About those Scriptures …

You were right. You told me so.

How many times have I been reading the Scriptures in my Bible, only to hear your voice in my head saying, “You need to take this personally.”

I miss your voice and the wisdom you spoke into my life. You taught me that knowing and reading the Scriptures would give me a firm foundation on which to live, no matter the circumstances.

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So, this week, during my morning devotions, I read Psalm 27:13-14. NLT

Yet I am confident of this: I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord; be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

My handwriting, written in pen, listed the names of family members I had prayed for over the span of some 13 years. I remembered the situations and crises my family had endured because I had written dates beside the names.

And I remembered the waiting.

Waiting is hard. I find it interesting that scripture reminds us to “wait” twice.

Over those 13 years, our family dealt with some really hard stuff. Life can hurt. Life can be unfair. Life can bring us to our knees, praying for God to intervene in situations we never imagined we would go through.

I love that my Bible and those scribbled dates are a testimony of God’s faithfulness. Remembering God’s faithfulness in those situations gives me hope for the situations my family and I are facing today.

I am so thankful for my mother’s faith, which has been passed down to me, my children, and my grandchildren. She knew its value and that we would need it.

I often write about my struggles in my column. Some of my struggles are only written about in my journals. For me, journaling is therapy. God knows my heart and its hurts. Yet I remain confident …

You see, when you have a foundation of faith, there is a confidence you cannot explain, and yet, you can pass it on to the next generation. They see how you react to situations, especially the hard ones. The gentle faith of a mother is powerful.

Do I panic or get totally frustrated at times? Absolutely. I vent to Chuck or my daughter, Emily, and then I go to the Lord. I know I should go to Him first, but that’s not the way I am wired.

I find it amazing how the scriptures calm my thoughts and ease my anxiety.

This week, after reading in the Psalms, I read Lamentations 3:22 in The Message translation.

But there’s one thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope: God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great is your faithfulness! I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got.

I would love to say that reading scripture is an instant cure for my anxiety. It is not. Yet, when I dwell in God’s word, I feel less anxious over time.

If I’m being honest, one of my least favorite Scriptures is James 1:2-3.

Consider it pure joy, brothers and sisters, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

On a few occasions, I’ve told God, “I am so over persevering. I’m tired and weary.”

Life can be so unfair. People can be cruel. I know all too well how circumstances can crush the spirit.

As I told my daughter, “Life shouldn’t be this difficult.” She agreed. I sent her a picture of the scripture in Psalms. The picture included all the dates and issues we had dealt with. She responded with “!!”.

Before I finished writing this, I glanced at Facebook and saw that my friend Becky Beresford had shared her thoughts. I needed to read her words, “Walls may crumble. The ground may quake. But a life built on the faithful foundation of Scripture will never fail.”

I will stumble and grumble, but God’s Word is so deeply inscribed in my heart that the foundation my mother instilled in me will hold firm, as I pray it will for future generations of my family.

* * *

Yes, Mom, you were right. I’m so glad you told me so. And yes, I take the scriptures personally.

Janet’s latest book, “From the Hart,” is available for purchase on Amazon at a.co/d/06kiySik.

Janet Hart Leonard can be contacted at janethartleonard@gmail.com or followed on Facebook or Instagram (@janethartleonard). She is the recipient of the Reporter’s Spring 2025 Ink-Stained Wretch award. Visit janethartleonard.com.