When I’ve felt torn apart, I have felt the Lord’s healing presence through praise music, prayer, and people.
I love listening to praise music. I have it on all the time, especially in the car, because it brings me joy and is uplifting. I feel as though the Lord wants me to be a light in spite of the sorrows I may be experiencing. The music gives me hope and helps me feel positive so that I might be able to lift up someone else in need. It also challenges me to be more Christlike. Sometime, when I am grappling with certain feelings or situations, I hear the Lord reach out to me through the songs, giving me the answers I was praying for.
There was a time in my 20’s when I was struggling to find the truth in the lies around me and I heard a song over and over on the radio. One day it dawned on me that this was a message for me. God was instructing me to stay strong, reminding me that I was loved and could keep my eyes focused on Him. I heard in those lyrics that He would lead me to the truth and He did. I’m so grateful the Lord led me out of that situation and now I can enjoy the peace of mind that comes from living what I know to be true.
I am so thankful to be able to communicate with my Savior anytime through prayer. The older I get, the more fears I seem to have. What a huge blessing it is to know that the Lord hears me. Knowing that God goes before us in the battles of our lives helps my fears dwindle. When He meets me in prayer, I feel I can release my burdens, knowing that no matter what I’m feeling God will pour His mercies over me, even when I feel undeserving of such goodness.
I feel that I have witnessed the power of prayer in many ways, especially as a nurse working with new moms and their babies. I was constantly in prayer for newborns with feeding issues to new moms suffering postpartum hemorrhages. Experiencing firsthand the endless mercy the Lord has shown me and my patients over the years is simply overwhelming. It seems to me that prayer is such a wonderful way to care for yourself and others by connecting those in need to God.
I feel the Lord’s healing presence in the people He places in my life at seemingly the exact right time. My mom passed away in September 2023. Although we had not had the closest relationship in recent years, the loss hit me hard, leaving me feeling numb most days in the immediate period after her death. Shortly after that, I began to volunteer at the La Sierra University Church Food Pantry+ and Thrifty Box. I was immediately surrounded by so many wonderful people, with so many different stories of their own. On days when I was really down, simply being there and listening to the others talking around me lifted my spirits, until I was ready to join in. It felt good to be busy and to serve while working through my feelings with such loving and dedicated people by my side.
In your own trials, perhaps praise music, prayer, or people may be just what you need too. The King of the world calls us His children and knows our names. I believe He wants only good things for us. So, keep being a light despite the hardships you may be facing. Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” When your world feels torn apart, despite the darkness, follow on the path God has laid out for you, even if you can’t see where the path ends. Follow Him in childlike faith because He is your loving Father.
What a compassionate Savior we serve.
Lauren Pender is a registered nurse who loves her family, husband Ross, son Kyle, and dog Indy.