Yesterday was a whirlwind of emotions. One thing happened that rocked us, and then another thing happened that shook us, and then another thing happened that made us want to turtle.

Last night, heads on pillows, staring at the ceiling in the darkness, I quoted Romans 8:28 to Sam:

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.

All day long, we felt like we were in a scary, dark fog. Nothing was going as planned, and was happening too quickly for us to sort it all out. It was a sick feeling.

I reached out to a chosen few and asked for specific prayer, and it was as if by 8 pm, the fog began to subtly dissipate. The peace that surpasses our understanding began to lift our shoulders and allow us to process the day without dread and fear.

And as we attempted to untangle the emotions, He gave me the verse I know all too well, the verse that is sometimes overused to reassure.

“Sam. We KNOW that God causes everything to work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to HIS purpose for them. Right? So, maybe just maybe, what we think is horrible timing and awfulness we are facing – maybe…it is perfect timing for what He has for us next. Just a thought…” (Or something like that.)

This morning, Connie sent this to me in a text:

Just read the verses before and after Romans 8:28. If God is for us, who can be against us…in all these things we are more than conquerors!!

Then, Geri sent this to me in a text a couple of hours later:

We can see hope in the midst of hopelessness. We can see peace in the midst of chaos. We have a hope that the world does not have. We can see clearly that all things work together for the good of them that love Him and are called according to His purpose. – Priscilla Shirer

And then, Ellen sent this to me in an email this afternoon:

Romans 8:38 is one of the verses I cling to—in good times and in bad—

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.”

So this evening, I am incredibly grateful for God’s frying pan on the head through the prayers of good friends who share insight as they pray for us.

I am grateful for Romans 8. Over and over and over again, Romans 8.

I am grateful for peace in the middle of a storm.

I am grateful that our devotions this week are spurring us to count the blessings and pass them on to others.

I am grateful for opportunities to grow – fruit is grown in the valleys, not on top of the mountains.

And I am grateful for a husband who prays with me, learns with me, grows with me.