Restoring Hearts Blog

“In my own life, I think I can honestly say that out of the deepest pain has come the strongest conviction of the presence of God and the love of God.” Elisabeth Elliott My family is aware that I usually cry at good-byes. This last time, after our kids visited us, proved to be no different. I wept as I hugged each of them good-bye. Through tears, I told them how having them visit, made me realize how much I missed them. After they drove away, I laid down on the rug and sobbed

“Happiness depends on what happens; joy does not.” Oswald Chambers Everyone experiences adversity at one time or another in their lives. Disappointments, loss, unmet expectations, or our life story not turning out the way we had hoped, are just a few of the troubles we encounter. Even though we may not understand what God is up to or why He’s allowing the trial to take place, we can still trust Him. Trust doesn’t have to do with our circumstances or even the outcome. Trust ha

“The darker the night, the brighter the stars. The deeper the grief, the closer is God.” Fyodor Dostoyevsky Loss needs to be grieved. It’s necessary to weep over a loved one who has become ill or has passed, to mourn the rejection or betrayal by those closest to you, to lament over a job loss, or experience disappointment when an expectation is not met. We each process loss differently, but what is crucial is that we walk through the grief. I cried myself to sleep at night, a

“We are healed of grief only when we express it to the full.” Chuck Swindoll Holidays are painful when there is loss. This may be your first Easter since a loved one passed away. Maybe your loss involves a change in a job or in your health. My loss may not be as devastating as a loved one dying, but to me, moving to Wichita, away from those I love, rocked my boat. All loss is significant, even disappointments. Any form of sorrow shapes us. Loss needs to be mourned, but not al

“When you feel that all is lost, sometimes the greatest gain is ready to be yours.” Thomas a Kempis All of us experience disappointments in life. The greater the desire or expectation, the greater the possibility is for disappointment. Some people try and ward off their disappointments by being pessimistic or negative all the time. This is a way they try to protect their hearts. Instead of thinking something grand will happen, they figure nothing will happen, which prevents d

“When we yield to discouragement, it is usually because we give too much thought to the past or to the future.” St. Therese of Lisieux Discouragement enters through many doors, leaving us feeling “disheartened, deprived of courage or confidence, dejected or depressed in spirits.” Unfulfilled expectations, disappointment, failure and loss can cause discouragement to penetrate our hearts. We spiral down into the pit of discouragement when we listen to lies from Satan. Joyce Mey

“Faith is to believe what you do not yet see; the reward for this faith is to see what you believe.” St. Augustine of Hippo “You want to do WHAT?” Those words raced through my head when my husband came home during his medical fellowship in Chicago announcing the prospect of not returning to our family and friends back home in Tucson, Arizona. Instead, he considered applying for a job in Omaha, Nebraska. Anger, grief, fear and tears were present as I wrestled with God for a co