The Valleys

 Today is the first day of Spring break. My children are excited. We have plans for some fun things. I know it will be good. Our morning crashed in on us with unfriendly news making our first day different than we had expected. Again, I am reminded that life is full of unknowns. I am not in control of anything, and I am not meant to be. Sometimes I am met with joyful surprises, other times the surprises are painful and bent with grief.
Throughout today I continually reminded myself that God promised me a life of purpose, and with that purpose, there is pain. This is true not only for me, but for all His children. Suffering is part of the plan. When I watch my own children suffer, it rips my heart out. I don't want to see them have to walk through any valleys, yet the valleys cannot be avoided. The valleys mature them and grow them into stronger characters with Godly purpose. The Valleys enable them to give hope to others.Yet, I still want to shield them from the pain.
Today, was a valley. A crashing surprise. A suffering that I have faith God will take and turn into good, somehow. He will find a way to use this pain for His glory, I've seen Him work in this way, so I believe He will do it again.
There's always comfort in Psalms and I turn there often. This time I turned to Psalms 139:7

Is there anyplace I can go to avoid Your Spirit?

to be out of Your sight?

If I climb to the sky, You're there!

If I flew on morning's wings

to the far western horizon,

you'd find me in a minute+

You're already there waiting!

Then I said to myself, "Oh, He even sees me in the dark,

at night I'm immersed in the Light!"

It's a fact: darkness isn't dark to you; night and day, darkness and light,

they're all the same to you.

Jesus, Say That Again, You take the valleys and make them into something good for Your glory!