In moments of profound grief and reflection, I find myself leaning into the unwavering faithfulness of God. Life’s seasons often challenge us, stretching us in ways we could not anticipate—times of refining, recalibration, and silent reliance on His grace. Recently, I have walked through such a season. Some days have been marked by uncertainty, where clarity was elusive, and burdens felt especially heavy. Yet, amidst the unknown, God’s presence has remained steadfast and certain.
Time and again, I have witnessed His hand at work in circumstances beyond my control and in places I could not reach. As scripture reminds us, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14). Even when I felt unseen, unheard, or uncertain, He has stood in the gap, offering His grace, protection, and peace. His love is unwavering.
At the same time, I have been strengthened and renewed through the blessings present in my personal life—celebrating meaningful milestones with family, exploring new places that awaken a sense of wonder, and being surrounded by faithful friends whose prayers and presence carry me through difficult times. These moments serve as sacred reminders that God’s goodness often sustains us in the midst of life’s trials.
I have come to understand that God’s benevolence is not dictated by circumstances. Psalm 34:19 declares, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” When the path is steep, He provides the strength we need to continue climbing.
And while challenges certainly arise, I stand firm on His promise in Isaiah 54:17: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper.” This does not mean life is without battles, but it reinforces that we serve a God who equips us to overcome them.
I ask myself—and invite you—to consider: what season are you facing right now? Are there moments in your life where you need to be reminded that God’s presence remains active, His protection unceasing, and His work behind the scenes ongoing? Perhaps now is a moment to pause and offer gratitude—not solely for victories, but also for the lessons learned within the valleys.
Be encouraged by the everlasting truth in Lamentations 3:22–23: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Cling to this truth, for God’s faithfulness endures, here and now, even in our most vulnerable moments.
May we all find comfort and strength in His unchanging love and unwavering grace
Most days I am happy. I wake up thanking God for another day to be alive. I honestly don’t take my being here for granted. Over the last year, I have experienced close and personal losses and they made me consider my own mortality. There have been days that I sit back and say to myself, “God is still on the throne. Don’t lose heart.”
You see, even the best of us will encounter days that are frustrating and disappointing. We will encounter people who will count us out, not take us seriously, reject our dreams and goals and even tell us that we will never be something that we have always dreamed of becoming. That’s why we are hesitant to share our hopes and dreams with others; we are afraid of their judgment and rejection as this young lady was. As I said to her that day in my office, I will say the same to you. If you have dreams, go for them. It does not matter what other people think; it matters what you do. If you don’t go for it, you are saying that they are right about what they think of you. If you go for it and fail, you don’t have to be embarrassed, trust me, the next time you will do better. One thing is certain, if you don’t pursue what’s important to you, you can count on never getting it.
I am an animated worshipper of Christ. Sometimes I can be in my car and feel the Spirit of God move on me and I raise my hands in praise. I have to be so careful when I am driving,though. Some days I can be sitting in my office listening to a praise song and can be overcome with joy! I feel the Spirit of God so strong at times that my emotions take over and I have to remind myself that I am at work. My eyes fill with tears for nothing more than I am in the presence of God.
There is one thing I know for certain, she would be the first to stretch out her hands to worship God no matter her circumstances. That is something I can rejoice about and so can her beautiful daughter and granddaughters. Their mom was a warrior, a fighter, and a bold Born-again Believer. In their sadness, that’s what I want them to remember. I want to think about how passionately she praised. I want them to think about how much she would want them to do the same. She would want us all to miss her, and we do, but she would want us to know that she is with Jesus and she is shouting and praising her way through heaven.
Dr. LaSharnda Beckwith 