Blog - Page 3 of 26 - Rachel Marie Lee

Holding onto Hope When Confronted With Devastating News

July 10, 2019 By Rachel Lee 24 Comments

Guest Post by Natalie Venegas | Milk & honey Faith

Have you ever been met with devastating news?

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28 NLT)

I got out of bed extra early on Thursday, November 24th of 2016. It was Thanksgiving morning.

I didn’t get up with the usual enthusiasm I had in previous years as I wasn’t looking forward to preparing the Turkey. This morning I was preoccupied with my 19-year-old son. He had been sick the day before and was weak from vomiting.

I was convinced that it was a stomach bug. After all it had been flu season and many people were feeling under the weather. All night I had tossed and turned knowing in my gut that if he did not wake up feeling better then we would have to spend Thanksgiving morning in the ER. I prayed throughout the night that he would be healed from what was ailing him. I needed God to intervene.

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Restoring Hope in the Midst of Church Hurt

July 3, 2019 By Rachel Lee 25 Comments

Guest Post by Becky Beresford

Have You Suffered the Deep Wounds of Church Hurt?

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” – 1 Peter 4:8

Few cuts run deeper than family wounds. I would know.

I locked myself in the closet this morning, bawling because I needed a few moments with Jesus. These moments weren’t fluffy. They were honest, raw and real. I have no problem laying it out there for God, so I asked Him a simple but loaded question. Why do our people, the ones who make up our tribe, often cause the most damage?

Why do those who promise to stand by our side and support us instead speak harsh words, forget to listen or decide to walk away?

At the time, I was talking to God about my family and a set of relatives who recently chose to cut ties. And while I wanted to defend myself against accusations and the false narrative they were believing, I decided to do the harder thing. I shut my mouth and leaned fully into God. Holding out my heart, tattered and scarred, I asked Him to take care of it once more.

I had been here before. Except this time, it wasn’t with my family. It was with God’s… found deep within the walls of our old church.

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Weekly LinkUp

June 27, 2019 By Rachel Lee 9 Comments

Share Your Favorite Summertime Activity!

Summertime is FINALLY here, and this mama could not be happier about it! Do you remember when school break during the summer lasted a full three months? Oh, how I wish those long summer days would return..

Here in the PNW our schools let out for a mere two month break in the summer, and we are guaranteed (if we’re lucky) three months of warm, sunny weather, lasting anywhere from late June to mid September.

It’s difficult to not feel the pressure to squeeze in all of the things. Especially because our time is so limited. Anyone else?

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Hope for the Mom Who Feels Like a Failure

June 19, 2019 By Rachel Lee 16 Comments

Guest Post by Crystal Parenteau

Have you ever felt like a complete failure as a mom?

“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34:18-20‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

Motherhood fills us with more love and joy than we ever thought possible, doesn’t it? The sweet kisses from our children, the excitement of milestones achieved, and the satisfaction that comes with being needed fills us with purpose and worth.

But what about when life is hard as a mom and we experience the not so pleasant side effects of parenting?

The ways we fail our children be it with impatience or inaction.

The sleepless nights and unexpected health issues that stretch us thin.

The loneliness, self-sacrifice, doubt, and fears dwelling where hope once lived.

No one will deny that parenting comes with challenges..

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A Surrendered Heart: Learning to Trust God with Our Why

June 14, 2019 By Rachel Lee 6 Comments

Has tragedy or pain caused you to question why God allows suffering? Have you ever wondered why He lets bad things happen? Discover how a surrendered heart can lead you to trust God, even when you are sad. #Life #Truths #Faith #LetGo #Why #Suffering

Has tragedy and heartbreak led you to beg the question, “why?”

I closed my Bible as the tears that puddled beneath the surface finally burst free. I was growing bitter and resentful toward God. Only months earlier, our infant daughter was tragically killed in an auto accident that left me reeling with pain, questioning my faith, and groping for answers.

I wanted to know why. Why did she have to die? Why did God allow this? Why didn’t He come to our rescue? Why her? Why us? Why now?

Why?

That one little word unraveled me. I spent far too much time pondering these unanswered questions and, like a thief in the night, they managed to steal my peace and my joy. I wonder if you can relate?

The Bible offers several examples of hurting people who were also plagued by ‘why’ questions.

Moses asks, “Why have you dealt ill with your servant?” (Numbers 11:11)

David pleads, “Oh Lord why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I’m in trouble?” (Psalm 10:1)

Job cries, “Why have you made me your mark, oh God?” (Job 7:20)

Habakkuk asks of the Lord, “Why do you make me see iniquity and why do you idly look at wrong?” (Habakkuk 1:3)

The disciples questioned, “Why was this man born blind?” (John 9:2, NLT)

I wasn’t alone in my wrestling. Trying to make sense of a good God in the face of tragedy and suffering is a common theme woven throughout Scripture. The sobering reality I had to accept is that suffering is simply a part of life. No one is exempt, and we don’t usually know the why behind the suffering this side of heaven.

Trying to make sense of a good God in the face of tragedy and suffering is a common theme woven throughout Scripture. Join me @joyfullifemag where I dive deeper into the hard questions of why.. #WhyGod #Suffering #Surrender Share on X

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)

In spite of my lack of understanding, was I willing to surrender my heart to the Lord?

Some might argue my circumstances didn’t call for a surrendered heart. The hard truth was that my daughter died. Whether I chose to surrender my brokenness to God or not, nothing would bring her back. Yet deep down, I knew if I wanted to heal, surrender was necessary..

Join me on the JoyfulLifeMagazine blog to continue reading my personal story of tragedy and surrender.
Click —> Learning to Trust God with Our Why <— to read more.