Sometimes ‘life as usual’ just doesn’t exist.

Whether it’s a tornado’s aftermath, a marathon bombing, or the power of deep lifetime-injustice, sometimes life can’t be ‘as usual’.  

And, perhaps even for some, ‘usual’ has never even existed.  An abusive family, gut-wrenching poverty, a lifetime of oppressive war or culture – innumerable situations and stories of missing something as simple and wonderful as ‘usual’, deeply wound many lives.

Whether it is a tragic end to ‘normal’, or a lifetime of wondering what ‘normal’ might be like, the deepest of heartaches are attached to it.

You certainly didn’t cause them, but the sovereignty of Your hand could have, without doubt, withheld them.  

Understanding the connection between Your sovereignty, deep love and grace, and the terrifyingly painful, impossible to fathom, situations of destruction, leave every heart at a place of painful loss.

But this I know – my inability to understand You doesn’t change the perfect nature of Your heart.  And even though I can’t reconcile an answer to ‘why?’ in my heart, I know I can still cling to the ‘Who’ You say You are.

You are present, and in the deepest of heartaches You minister a salve of healing that will do more than close the wound, but will thoroughly heal and call forth life again.*  It is Your word, and You will do it.

Your Spirit moves where no one and nothing can reach.*  And Your ‘body’ on earth will minister Your care beyond their innate capacity.*  You desire to, and will, minister comfort.

May everything that is no longer ‘as usual’ become a vessel for the fullest manifestation of Your healing power and peace.  You abound.

* Clicking on *’s will open a new web page providing the indicated reference.