A very dear friend of mine gave me a precious stone last year with the words
“Remember I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20) inscribed on it.
Just five words, but the comfort and solace that I receive from those words is huge.
It has been 7 years since the tragic passing of my beautiful daughter, Kayla. While I travel the painful journey of living my life without Kayla, it has become so clear that I cannot make it through this journey alone.
Some of my waking minutes, hours and days are so extremely difficult, lonely and painful. I know that I cannot possibly manage them by myself. I have found great comfort in knowing that I can pray to God constantly throughout the day to help me. He provides me with the strength, hope and encouragement that I need.
When the dark, painful moments come upon me, I try very hard to remember that God is with me and He will help me through. When the ache and longing overcomes me, and I feel the overwhelming sadness and loneliness trying to take over, I cling to the hope that I have of seeing Kayla again. When the longing to hear her voice, touch her, hold her, and laugh with her feels so heavy and hard, I talk to God and ask for His shoulder to lean on.
Many verses from the Bible also provide comfort, strength and encouragement that I need, when life feels so hard and unpredictable:
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” (Hebrews 6:19)
“Three things will last forever – faith, hope and love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)
“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
“Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
(2 Corinthians 4:17-18)
I find great comfort and peace in knowing that God is with me and that He will supply the strength and encouragement that I need to make it through each day. I also know that it is up to me to remember to call on Him, to pray to Him, to ask Him for His help and guidance. I also know that I need to focus on talking to God and asking Him to give me direction and strength to make it through, helping me to understand the plan that He has for me.
While I will never understand how or why this horrible tragedy has happened, I know that I need to focus on trying to make something positive come from something so horrific. This “new normal” is not the life I would have chosen, and in the pain and loneliness I experience, I know that I need to remember to focus on God’s love, comfort and strength, keeping my focus above, as I move forward each day.
It is my hope and prayer that every "mom like me" can sense God’s presence and know that He can provide comfort, hope, strength, encouragement and peace during the extremely difficult, painful moments of grief. He is with us, as we travel this very painful journey without our beautiful children beside us.
I have come to rely on God's Word for comfort, hope and guidance for my journey of the heart and these two verses are especially helpful to me . . .
“And, we know that all things work together for good to them who . . . are called according to His purpose.”
(Romans 8:28)
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)
God’s blessings to you all,
Lisa Adsit, “a mom like you”
Ft. Collins, Colorado
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