A few weeks ago, I brought Mom home from the hospital, her undiagnosed sudden weakness and collapse baffling me. She now clings fiercely to a walker for every step.

She bunks with our daughter, Bethany, across the hall, eats each meal with us, and uses her walker to keep active. Today held a charm different than other visits. When the kids played outside in the sunshine, I took her out to sit and watch. After break time, Caleb read to her then did his math on a bench nearby. I swept the deck, and we all soaked up the sunlight.

The best part of the day took place while I stood rolling out meatballs in the kitchen. Mom scooted her walker up beside me to roll some too. We chatted kitchen details and food. Then she started telling me about meals she used to enjoy making. I stepped to the stove to stir the marinara sauce. Her eyes tracked, body followed—to the middle of the kitchen. She must have felt in her element, taken back forty or so years. She talked excitedly with her hands. I froze, eyeing her up and down. I didn’t want to ruin the moment.

Finally, the words bolted from my lips, “Mom, you forgot your walker.”

“Ohhh?” She laughed in disbelief. “How did I…?”

I was reminded of Peter walking on the water, sodistracted by Jesus—he forgot to panic.

When’s the last time we’ve been so enamored by something that the pain goes away and the fear leaves us? How about eyes so fixed on Jesus, everything else seems to fade? I want to live like that!

Mom’s improving every day, but that was a moment I still haven’t shaken. Life calls to us, tears at us, really. The storm was like that for Peter and the weakness and possibility of falling have been like that for Mom. There is something so precious about getting alone with our Lord—where we can capture something stronger than gravity. My friends, His sovereign power is indeed stronger.

Sometimes I wonder if I frustrate any of you with my “This is how God worked it all out” kind of stories. But I’m telling you, testimonies about God’s faithfulness are my very breath most days. I could live without the news but not without the living word of God or the ways He daily shows up for His people. Still!

The true-life stories many of you have sent me are my marvel and delight. Please keep sending them!

May I encourage you to ponder the wonders of God. Feast on what is recorded in His word. Study how many ways God has worked mightily on behalf of His own. The people of biblical history are not perfect people. Just like we are not perfect. That’s the best part of the kingdom of God. He takes in rugged, guilty sinners like you and me: washes us, clothes us, places a crown on our head and a ring on our finger. Should we accept His blood-washed offer, we are His eternally! Forgiven, accepted, with so much more to think on than the distractions of this world.

Oh, the distractions…they come daily! Gravity, taxes, sickness, death. But Jesus overcame every hurdle as He walked this earth, claimed the keys of death and hell in His death, and now promises to help us overcome each trial we face because of His resurrection.

Please note: I didn’t say, “Do away with every trail.” He will either walk us through it or out of it, depending on His wisdom. He is individually fashioning our hearts.

Do you have anything staring you in the face that seems stronger than gravity? Or bigger than life? God is there for you. He can bring tremendous peace. Read His words:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV)

And they overcame him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Revelation 12:11 (NKJV)

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (ESV)

No temptation (Greek: temptation, testing, or trials) has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

For those who seek Him,

Melinda Poling