In God We Trust

I hope you all had a wonderful Independence Day weekend celebrating with family, remembering the good times, and enjoying all the unique and beautiful things about our country and our people. With the beautiful weather and variety of gatherings in honor of this holiday, I felt so grateful for my life, my family, and our ability to gather to celebrate what was gained by standing up for what we believed in: God, freedom, and our country of people who came to make their own way in life.

Unfortunately, with all the greatness and goodness inevitably comes times of evil and sorrow, but we who are devoted to our Creator have the fortune to have someone to turn to with our prayers, pleas and questions. Our country has lost its way over the decades of politics, fear and divisiveness, but God is always listening and watching over us, even when things seem bleak. Give your prayers, despair for those lost, and anger at those who seek to destroy to God to hold. These feelings are too big for us to hold by ourselves.

In times like these, I think of the following brief poem, The Footprints Prayer (link here for reference) https://www.scrapbook.com/poems/doc/38987.html

The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child. I love you, and I would never, never leave you during your times of trial and suffering. When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

God can carry us, the weight of our fears, and the despair in our hearts. God lifts us into his arms when we can no longer sustain the burden, just as he is there in the moments of our utmost joy. From God comes all good things, comfort, support, and wisdom. Turn to him for guidance and peace in times when we cannot find it for ourselves.  

Please, God, give us strength for what lies ahead.

-          Hannah