-

 

Known by God, Held by Hope


Oh Lord, You know my heart. You know exactly where I am today. You know my thoughts and my words even before they come out of my mouth. I am here, Lord. Use me. Today, I am sad.

There are days when sadness arrives quietly and other days when it feels heavier. Today, the sadness is tied to longing. I am missing my mom. I miss her voice, her presence, and the comfort of knowing she was near. Even after time has passed, grief has a way of returning, often when we least expect it.

I am fully aware of all that God is doing for me. I see His provision and His faithfulness. I recognize the many ways He has carried me and continues to sustain me. Yet knowing God is at work does not erase the ache of missing someone we love.

Gratitude and grief can live in the same heart. Faith and sadness can exist together.

The Lord knows this.

Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up. You understand my thoughts from far away. Psalm 139:1-2 

God knows the prayers I cannot finish and the tears I cannot explain. Missing my mom does not mean I lack trust in Him. It means love was real and deep. It means relationships mattered. It means my heart remembers.

The Bible never asks us to pretend we are not hurting. Even Jesus wept. Even Jesus felt sorrow. Yet His hope and mission were never shaken.

The Lord is near the brokenhearted. He saves those crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 

Today, I am holding two truths at once. I am sad, and I am hopeful.

My hope is not rooted in how strong I feel or how well I am holding it together. My hope is in Jesus. He is steady when my emotions are not. He is faithful when my heart feels tired. He walks with me through grief instead of asking me to move past it too quickly.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19 

Even on days like today, my soul is anchored.

If you are reading this and you are sad, missing someone you love, or carrying grief that others may not see, you are not weak and you are not failing spiritually. You are human, and you are deeply loved by God.

Today, my prayer is simple.
Lord, I am here.
Use me, even in my sadness.

Hope does not mean the absence of sorrow.
Hope means Jesus is present in the middle of it.

And today, that is enough.

Andrea Anderegg


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

-
Image
I’m supposed to be non-stop packing, but here I am. As I pack, listening to music, this song came on, and I just had to share my heart. "Faithful Still" by KingsPorch.  I’ve loved this song since last year, so it’s been with me for a while. Every time I hear it, my heart is reminded of what I already know but sometimes forget: God is faithful. He has never failed, and He never will. How often do we find ourselves wondering, Will God really come through this time? Maybe it’s an unanswered prayer, a painful loss, or a season of waiting that feels like it will never end. Our hearts know He is faithful, yet our circumstances whisper otherwise. But here’s the truth: God’s faithfulness is not dependent on our feelings or circumstances, it is anchored in His unchanging character. When we face trials, it can feel like we’re standing in front of an immovable mountain. Maybe it’s a health crisis, financial hardship, or a broken relationship that seems beyond repair. But Jesus tells us...
Read more
-
Image
Blue Christmas: Hope for the Hurting During the Holidays The holiday season is here, twinkling lights, cheerful music, and the hustle and bustle of family gatherings. But for some of us, this time of year can feel heavy. Grief, loss, and loneliness may seem more intense against the backdrop of festive cheer. I get it. The world seems to expect joy and togetherness, but what if you’re not feeling that way? Maybe you’re missing someone deeply, especially at Christmastime. For me, it’s my mom. I miss her more than words can express. For others, it might be the loss of a spouse, a close friend, a child, or even a dream. We all carry different burdens, but they often feel heavier when everyone around us is celebrating. The Meaning Behind Blue Christmas:  You might have heard the term "Blue Christmas" before. For many, it brings to mind the classic Elvis Presley song about missing someone during the holidays. For others, Blue Christmas has come to symbolize the grief and sorrow tha...
Read more
-
Image
As the holidays approach, I’ve noticed many posts from dear friends who are missing loved ones, and I’m one of them too. Grief is such a strange thing. It looks different for everyone, comes in waves, and evolves over time. I still remember when my husband buried his mother on December 22nd and then led worship for every Christmas Eve service just days later. With a steadfast heart, he encouraged, loved, and led the congregation to worship Jesus with their whole hearts. That’s what it means to truly belong to the Lord. Anyone else might have been overcome with sorrow, but he stood firm because his eyes were fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). This is my second Christmas without my mom, and some days are just plain hard. Even though I know I’ll see her again one day because of the promise we have in Christ, it still hurts. I miss the simple things, calling her to share something silly, asking for her prayers, or just hearing her voice as we talked about...
Read more