Kept From Breaking

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. — Psalm 138:8 (ESV)

My mother recently passed away from pneumonia. Though devastated, I was grateful she was no longer suffering, as was my family, who pitched in to help care for her. This season of our lives, marked by fifteen years of caring for her, ended. The latter years brought much grief and struggle. We had to work through a lot of pain and hard feelings. It was difficult to watch my parent, the person who raised me, become so dependent and weak. Because of this, my family and I grieved my mother’s loss before she passed. Then we grieved even more when she went to be with the Lord. The worst was the feeling of relief. Relief as a caregiver, that I had little left to give.

Over the past several months before my mother died, I watched my mother’s health and mental status deteriorate rapidly. I worked with the doctors, but nothing seemed to help. She wouldn’t eat or drink, and her dementia took over, leaving her a shell of the person she once was. She would talk about things that happened to her as a child, but she didn’t always remember where she was or who she was talking to. Toward the end, she couldn’t even speak. Watching her lie in a hospital bed, unable to communicate and in pain, was the worst thing. The only thing that kept me calm was relying on the Lord. I prayed for peace and for her anguish to end. I prayed for His will, His plan to be accomplished through this event.

It’s only through His grace and love that I’ve been kept from breaking. Our confidence in the Lord, grounded in prayer and biblical guidance, helped us through. God is faithful. He stands by us and guides us through every season of life. Accepting His will in trials and tough seasons is hard. But we can’t stand on our own and make it through death, disaster, or severe illness. We must rely on God’s strength because He alone is faithful.

This world brings many trials. Parents die, children get ill, and sometimes there isn’t enough money left at the end of the month. Just because we’re Christ followers doesn’t mean we won’t face difficulties or endure challenges in various seasons of life.

Some seasons bring joy and happiness, while others bring trials, suffering, and pain. Yet our best recourse in trying times is prayer. We can also benefit by acknowledging the Lord’s sovereignty and plan. As David said in Psalm 138:8, the Lord will fulfill his purpose for us. Therefore, in times of trouble, God will see us through as we rely on His unfailing love.

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Prayer: Lord, please be by my side through all the seasons of my life. Help me remember to praise you, as David did, even in hard times. Grant me the peace to rest in your Love and the wisdom to follow your plan. Please grant me strength and contentment as I navigate the many seasons of my life. Amen.

Your Turn: Who do you rely on when times are tough? Do you praise God’s faithfulness in good times and bad? Are you content to rest in God’s love? Do you seek God’s plan for your life or your own?

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Editor's Note:

One of the sacred privileges of publishing a blog is getting to know the remarkable people who share their hearts through their words. Today, I want to honor Kathy Keenm, whose recent post about her mother’s illness and passing was both deeply moving and profoundly beautiful.

Kathy, thank you for allowing us to walk alongside you through this difficult season. Your honesty, faith, vulnerability, and love for your mother shone through every word. While grief is never easy, your tribute captured the precious bond between mother and daughter and reminded us of the enduring hope we have even in times of loss.

Please know that you and your family remain in our prayers as you navigate the days ahead. May the memories of your mother continue to bring comfort, and may God’s peace surround you with His loving presence.

Thank you for sharing your story and your mother’s legacy with all of us. Her life clearly touched many, and through your beautiful words, her impact will continue to be felt.

With love, sympathy, and gratitude, Katherine and the Dressed in Love Family