Kellie Haddock is a courageous woman I’ve known of and admired for more than a decade. In 2004, I first read the blog she penned following a tragic car accident that took the life of her husband and left her baby, Eli, with permanent injuries.
Kellie’s writings convey hope in God and deep trust in His faithfulness. Since I’m not apt to react to loss with such grace or unwavering confidence in God’s goodness, I learned from Kellie, whose story was told on The Today Show in the US, how profoundly faith and choosing joy can carry us through the hardest of times.
On her website, Kellie writes, “Psalm 84:5-7 says, ‘Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage’ [Psalm 84:5-7 NIV]. This word pilgrimage means that one is moving, that you aren’t paralyzed and stuck in fear, standing in one place, but rather that you are painstakingly putting one blistered foot in front of the other. This is what I’ve aimed to do, to keep trudging onward. Not to let the grief hold me down and make me stop living my life, for then death would win and I couldn’t let that be. For ‘when they walk through the Valley of Weeping’—not around, there are no shortcuts on this way—‘it will become a place of refreshing’ where pools of blessing collects after the rain” (Psalm 84:6).
To reflect on how the “living God” provides “joy for those who trust in [Him]” (Psalm 84:2,12), and to extend her gratitude to the hospital staff that saved her son’s life after the accident, Kellie put together the “Thank You Project” and blessed the medical caregivers at a special dinner.
When hard times come, like Kellie, may we rest in the arms of our loving God, who can always be trusted!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
More:
Read James 1:2-4 and consider what it says about what trials can produce in your life.
Next:
How has God met you in your pain? What promises of God encourage you as you face trials?
Gary Shultz on March 26, 2016 at 6:36 am
These are hard things to grasp Roxanne. Great loss and ever present reminders carried along in life. Some people suffer within a world people don’t visibly see, as in the article the other day, great depression. I am thankful to God for His care for us even when when we don’t think He is there. I am thankful for the Kellie’s who have found God’s love pressing through the difficult, to find that God is ready and waiting to help. To walk forward, to look forward, to invest forward, and to know without a shadow of doubt, that God will bring restoration, peace, and wholeness. It will be brought in a package so full, so extravagant, we cannot imagine. Thank God for the Kellie’s who stand as an example and reminder, God is there, He is not done, and we can walk in faith with Him. Thanks for this account Roxanne, may you enjoy this “forward season”.
samgaskill on March 26, 2016 at 10:17 am
Gary that is a wonderful response to today’s devotional. Such trials are indeed hard to grasp and we are apt to carry loss around a very long time. I too am thankful for the very same things you are. I am blessed to be reminded that God’s package for us will be so full, so extravagant we cannot imagine. God’s richest blessings of quiet trust and peace rest upon you shoulders dear brother!
Mike Wittmer on March 26, 2016 at 8:54 am
What a timely reminder on this day before Easter that we do have hope in Christ regardless of what we suffer. We trust the One who left death in the dust.
sandy229 on March 26, 2016 at 10:13 am
It’s so wonderful to know that the mighty God we serve is always our constant help in times of trouble. Not just in times of trouble but always, no matter what we endure. It’s great to know that we can endure anything as long as we remember that God will always get us through. It’s so sad for people who don’t have Christ in their lives to be able to endure anything at all. Whenever they have loss, they are inconsolable and sometimes they even blame God for their loss. I honestly don’t know how they get through it, but I know I have nothing to fear because I serve a living Savior who comforts me in times of trouble. When I read stories like this though, it really is hard to grasp because I can’t imagine what a huge loss it would be. I only know that God will always carry me through.
samgaskill on March 26, 2016 at 10:21 am
Yes. Very true. I am thinking God uses simple things; like the encouragement found in this forum to help us walk less burdened in our trials. I am humbled and grateful at the myriad of ways He brings us comfort through the knowledge that we are never alone; He will always carry us through: ) May we be keenly aware each day of ways to be the hands and feet of Jesus, the voice of comfort and encouragement! Amen.
gagirllive on March 26, 2016 at 10:17 am
Thanks for this, Roxanne. I am presently re-reading Pilgrim’s Progress and finding encouragement in it again. Psalm 84 is one of my favorite passages. Setting our hearts on pilgrimage is definitely the mindset that we must keep in order to move forward. The James passage offers us much instruction about our attitude regarding trials. I especially like how the NKJV puts it…”but let patience have its perfect work…”. In other words, give the trial time to be our teacher…to sit with God and learn what He wants to accomplish in us. I’ve had to tell myself that often the only way “out” is “through”. Thankfully, our Lord Jesus Christ goes before us. He is our perfect example on how to suffer. May we all be refreshed with new hope this Easter season as we celebrate what He’s accomplished for us. Blessings to you, Roxanne, and to all at ODJ!
samgaskill on March 26, 2016 at 10:24 am
Wise words! The only way “out” is “through”! Someone just the realization of this brings comfort. Nothing God allows in us is useless; all is good! Lord bless you today!
sdwise on March 26, 2016 at 10:48 am
Life in this world is full of storms and tragedies. Either our walk is being tested by satin like Job or as a result of the sinfulness of the wicked. All of us have been in a storm, we are in one or we are about to go through one. Jesus said, “…..In the world you will have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome it. ” John 16:33b. Like the songwriter says, “When I look back over my life, I can see how the LORD has guided me. And even though I’ve done wrong, He never left me alone. He forgave me and keeps on blessing me. This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. It is because of your mercies, that we are not consumed. Because thy compassion faileth not, they are new every morning. Great is thy faitfulness. Great is thy faithfulness. Oh you’ve been so faithful.” I have been some rains and serious storms in my life, and I am sure before I go to eternity with Jesus they are not over. But every time I come through, I am more determined to praise God and continue pressing forward to live for Him.
samgaskill on March 26, 2016 at 1:18 pm
Thank you so much for your ponderings on todays devo. “He never left me alone.” Great is His faithfulness! So true that the storms come to reveal to us such profound revelations; completely overwhelms my soul in thankfulness. My prayer is that ALL who trust and put their faith in our Lord will understand all that comes from the Lord is good and beneficial to us. He really is working out that our lives be pleasing to Him and ultimately bring us peace and joy as we seek forgiveness, find it; and are set free from the burden of it. Bless you and may the Lord continue to open new treasures of understanding uniquely special to you every day!!!!
elegantstarr1 on March 26, 2016 at 12:33 pm
Blessings to all in the forum today! I also wanted to check on misss today…you were on my mind and I pray that all is well. God will take care of you and your family. Be Blessed!
samgaskill on March 26, 2016 at 1:04 pm
Misss you are in my heart too! My family is praying in earnest for the will of God in your life! His will is always to be trusted and brings to us new life! May you sense this in your spirit today even if you do not read this. Appreciate elegant star for reminding us that we are the body of Christ. The Lord will comfort and help His beloved misss through His spirit in us!
Roxanne Robbins on March 26, 2016 at 8:35 pm
Thanks to each of you for your comments. I’ve read them several times and found such rich encouragement and insights in your thoughtful words. Gagirllive – I’ve been mulling over your exhortation to set our hearts toward pilgrimage. What a good way to approach life, with confidence we our on a journey God ordained to sanctify is and draw us closer to Jesus.