Journey of Faith Friday: Verse

This week my sweet my friend Amber has asked readers to share about a time when a verse God used a bible verse to speak to our hearts.

Steve and I took our first trip to Europe in September 2008 (Coincidentally enough it was exactly two years ago to the week!). This was a life long dream of mine and we wanted time for ourselves after losing Andrew two months earlier.

We were in the midst of our grief and deeply missing Andrew. While the trip was very unbelievably beautiful, I cried every day we were there.

I don't think many people knew I was struggling with fear along with sadness. At the time we didn't know for sure what had caused Andrew to get sick or why he passed away. If I ever became pregnant again I wondered if the same thing would happen and we'd lose another child. Our future seemed really dark to me and I wondered 'what if' we're sad for the rest of our lives.

I carried my pink and brown bible everywhere during that trip. One day while we were visiting the southern part of Rome, the bible chapter Isaiah 44 spoke loudly to me- and it brought so much hope! The Lord reminded me that He was in control, no matter what happened to Andrew He formed him, that I should not be afraid of the future, and that He would help us get through this.

I clung on to this verse and prayed it many times. I didn't take it as a guarantee that everything would be fine from then on, but it reminded me my future and my children's future was in the Lord's will.

For a little while in the mountains of Rome I felt like I was able to take a gasp of fresh air from being overwhelmed by sorrow. I added some pictures below from that trip.

Isaiah 44
But now listen, O Jacob, my servant
Israel, whom I have chosen