When You Get an “SOS” Text from Your Child. {Devotional excerpt and giveaway, by Lysa TerKeurst}
Hi friends!
I LOVE finding a good new devotional and I know that many of you do, too! And who better to write a bedtime devotional than the amazingly talented and incredibly faithful Lysa TerKeurst and her team at Proverbs 31 Ministries!? Find an excerpt of this new devo below, then leave a comment to be entered to win a beautiful, hard-back copy! – XO Monica
Excerpt from: Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart
The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. ZEPHANIAH 3:17
My eyes popped open and my heart raced when my phone buzzed at 1:00 a.m. Good news isn’t usually delivered at that hour.
I hopped out of bed and grabbed my phone to read a text: “Mom, the police have my dorm on lockdown and are running up and down the hall shouting. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m scared.”
It was Ashley, my daughter, who was a college freshman at the time.
I tried calling her, but the reception was so bad neither of us could make out what the other was saying. Texting was my only option, so I asked a series of questions, trying to get a better handle on what was happening.
My hands were shaking. And I felt intensely helpless.
When Ashley was a little girl and cried out in the middle of the night, all I had to do was run upstairs. I could sit on the edge of her bed and rub her back. I could let her see me. Calm her with my touch. Be there to whisper reassurances.
But that little girl had grown into a college student living more than seven hours away from me.
I couldn’t sit on her bed, and she couldn’t see me. I couldn’t calm her with my touch. I couldn’t whisper those reassurances with my voice.
All I could do was text her.
And that felt completely inadequate considering the seriousness of this situation.
Scary images flooded my mind with all the possible scenarios a completely shaken mama conjures up in moments of frightening uncertainty. I sank to my knees and begged God to clear my head and give me the words to text that would help.
This was one of those times I wished God would appear in a way my eyes could see and give me step-by-step instructions, saying exactly what to do.
But I couldn’t see Him. And no Spirit finger wrote instructions on my wall. Instead, I felt this gentle nudge to pay attention to what He’d already given me: a set of verses I had included in a children’s book I wrote, It Will Be Okay: Trusting God Through Fear and Change. I’d included ten scriptures for parents to memorize with their kids. It felt perfect right then.
Quickly, I texted Ashley a couple of these verses and instructed her to say them out loud over and over until she felt some relief from her fear. And you’d better believe I was saying them out loud over and over as well.
- “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves” (Zephaniah 3:17).
- “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” (Psalm 56:3).
- “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
I will admit, these verses didn’t immediately make me feel better. But they reminded me of what was ultimately true when I didn’t know much else at that moment.
My heart raced a little less.
I took a big breath in and exhaled.
My mind stopped running ahead to worst-case scenarios.
I felt a little more settled in my spirit even though I was in a situation I didn’t feel settled in at all.
We live in a broken world where broken things happen every day. But as a child of God, I don’t have to live with fear taunting and terrorizing me. I need to be reminded of this daily.
We still don’t know all the reasons my daughter’s dorm was on lock-down. Thankfully, she and her friends were safe, and we all eventually got some sleep that night. I understand that other middle-of-the-night calls don’t turn out so well. Sadly, I’ve lived through those times too.
But I’m determined to make some imperfect progress when I’m processing fear—whether those fears are about my children or something else. I can say out loud, “Jesus, I know You’re here. I place my trust in You. Please help me.” And then close my eyes and place my trust in Him again.
Trust God. Breathe. Trust God. Believe. Trust God. Grieve. Trust God. Release. Trust God. Receive. Trust God. See. Trust God. Repeat.
O Lord, may this be the rhythm of my life.
Excerpted from Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart: 50 Devotions for Sleeping Well in a World Full of Worry by Lysa TerKeurst and Proverbs 31, Copyright © March 2024. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. wwwLysaTerKeurst.com
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Blessings and Aloha
His goodness
His faithfulness
I’m grateful for God’s unconditional love – it is unlike anything else this world has to offer.
I am glad that God is merciful! We have all fallen short and need God’s mercy. I’m so glad that we have the gospel, the best free gift!
My relatability and empathic nature.😊
My family!
Thankful for God’s graces and His amazing creation❤️
I love that with God all things are possible! He is my God of miracles! He gave me my children when we were told we won’t have any! But I know that it was God who made it all happen in perfect timing! That is why I know if we believe our God is able to do what no one else can, He will give us all things for those who believe in Him!
I am grateful that God is merciful!
I am grateful that God is so patient!
I’m grateful for God’s unconditional love – it’s unlike anything else this world has to offer.
I’m thankful for God’s STEADFAST LOVE because I disappoint myself so often. I’ve made so many terrible mistakes that have long consequences, and He still/ always loves me.
I am grateful for God’s grace and mercy. He sees me always and continues to call me closer despite my human nature to sin. He always reminds me who I am and WHOSE I am in every season of my life.
I’m grateful that his mercies are new every morning.
Thankful for access to Gods peace and comfort in seasons of stress and struggle.
I am grateful God listens to me no matter the day or time.
Love this!
God’s faithfulness
I am so grateful that God is quick to listen, slow to anger and abounding in mercy.
I am grateful for God’s sovereignty. There are so many kinds outside of my control and yet God is always in control. I can trust that He knows what is best and will make it happen.
He is SOVEREIGN.
When I was a little girl I remembered memorizing so many verses that now in my adulthood I still remember, now that I have 3 children I feel the time in a day is gone, I tried doing devotions with my kids, but they want to play and most of the time I am please listen and be quiet. This encourages me, even though they are not listening, they are hearing and I need to make more effort for them to repeat the verses. I know will remain in their hearts, the same they are in mine. Thanks for sharing.
I am grateful that God is patient. Sometimes I’m great at Momming and other times… not so much. But I know He is patient with me and will give me grace as I learn to be more like Him.
Grateful for his grace. Wholly needed in this season of motherhood.
Abundant giver of grace
He will never leave me nor forsake me.
He is faithful.
His mercy: not giving/allowing certain things I thought I wanted.
Unchanging
God’s strength – I can always lean on Him when I’m feeling weak.
I’m so grateful for God’s peace when I have anxiety because He is the only one who can calm me.🩷
God is all-knowing or omniscient. I can rest in the knowledge that he knows everything and that he knows me (and still loves me!) and knows what lies ahead of me.
I’m grateful for God’s grace.
His strength!
His love. Which means He will never leave me, He will always love me and He will always guide me
His mercy.
Omniscient
So thankful for God’s faithfulness… no matter where we are, He.Is.Faithful❤️
Hello, I’m grateful for a heart of compassion. God deeply moves me with compassion.
He is sovereign.
So grateful for God’s immutability! His unchanging nature is SO reassuring. 💙
His awe.