broken Into Beautiful. To order the book, go to Amazon or for a signed copy, order from Gwen’s web store. For a limited time, Gwen is offering a 20% OFF discount on her site when you use the coupon code: 20OFF. Click here to get yours now.
PSST! If you’re on Instagram, Gwen would love to connect with you there! She’s @GwenSmithMusic. Follow here.
© 2023 by Gwen Smith. All rights reserved.
Today my husband died 10 months ago. I’m going through health issues and financial difficulties. I know that the Lord knows all about what I’m going through. I feel lonely 😔 and depressed sometimes. I need prayer 🙏🏽. Pray with me as I climb this mountain.
Dear Girlfriends
We are in a tight spot financially. I have to hear ABBA’s voice & guidance in terms of how I can earn a second income. I am creative & make beauty products.
I don’t know what to do or how to (help) solve our challenge.
Dealing with the grief of losing my mom. I feel lonely, orphaned, stuck & not sure of next steps. What does God want me to do? I don’t want to be a downer to friends as I deal with grief but isolation is depressing. Pray for peace only God can give & clarity on how to move forward.
Praying for Dee and Stephanie. May the Lord divinely comfort you as you walk through your grief.
I’m climbing that mountain with my son with a drug addiction. But I have faith that we are going to reach the top. And what a blessing that will be. I’m pray for you Stephanie and Dee
I go straight to GIG and what a blessing that is each day.
To Dee & Stephanie (and anyone else here experiencing loss) – I will be praying HARD for you today! I’ve experienced loss like those and they are both disorienting, but through it all, clinging to God and serving others (mainly toddlers, who are usually in tune with emotions and can provide a good hug when your feeling down) got me through. 🙂
I’m now in another spot where I have to trust God with my finances and my health. He is faithful … And I am doing my best to remember who He is and He’s not limited by my timeline and other people’s opinions. I’m so thankful for that last part! 🙂
Father God thank you for GIG. Thank you for each writer’s dedication to serving you. This morning I come before your throne asking that your love mercy and grace is manifested in the lives of Dee and Stephanie. May they be comforted knowing you have a plan even and especially during their respective loss. May that plan be revealed soon to each of them. Thank you dear Lord for the promise that we are not to fear during trials in this world but to rejoice knowing you have overcome the world! I ask this in the precious name of Jesus.
Dealing with a family reuniting, since before 2020.
This, saved, prodigal daughter and my husband will be traveling to see my unsaved, prodigal brother and his wife.
We need to talk over family matters, but, I need to be a disciple for them. I need to show them Jesus.
The Lord has made the mountains and valleys aligned to travel. Now, I need Him to open doors for conversation, so His Spirit can move the hearts, that haven’t listened in decades.
I need to have the boldness of Paul. Please pray for me, for Jesus to speak through me.
Girlfriends In God,
Concerning grief with the passing of my husband. I pray for guidance and direction but the pain from the loss takes over. Am I praying and or talking to God the wrong way? Or most likely I am not listening or paying attention? Feel very stuck in the pain and letting go. Appreciate your comments, advice and prayers.
My faith has been shaken this week hearing about the tragic death of my son’s best friend. They met in 6th grade and continued to be friends until last week when we got the news . At the age of 28, we’re not sure if he took his life or was tragically killed. They were in a metal band together and was getting ready to tour for the 3rd time across the USA. We’ve been praying for their salvation. My heart is broken as well as his family. We need answers and comfort.
I am so grateful for GIG devotions. My 60 yr old husband got laid off from his job in February and still has found one. Please pray he gets a job. I know and understand God has a plan. It is so hard to sit and wait. I am grateful I have a job but my salary won’t cover the bills. Please pray for employment and peace.
Right now I am just staring at this mountain and praying. It’s been thirty plus years of facing a health challenge that only by the Grace of God I am still upright. Doctors are often befuddled with my health history and the fact that I am still upright “But God”. The early days of heart problems were the most scariest times of dealing with a heart arrhythmia that could barely be contained by modern medicine. I was a young mom of three little girls and my youngest was three months old. “But God” brought us through it, the diagnosis and the actual crazy arrhythmia of atrial fib had to submit to the Grace of God. Modern medicine has made a difference in having a quality life through the years, after open heart surgery in my thirties God gave me a whole different perspective about life and what really matters. So my mountain is the damage that this condition has put on my heart and whether this heart of mine is failing. “But God” did the impossible before, and I know He is the same God from yesterday in todays mountain climbing. I have appointments coming up at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona for more testing and evaluation. My prayer in this season is for all the medical costs involved, this has reeked havoc on my finances before, even with a good insurance, there is still a good portion that is out of pocket. I am seven years away from retirement and really all I ask for is quality life to continue to do Gods work, ministering to my family and anyone else God puts in my life and mentoring single moms.
Father, thank you for your love. I pray for all of these women who are all facing their challenges, and I pray our faith continues to combat fear. I worry about money. I also need a job and ways to generate revenue. You know my heart. I trust that You have a plan and that I ask for (and do) Your will. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
I am so spiritually filled daily by the GIG devotions every morning, they set tone for me everyday and am ever so grateful.
Please pray for my husband, children and grandchildren they will come to know our lord and savior.
I’m glad to have read this today. Again God is letting me know he is here for through the storm and not to give up. I’ve been going through a difficult time and I know it will eventually all be okay but at this time in the present, I’m thinking, how much more of this can I take Lord? How much more can you possibly give me?
I finally found the courage to leave my abusive husband on 4/21 but since then he has made my life a nightmare and police unable to capture him. On top
Of everything on Sunday, I fell and fractured my ankle. With dealing with getting my life back on track, my daughter and I left MY home with nothing but clothes on our back and now worried whether I will need surgery or not, I asked God Why? I don’t know how much strength I have left in all this. Thankfully I have so much support from close friends, co-workers and family- they and my beautiful daughter have been my pillar of strength, courtesy of God. And reading this today helps me face the fact I can still keep pushing forward no matter the setbacks he is and will always be by my side. Thank you! God bless.
Oh Sisters,
My heart breaks for each of you. I have endured the loss of both my parents, when my Mom died I was a young military spouse with 2 young children and a deployed spouse ~ but GOD He is faithful. He carried me through the pain. My sister and a dear military adopted daughter have endured the loss of their husbands. Both become widows young. That same sister has endured the pain of a drug addicted son and his death associated with that addiction. Jesus knows and I believe feels your pain and He pleads before the mercy seat for each
each of you. 🙏🏾 I’m praying for God to bring and give confidence to reach out to each of you an encouraging sister, a friend, a co-worker, a neighbor or an acquaintance. To share their testimony with you and be/show Jesus’ hands and heart to you. In my dark times God has done this for me and what God has done for me He will do for you.
Good morning. Thank you for your continued words of encouragement. I’m really struggling with chronic pain and constant migraines. Seeing doctor after doctor and not getting consistent answers has become so frustrating. Pain is literally controlling my day to day life. I can’t make plans and be certain I’ll be able to keep them. I can barely walk my dog. I’m sure there’s a message in this mess somewhere…
Praying for each one who is facing lost, hardships, uncertainty and lonliness. God is and God will carry you through. I am a witness. Though we walk through the valley, He is with us. He will comfort us. Hold to God’s hands.
At the docs doing a glucose screening because my lbs came back near diabetic, even though I hardly eat sugar! Asking the Lord that I pass so that this doesn’t become a “high risk” pregnancy.. I know many of you are going through harder things, and Im praying over the comments… also asking your praying ladies ♥️ Thank you
For all of you who have lost a spouse I know what you are going through. I lost my husband of 52 years 2 years ago and unless it has happened to you you don’t understand it.I am doing better time does help but does Chistian music.There was a song came out at that time called Scars in Heaven.If you are at that point listen to that song Google it or find on Chistian station.That is so helpful no matter what find a station or listen to the Joyfm which you can get anywhere on phone or computor.Another powerful song is God turn it around I listen every day to this station and music has helped me so much.like song all of my hope is in the name of Jesus breakthrough will come in the name of Jesus..Just keep praying and trusting God He has you in the palm of his hand.
Dee,
I read your prayer request, and it took my mind off of me, and onto you, and your need for comfort. Please know that you are being covered in prayer.
Hi all I need prayers for my son he is 12 and having a hard time in school getting picked on and so on just need prayers to get tru these last 3 weeks of school that he stays safe and no harm comes to him thank you
My husband has been diagnosed with high risk prostate cancer. We are both in our sixties and cannot afford to retire. My job is coming to an end and I will have to look for a new one. There are misunderstandings in my extended family causing fractured relationships. I am seeking the Lord’s forgiveness for my part and praying for healing, for physical for my husband and for these relationships. I know God is all powerful and merciful.
There always seems to be a mountain lately. It’s my husband’s 62nd birthday today and we’ve been separated for seven years. I’ve been single parenting. Our special needs son who is now 20 years old. I have recently worked full-time during the day and come home and take care of him. I am totally exhausted. I know the Lord has granted me this job, and I know he has a future for us. Our son needs to go into full-time day program and eventually a group home as my husband and I get older, that looks uncertain but I know God has a plan for him to. My husband and I have been starting to work on our marriage. Praise God, baby steps turn into big steps I pray for a solid foundation as we continue working back towards each other, and with God at the center this time.!
My daughter who is 31 years old, married to a non-Christian and has two children. We’ve always had a strong relationship and last year she called me on the phone and told me she doesn’t want to be a part of my life that I can be in my grandkids life. I’ve been devastated focusing on God I asked for prayer. I just found this devotional site and enjoy spending my first part of my morning spending it reading this friendship and God and spending time with God. God has been good to me, and will continue even though it seems hard I have been able to help other people through my disappointments and through my hard times. Thank you for this place to open up and let out some feelings.! God bless everyone!
About 11 years ago my ex husband divorced me. To this day I still don’t understand exactly why he divorced me. That period was one of the lowest points in my life.
It took a very long time before I could ‘see the sun’ again. One thing I have learnt is to keep focusing on God no matter what happens or what the situation is. Take things one day at a time and don’t rush things. Deal with things on a day to day basis. Sometimes we try to deal with everything at once. That could be overwhelming.
I thank my Lord and Savior for rescuing me from that black of sadness.