Our Unexpected Journey

Listen to this devotional:

Listen while you read: "Lord Of All Being Throned Afar"¹ (Lyrics)

On July 24th, 2022, our daughter's husband walked out on her, and thus began our unexpected journey.

Their three-bedroom house had to be vacated and everything brought to our garage, which became wall-to-wall bins.

The house needed some repairs and cleaning in order to be put on the market.

My husband began making an apartment in our basement so that our daughter could move in with us. When the living room and bedroom were completed at the beginning of November, she and her three cats moved in.

We also needed to find a place for her three horses to stay. It was then that we experienced a miracle! We found a place that was a three-minute drive from our home, at a price that she could afford! God is good!

There were still many 40-minute trips each way to finish emptying the house and get it ready to sell.

In mid-January, my husband came down with a "classic case of shingles", so the doctor called it. He was in a lot of pain, and working on the apartment was out of the question for many weeks.

The house went on the market in April, but it hasn't sold yet. There are ongoing expenses every month — mortgage, electricity, insurance — and so, we wait — and pray — and trust!

Psalm 37:7a – Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. (ESV)

Psalm 40:1 – I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. (ESV)

Psalm 130:5 – I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope. (ESV)

Psalm 27:14 – Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! (ESV)

Yes, life is unpredictable, as many of our readers well know. Most of us have experienced bad times at some point in our lives. But let us trust that God is faithful, that He hears our prayers, and that He answers in His perfect timing. Pray with me:

Prayer: Gracious God, it's sometimes hard to hear Your voice in difficult times. Fear and worry set in and overwhelm me. Trying to trust in Your plan for my life while I wait isn't always easy to do. But You are faithful. You have been faithful in the past and You will be faithful today and every day to come. Help me, God, to remain faithful to You as I wait. Help me to serve You and live for You even in this difficult time in my life. Help me to keep trusting. Help me to keep praying. Help me to be patient, knowing that "they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31 ESV) In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Dee Renaud <dee.renaud@outlook.com>
Sauble Beach, Ontario, Canada
Send your feedback to the author

Such a beautiful prayer.

Praying for you, Dee!
(BC)

Thank you.
My prayers are with your daughter.

I will be praying for your situation, we have been there. And we are still doing it.

Good morning, Dee.
You and your family have had a rough ride.
I will pray for you, too, along with many others.

Dear Dee,
Thank you always for your devotionals. I am sure all your readers will be praying that the house will sell very soon.

Thanks for sharing your story, Dee. I’ve been the “daughter” in your story and my walk with the Lord wasn’t as strong then, so it was hard. I pray blessings on you and your family as you wait.

Dee, I’m praying for you, your husband, your daughter, and also that the house will be sold soon in the mighty name of Jesus.
Yes, in His time!

Thank you so much for today’s devotion. I am struggling with several changes in my life upper most is the death of my husband a year ago. I will remember your prayers and your kind words.

You are so brave to share your journey with us. Thank you and please trust in the Lord like you encourage us to do.
Thank you for sharing with us.

Dee, what a wonderful devotional that was just what I needed to hear today. I am facing so many things right now, including the death of my daughter after she fought cancer for over a year. I think this group prayed for her for many months.
God bless you and your family.

Dee – as I sit here reading your devotional, I am dismayed by the story until you mention that your husband dealt with shingles. Then I had to smile, since I am now covered with that very plague. Yes, we simply wait upon the Lord’s good timing in all our endeavours.
May your patience never wane as the journey continues.

Dear Dee, thank you for this mindful devotional today reminding us to remain faithful to our Lord even though we may have a long wait before we get what we pray for. Very sorry to hear about your daughter’s situation and will pray for her patience as she awaits resolution of her situation. Trust in our loving Lord brings amazing results as we stay close to Him. Blessings to you and your family.

Good morning, Dee,
We are on an unexpected journey as well. I like the passage from Isaiah, when we like young eagles plummet to earth, the Lord will carry us through the difficult times, he gives us strength to cope.
May you have a good Sunday today.
Blessings.

Dear Dee:
Thank you for this message. It was quite timely for me. God seems to speak to us through many avenues. I pray things settle and the pain of this situation resolves in time. I too have been challenged in this way with one of my children. May God always keep his hand upon you and your family!
Thank you again for your message.

Good morning, Dee!
What painful experience.
I was left with 3 young children in the 1970s.
NO help as were settlers in this vast country. So, you were amazing in being there for your daughter.
All these years later my adult children have rebuilt relationships with their dad I certainly built a strong relationship with our Lord during those early years.
He remains my strength and a very present help in times of trouble.
Blessings to you.

Dear Dee,
How gracious you are to share your family story with us.
I pray that all will go well with your husband’s recovery and also with your daughter’s future. You are challenged at this time, and I pray for all of you. Your faithfulness will certainly grant you all a continued perspective including strengths that will develop your characters.
My personal Bible verse that I use is 1 Peter, Chapter 5: verse 7: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you”.
(On, Canada)

Morning, Dee,
In our small town in Texas there is an Arts Center that brings entertainment and culture not available in many towns or counties our size. One performer came about a year and a half ago, and as he delivered a final “good bye” as the concert ended, he said, “I just remember to tell myself God is in control.” Often, I have thought of those words. You and your husband are examples of believers who know God is in control even though it is hard to see it at times.
Thank you for your heartfelt devotional this morning.
(Texas)

I am very sorry to hear about this troubling time for you and your family Dee. Life can just be such a bummer sometimes! But God is so gracious in His faithfulness to bring us through it, as you say in His own time and way which is always best.
I pray that our of His glorious riches that He will continue to strengthen you and yours in your innermost beings, that as you traverse this valley that your roots may continue to grow deeper and deeper in His love and that this time in the future, may be looked upon as a turning point for great good in all of your lives. In Christ’s name. Amen.
Be blessed and know you are loved and not alone.
Blessings.

Good morning, Dee,
Definitely an unexpected journey!! When people share parts of their journey and the hope they have in Jesus as the path is unclear, it definitely helps to deepen my own belief and to have hope for the future no matter what. It is easy to be understand by our friends, it is more difficult to be kind and gracious to people we don’t know. God expects us to hold out the olive branch to all as Jesus did. The same as it is easier to practice our faith when life is going well, it is more difficult when life’s path is unclear.
Sharing by others as they are still in the unclear part, and how they use their faith to navigate these times, may be hard for someone to share; however, it is immensely encouraging to others. I pray for your family as God guides you and encourages you. Thank you for sharing. Blessings.

Good Morning Dee.
I send you prayers for your present situation, certainly not easy what you are going through, been there, not exactly the same circumstances, but still helping out a daughter. During her rough times she knew she could turn to us, her parents, just as you and I both know we can turn to our heavenly father not only in our needy times, but always. Sometimes we do tend to forget this, but he doesn’t.
May God give you the strength to bring you smiling through on the other side and for your daughter and husband as well.
The same daughter hasn’t been speaking to me for months and it breaks my heart.
I always think of the words “The Lord Is My Strength”, he indeed is, and “He will be your strength also”.

Thanks for your message today, Dee!
I receive the meditations each day from an old school chum. Most days that I open the reflections they are an answer to what I’d been struggling with, either over a period of time over in the previous few hours. Your message today has done it again.

I was very heavily involved in Church work.
Then it all finished and Covid hit. Isolation, right? And then in the space of six months four deaths of close family or friends. I’m at that age when it happens, I know…there is a season… I have total faith in God’s loving care, but when my cousin, I can tell you it was all I could to not go out into the bush beside my home and scream at God, asking Him how many more.
About then, as I struggled going down that “rabbit hole”, my younger daughter suggested I stop and “count your blessings, mom!” So wise! Take my own advice. And so I did. I have been blessed as have most of us if we stop and count those blessings, miracles, joys.
Thank you for your message. It obviously touched my heart. Blessings for all that you do. God is truly with you, and as one of our past Moderators used to say – God is good all the time! We’d respond with …All the time God is good….and then we’d reverse it.

Thank you for sharing such a private part of your journey so that we may understand God’s glorious mercies.

Praying for your family! Especially praying for healing. Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. Blessings.

Thank you, Dee, great devotional. I certainly know the feeling.
(QC)

One thought on “Our Unexpected Journey”

PresbyCan Feedback says:

Monday, August 21, 2023 at 12:19 am

Such a beautiful prayer.

Praying for you, Dee!
(BC)

Thank you.
My prayers are with your daughter.

I will be praying for your situation, we have been there. And we are still doing it.

Good morning, Dee.
You and your family have had a rough ride.
I will pray for you, too, along with many others.

Dear Dee,
Thank you always for your devotionals. I am sure all your readers will be praying that the house will sell very soon.

Thanks for sharing your story, Dee. I’ve been the “daughter” in your story and my walk with the Lord wasn’t as strong then, so it was hard. I pray blessings on you and your family as you wait.

Dee, I’m praying for you, your husband, your daughter, and also that the house will be sold soon in the mighty name of Jesus.
Yes, in His time!

Thank you so much for today’s devotion. I am struggling with several changes in my life upper most is the death of my husband a year ago. I will remember your prayers and your kind words.

You are so brave to share your journey with us. Thank you and please trust in the Lord like you encourage us to do.
Thank you for sharing with us.

Dee, what a wonderful devotional that was just what I needed to hear today. I am facing so many things right now, including the death of my daughter after she fought cancer for over a year. I think this group prayed for her for many months.
God bless you and your family.

Dee – as I sit here reading your devotional, I am dismayed by the story until you mention that your husband dealt with shingles. Then I had to smile, since I am now covered with that very plague. Yes, we simply wait upon the Lord’s good timing in all our endeavours.
May your patience never wane as the journey continues.

Dear Dee, thank you for this mindful devotional today reminding us to remain faithful to our Lord even though we may have a long wait before we get what we pray for. Very sorry to hear about your daughter’s situation and will pray for her patience as she awaits resolution of her situation. Trust in our loving Lord brings amazing results as we stay close to Him. Blessings to you and your family.

Good morning, Dee,
We are on an unexpected journey as well. I like the passage from Isaiah, when we like young eagles plummet to earth, the Lord will carry us through the difficult times, he gives us strength to cope.
May you have a good Sunday today.
Blessings.

Dear Dee:
Thank you for this message. It was quite timely for me. God seems to speak to us through many avenues. I pray things settle and the pain of this situation resolves in time. I too have been challenged in this way with one of my children. May God always keep his hand upon you and your family!
Thank you again for your message.

Good morning, Dee!
What painful experience.
I was left with 3 young children in the 1970s.
NO help as were settlers in this vast country. So, you were amazing in being there for your daughter.
All these years later my adult children have rebuilt relationships with their dad I certainly built a strong relationship with our Lord during those early years.
He remains my strength and a very present help in times of trouble.
Blessings to you.

Dear Dee,
How gracious you are to share your family story with us.
I pray that all will go well with your husband’s recovery and also with your daughter’s future. You are challenged at this time, and I pray for all of you. Your faithfulness will certainly grant you all a continued perspective including strengths that will develop your characters.
My personal Bible verse that I use is 1 Peter, Chapter 5: verse 7: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you”.
(On, Canada)

Morning, Dee,
In our small town in Texas there is an Arts Center that brings entertainment and culture not available in many towns or counties our size. One performer came about a year and a half ago, and as he delivered a final “good bye” as the concert ended, he said, “I just remember to tell myself God is in control.” Often, I have thought of those words. You and your husband are examples of believers who know God is in control even though it is hard to see it at times.
Thank you for your heartfelt devotional this morning.
(Texas)

I am very sorry to hear about this troubling time for you and your family Dee. Life can just be such a bummer sometimes! But God is so gracious in His faithfulness to bring us through it, as you say in His own time and way which is always best.
I pray that our of His glorious riches that He will continue to strengthen you and yours in your innermost beings, that as you traverse this valley that your roots may continue to grow deeper and deeper in His love and that this time in the future, may be looked upon as a turning point for great good in all of your lives. In Christ’s name. Amen.
Be blessed and know you are loved and not alone.
Blessings.

Good morning, Dee,
Definitely an unexpected journey!! When people share parts of their journey and the hope they have in Jesus as the path is unclear, it definitely helps to deepen my own belief and to have hope for the future no matter what. It is easy to be understand by our friends, it is more difficult to be kind and gracious to people we don’t know. God expects us to hold out the olive branch to all as Jesus did. The same as it is easier to practice our faith when life is going well, it is more difficult when life’s path is unclear.
Sharing by others as they are still in the unclear part, and how they use their faith to navigate these times, may be hard for someone to share; however, it is immensely encouraging to others. I pray for your family as God guides you and encourages you. Thank you for sharing. Blessings.

Good Morning Dee.
I send you prayers for your present situation, certainly not easy what you are going through, been there, not exactly the same circumstances, but still helping out a daughter. During her rough times she knew she could turn to us, her parents, just as you and I both know we can turn to our heavenly father not only in our needy times, but always. Sometimes we do tend to forget this, but he doesn’t.
May God give you the strength to bring you smiling through on the other side and for your daughter and husband as well.
The same daughter hasn’t been speaking to me for months and it breaks my heart.
I always think of the words “The Lord Is My Strength”, he indeed is, and “He will be your strength also”.

Thanks for your message today, Dee!
I receive the meditations each day from an old school chum. Most days that I open the reflections they are an answer to what I’d been struggling with, either over a period of time over in the previous few hours. Your message today has done it again.

I was very heavily involved in Church work.
Then it all finished and Covid hit. Isolation, right? And then in the space of six months four deaths of close family or friends. I’m at that age when it happens, I know…there is a season… I have total faith in God’s loving care, but when my cousin, I can tell you it was all I could to not go out into the bush beside my home and scream at God, asking Him how many more.
About then, as I struggled going down that “rabbit hole”, my younger daughter suggested I stop and “count your blessings, mom!” So wise! Take my own advice. And so I did. I have been blessed as have most of us if we stop and count those blessings, miracles, joys.
Thank you for your message. It obviously touched my heart. Blessings for all that you do. God is truly with you, and as one of our past Moderators used to say – God is good all the time! We’d respond with …All the time God is good….and then we’d reverse it.

Thank you for sharing such a private part of your journey so that we may understand God’s glorious mercies.

Praying for your family! Especially praying for healing. Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. Blessings.

Thank you, Dee, great devotional. I certainly know the feeling.
(QC)

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