Happy Friday! Three weeks from today we have the final court hearing where Molly will be recommended by Child Protective Services to be reunified with her birth mom. I am so overwhelmed with gratitude that God’s ways are higher than mine!

I have been hearing so many stories lately that have been breaking my heart. Premature or unexpected deaths, homelessness, broken marriages, overdrawn bank accounts, struggling children, sickness in them or their family members, depression, anxiety, postpartum depression, loneliness, and cancer diagnoses, just to name a few. My heart hurts for these hurting hearts. None of it is God’s design or God’s desire.

My new favorite activity to do while I am spending time with Jesus is to put on Youtube and select Bethel worship music videos and then just let it play for hours throughout the day. They play these powerful worship moments, one after another. Early this week a song came on that wrecked me! I have listened to it at least 15 times just this week. The lyrics and link are at the bottom. Do yourself a favor and carve out 12 minutes and allow Jesus to minister to your soul!

After listening to this song and praying through it, a few things hit me. First off, I think when we feel hopeless we are usually in moments of waiting, second, how we respond to the moments of the waiting will determine the growth we see in our lives, and lastly, through those waiting periods there are incredible encounters with Jesus are are there for the taking. There are so many reasons we could be in a waiting season.. waiting for healing, waiting for a house, waiting for a job, waiting for a spouse, waiting for any good news possible, or maybe we are just waiting for life to let up a bit. Whatever the reason for your season of waiting may be, God is in it with you! He sees you in the midst of your waiting! 

There is so much hope to be found in the depths of despair. I know that sounds crazy, but it is SO true. God can show His face in such miraculous ways when we look for Him instead of keeping our eyes on ourselves or our situations. I have had two different women reach out that had no idea what was going on just to tell me that they were praying for me because I was heavy on their hearts. God is enlisting prayer warriors on my behalf! These prayers are sustaining me. I can honestly look anyone in the eye and tell them that the joy of the Lord IS my strength. It is miraculous and I am so thankful!

I am constantly thinking of my friends in the midst of their seasons of waiting. Pleading with Jesus to be their strength. Their joy. Their peace. Their hope. I know the power of prayer. I am a testimony to the power of it so I will not let up on their behalf.

May we all be able to take life one day at a time or even one moment at a time as we keep our eyes on the author and perfecter of our faith.  God is good. God is trustworthy.

Triumph is coming, friends!

Kristene Dimarco

Take Courage

Slow Down take time Breath in he said
He’ll reveal what’s to come
The thoughts in his mind Always higher than mine
He’ll reveal all to come
Take courage my heart Stay steadfast my soul
He’s in the waiting He’s in the waiting
Hold onto your hope As your triumph unfolds
He’s never failing He’s never failing
Sing praise my soul Find strength in joy
Let his words lead you on
Do not forget His great faithfulness
He’ll finish all he’s begun
You who hold the stars
Will call them each by name
You’ll surely keep your promisee to me
That I will rise in your victory