One of the ways I cope in difficult situations is to remind myself Who God is and how He has shown up for me in the past. These are three of my treasured touchstone memories.

Anointing: As I trudged to work one morning feeling overwhelmed by what was waiting for me at the office, I had a sensation of oil being poured over the top of my head. I tried to wipe away the drips but there was nothing there. I assumed my mind was playing tricks on me. But then, it happened again the next morning, and this time, the sensation was unmistakable. It felt like God was anointing me — assuring me of His presence and encouraging me.

Healing: Someone stood up at church one Sunday and said they felt the need to pray for someone dealing with a neck and shoulder issue. I knew it was me because I had a very painful pinched nerve in my neck. The pastor and a couple of other people gathered around me and prayed for healing. I was healed immediately — completely and supernaturally. I was in awe and so grateful.

Direction: I felt I needed to retire from a job I found miserable but was worried about finances and unsure whether I could afford to. I woke up suddenly one morning with the same severe pain in my ankle that I had had from a bad sprain a couple of months previously. It had mysteriously returned. I couldn't walk and had to stay home from work. God spoke to me that day and made clear His will for me to retire. He brought to mind the story of Jacob and how he wrestled with God and his hip was wrenched. My ankle was like Jacob's hip. That Sunday, I was looking for confirmation, and sure enough, the sermon was about Jacob, and we sang the hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness". The words "All I have needed Thy hands have provided" jumped out at me. I put in my notice immediately, and on the third day of my retirement, I was blessed with an offer of lucrative part-time contract work which suited me perfectly. God had made a better path.

Looking back, many of us see the hand of God at work in our lives. In the same way that Joshua collected twelve stones as a memorial to the parting of the river Jordan, we collect our own touchstones. They assure us that God sees us, that He cares for us, and that He is faithful. Whatever we are facing right now, we know that He's got this.

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, thank You for our powerful touchstone memories. Bring them to mind in times of trouble so that we are reminded of Your love and faithfulness. Amen.

I have the pleasure of spending a great deal of time with my five-year-old grandson. He has a kind and loving nature and models for me quite regularly what it means for us to love each other.

One day, I accidentally damaged the mechanism for raising and lowering the drawbridge of his knight's castle. His response? "That's okay. Friends are more important." With those few words, he let me know that the people in his life are of far greater value to him than his precious knight's castle.

On another occasion, we were playing a bingo type of game for small children called "Zingo". I was hoping that he would win, because, in my experience, boys tend to be naturally competitive and can become upset when they lose. But much to my surprise, after he won the first game, he turned to me and said, "I hope you win the next game." Such generosity of spirit restores one's faith in humanity.

Another recent example was his offering of one of his cookies to me because I was his "sweetie" grandma. His words were sweeter than I'll ever be!

I don't know about you, but I often struggle with knowing what it means to comply with Christ's command to love each other. How can we possibly love everybody? How can we show constant love in our day-to-day lives? What my grandson says seems to me to be a good model because his direct and simple words clearly reflect loving-kindness. Our words can, too: heartfelt words of appreciation to a cashier, server, or delivery person; compassion, consideration, and affirmation in intimate conversations; terms of endearment.

I regularly see signs in stores, restaurants, and other public spaces thanking people for their patience and warning that offensive language and rudeness will not be tolerated. These signs became ubiquitous during the pandemic when everyone was in distress. The fact that these signs have not been taken down makes me think that simple and well-chosen words of loving-kindness in everyday interactions are needed now more than ever.

Let's pay attention to our words and the tone and manner in which we say them. In that way, we can obey Christ's command in small but important ways each and every day.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to find apt words to say to all those with whom we cross paths in our daily lives. You know how hard it is for us to show constant love — particularly in these troublesome times when there is fear, conflict, and a general decline of civility in our society. Guide us to discover new opportunities to show loving-kindness and a deeper understanding of how we can connect with each person we meet in a loving and meaningful way. Amen.

I spend a lot of time with my toddler grandson these days. His way of being in the world got me thinking about why Jesus commended little children to us as our role model for entering the kingdom of heaven.

What is so endearing about toddlers is that they have humble hearts. They are totally themselves and not at all self-conscious, with no pretence or efforts to impress but rather being open, honest, and direct. They say and do whatever comes to mind without hesitation or concern for appearances. We always know what they like — and don't like!

I also find toddlers to be incredibly loving. Many seek connection and relationship insistently and with perseverance. Without even knowing the meaning of the word, toddlers can show us how to love and be loved, unconditionally, with no judgment or question of whether they or anyone else is deserving or worthy — just always open to love. They may be shy at first but soon will be showing us something, coaxing us to play, or asking for a story and a place beside us — if not on our lap.

Toddlers trust their caregivers, knowing that they will be well looked after and that their needs will be met. They do not worry about the future — their sole focus is on what is right in front of them, and they simply accept it and take it in with all their senses. Every day is an adventure, and they simply dive in to what the day brings. Jesus said, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself." (Matthew 6:34a NIV) Toddlers do that with ease. They are the epitome of mindfulness and being in the moment.

Toddlers tend to be very forgiving. They may kick up a fuss when they don't get what they want now, but they don't carry a grudge. Once the emotional storm has passed, the frustration is quickly forgotten, and they move on as fast as their little legs can carry them. They forgive as God forgives — completely and unreservedly. As the psalmist wrote, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:12 NIV)

We can learn a lot from our little ones. They may show us how to have lowly, humble hearts, how to love unconditionally, how to trust God as our caregiver and not worry, and how to be more forgiving.

Prayer: Lord, help us to be more like humble little children, who show us how to do the things that You taught us to do, like pursuing loving relationships, not worrying about tomorrow, and forgiving like You have forgiven us. We thank You that we are just as precious in Your sight as they are in ours. Amen.

When I went through a few rough patches a number of years ago, I started reading the book of Job for answers. Why me, Lord? Why is this happening to me? How do I get through this?

The answer that God gave to Job was that it was not for him to question the Creator of the universe. God is mystery. Ours is not to wonder why things happen. Ours is to stand firm on the truth that God loves us and is always with us no matter what happens.

These days, we are all having to contend with the pandemic in one way or another. Although impacts vary widely, no one is untouched.

This year is so different from previous winter seasons that I endured alone, when not many people could relate to my particular challenges or grasp my desperation. For the most part, I suffered in silence. I couldn't make sense of my life becoming completely derailed again and again, while everyone else around me seemingly led charmed lives. I felt like such a loser.

I was able to push through only because I focused on strengthening my faith. I talked and listened to God, read my Bible and other spiritual writings, attended church, and listened to praise and worship music. I "winterized" myself so that I could press on and persevere in my uphill battles.

For most people, the pandemic is a really tough winter season, and understandably so. But that is not my own personal experience. I am happily retired and live in a place where COVID-19 numbers are low. I don't find restrictions an undue hardship, and I am blessed by the huge silver lining of having my daughter and wee grandson sheltering with me. I am more than happy to oblige a toddler who loves to be tickled. He has a merry laugh that is pure joy.

I marvel at how God has given me a summer season, while so many others are wintering. It underscores for me how individual and unique each of our lives is, and how surprising life can be. None of us leads a cookie-cutter life. We all go through different seasons at different times. We take the good days from God, and we must also take the bad. Asking "why" we have bad days is futile. The right question is the "how" — how are we supposed to get through them?

I believe that the one and only answer is to know God more. He is Who He says He is in His Word. Read it and see for yourself. Talk to Him and listen to Him. Take His outstretched hand. Stand back and watch Him move in miraculous ways and in His perfect timing. Walk by faith one day at a time. Your journey and testimony could ultimately be one for the ages.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to know You more. Give us wisdom and discernment to see You at work in the world and in our lives. We also ask for opportunities to encourage others by sharing our faith and making You known. Thank You that You love us. We love You right back. Amen.

Recently, I attended a beautiful memorial service for Pastor Tom, a Baptist pastor who had a ministry to marginalized people living with addictions or untreated mental illness, or in poverty, in the city of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The large sanctuary was full, as people from churches across the city came together to pay tribute to the man known as the Mother Teresa of Victoria. His three children spoke very movingly of his life and example, saying what a humble, loving, and faithful servant he was. The tools of his trade were tracts, a pack of cigarettes, and a wad of five-dollar bills. His goal was to connect with everyone he met and show them the love of Christ. His son told of how his father had actually once met Mother Teresa on a plane, and had had a chance to talk with her about their mutual calling to serve as followers of Christ.

Just before the service began, a tiny Aboriginal woman slipped in and sat beside me. She wept throughout the service, using up the entire box of Kleenex kept in the pew. I tried to comfort her, and asked what Pastor Tom had meant to her. "He reminded me of my father," she said. "I always looked for him. Pastor Tom would be so proud of me. I am 19 days sober." She said that she had lost her jacket with her identification in it, but she decided that it was more important for her to be at the service than to look for her jacket. She was obviously a very gentle soul who had had a tough life. She told me that she came from a family with a lot of dysfunction, where her father had abused her mother. Her love for Pastor Tom was evident in how she said his name — with a smile on her face and a longing in her voice. At the end of the service, we chatted a bit, and I told her that it was an honour to sit beside her. I asked what her name was. "Teresa," she said. I asked her if I could give her five dollars for Pastor Tom. She accepted it gratefully and slipped it into her pocket.

Just as Pastor Tom was inspired by his encounter with Mother Teresa, I was inspired by this Teresa, who might be considered as one of the least of these. She had been shown the love of Christ by Pastor Tom, and Pastor Tom had done it for Jesus, just as we are told to do. The heartfelt tears being shed right before my eyes were a powerful testimony of this outpouring of love, the inspirational legacy of the love of a follower of Jesus.

And Jesus said, "Go and do likewise"! (Luke 10:37b NIV)

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your faithful people who serve the least of these and radiate Your love to those around them. It is not easy to have this kind of ministry, so please help us to go and do likewise. Amen.

Colossians 4:2 – Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. (NIV)

People sometimes tell me that they admire how I have handled the challenges in my life. They could see that being a single parent was not easy, especially given that both my daughter and I had serious chronic illnesses to manage. There were also difficulties at work due to my condition, and at school because of my daughter's learning disability.

Well, the truth of the matter is that my way of handling most of the challenges was to pray. I was able to persevere and overcome them only because I prayed without ceasing. I didn't handle the problems on my own. God was my refuge and strength.

Sometimes, we forget to pray. We might think that our problems are too small or that God doesn't really see us or want to come to our aid. But I can tell you that He most definitely does. One time, while I was coping with work pressures and illness in my extended family, my kitchen was invaded by rats. The exterminator finally caught them, but by then, the cupboards were like a hazardous waste site. I couldn't bear to clean up the horrible mess myself. I called a cleaning service, but once they saw the extent of the detritus, they refused to touch it. I didn't know what to do. I was at my wit's end and emotionally exhausted.

Well, you know what happened next? A church friend that I hadn't been in touch with for awhile phoned me out of the blue and asked what was going on with me. I told her my tale of woe and how I was at the end of my rope. In response, she offered to clean up the mess for me. She assured me that she could deal with the problem because she grew up in India and this task was nothing for her. I just had to get her some bleach, a pair of rubber gloves, and a face mask. When I protested that I couldn't possibly ask her to do that, she insisted, "God told me to call you." Can you imagine that? In my distress, God sent me someone to rescue me who knew His voice and was obedient. I was astounded and so grateful!

How often does that happen and we don't recognize that it is God at work? The right person comes along, and we think that it is "just by chance" that they crossed our path. Many, many times I have been aware of God's provision with my finances. How else could I have the financial security that I have now? A friend asked me the other day whether I had help buying my house. I replied that I hadn't — but I should have given God the glory. His was the only help that I needed.

It is important that we pray in times of trouble. But it is also important that we keep our eyes and ears open to see what God has done in response. A friend finds a job, a surgery goes well, or we find the money to pay for something that we need. God cares for us, and He moves in so many different ways and in all manner of situations to help us. There is nothing that He cannot do. God hears us when we pray. For our part, we need to be watchful and thankful for how He answers and moves in mysterious ways.

Prayer: Dear Father, thank You for Your loving care and for how You watch over us. Thank You for how You answer when we cry out to You in times of trouble. Help us to see You at work so that by our testimony, we can give You the glory, honour, and praise. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 – Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

I am a person living with a mental illness. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder many years ago, when I was in my thirties. Given the nature of the illness, I have naturally had ups and downs. Each and every day, I need to make sure that I am looking after myself properly, particularly getting enough sleep and managing stress. Over the years, I have wrestled with the stigma of having a mental illness. For the most part, I have chosen to suffer in silence rather than risk being judged or misunderstood.

As a result of my illness, I have had to lean on God, especially during bouts of depression. Although joy and laughter had disappeared, and it felt like life was not worth living, I had to press in and trust the Lord, because I had nowhere else to turn. I picked up my Bible during those long and dreary days and read the Psalms. There, I found comfort and strength that encouraged me to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I have dealt with my own sense of shame in having bipolar disorder by reminding myself that I am fearfully and wonderfully made — faulty brain chemistry and all. Above all, I have found peace in knowing that Jesus loves me.

I have sometimes felt sorry for myself and wondered, Why me, Lord? as I suffered such losses as my career potential and fun times with my daughter when she was young. But now, I marvel at all the blessings: my daughter becoming the lovely and successful person that she is today; being able to stay in the workforce for thirty years despite having to take medical leaves at times and handling work that was often stressful, intense, and demanding; and the gift of a beautiful home and neighbourhood.

Looking back now, I see how God preserved me in my struggles and gave me the right physicians and supervisors to support me. I am also very aware that because of my experience with bipolar disorder, I know God more. My faith and trust in Him are so much stronger than they would have been otherwise. Gaining the assurance of eternal life is much more important than the temporary trials that we have to endure. With the psalmist, I can look back and say that it was good for me to be afflicted because of the abiding faith that ensued. And I am thankful for the circumstances that caused me to know God and love Him more.

We all cope with difficulties of one kind or another in this world. It can be very hard to give thanks in the midst of trying times or to see any good come from them. But even then, we can have confidence that there is something to be thankful for, although it may not be apparent until much later.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that we can rely on You in times of trouble and that You bless us in different ways that enable us to persevere and endure. Help us to recognize how You are working in our lives to bring good out of afflictions and to give us a reason to be thankful in all circumstances. Thank You for Your love for us and for Your Word that reassures us and reminds us that our hope is in You and that You are always with us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.