An Untroubled Heart Ebook

 I’m excited to let you know that Vyrso, an ebook platform that reaches a Christian living audience,  has selected An Untroubled Heart to be part of a special ebook promotional bundle May 5–6.

Today, I’m guest posting on the Vyrso blog! Check it out by clicking on this link (http://blog.vyrso.com)

Now, here’s an excerpt from my book, An Untroubled Heart: Finding A Faith Stronger Than All My Fear

My oldest son and his friend, Jamie, had spent the afternoon at our house watching movies up until it was time for Mitch to go to work. It wasn’t ten minutes after they left the house that the phone rang.

 “Mom, I just wrecked my car. I’m okay, but Jamie is hurt. We’re just down the road from our house. Can you come?”

Can I come? What kind of question is that? I was already sitting in my car after he said the word “wrecked.” I just needed to know what direction to go in.

It’s one thing to hear that your child has been in a car accident, but it’s another to witness the scene. The first thing I saw when I arrived was his car upside down and smashed between two trees like a pancake. An ambulance and fire truck were already at the site. Cars lined the road on each side and people came out of their homes to view the accident. Once my mind was able to take it all in, I realized that Mitch and his friend were nowhere in sight.

“WHERE ARE THEY?” I began to shout as I turned in a circle scoping the area for any sign of them. A paramedic took me by the arm and led me toward the ambulance. I felt my body go numb from fear of what I might find inside.

The first person I saw was Mitch. Our eyes met, and without exchanging words, I could tell he was scared, but okay. Jamie, on the other hand, was strapped to a straight board with her back, neck, and head secured. Tears of concern filled my eyes.

“Jamie’s hurt badly,” Mitch said as if I could fix it. At that moment, if I couldn’t fix it, I was sure going to find someone who could. I bent down close to Jamie and took her hand in mine. “I’m here, Sweetie. It’s going to be okay,” I said trying to reassure us both. However, my motherly authority took over when Jamie shared her needs with me. I tried to relay them to the paramedic as calmly as I could.

“I can’t breathe,” Jamie whispered.

“SHE CAN’T BREATH!” I shouted to the paramedic.

“I’m in pain,” she begged.

“SHE’S IN PAIN!” I demanded. Suddenly, I felt as if I needed to lie down on the other side of the ambulance from the adrenalin rush surging through my body due to fear. Fortunately, we all survived the incident and arrived safely at the hospital. Mitch only received a few bumps and burses. Jamie dislocated a few ribs, but after several weeks she, too, was as good as new.

My son may not have been thinking about me before the accident occurred, but immediately afterward, he was aware of the person he needed most. That’s because children are bonded to their parents by a love relationship that they don’t necessarily think about, nor are they conscience of its existence. Yet, in times of trouble, worry, or fear the child instantly realizes the union. That’s because the unique parent/child relationship has all the resources they need for life. The same is true of our relationship with God. We should be eager to “cast our cares on Him because He cares for us” (1 Peter 5:7). And because in Him are all the resources we need for life.

I often take for granted the awesome privilege of being God’s child. As His children, we have the privilege of casting our worries on the Lord with strong confidence that He cares for us. Worry is unnecessary when our God is able and willing to bear our burdens for us. When you and I worry, we are denying the wisdom, love, and provision of God. Like my son, I should be quick to call out to my heavenly Father for help. I need to run to God for comfort and reassurance instead of worrying myself to death. Often I do the opposite. I try to be the adult instead of the child, but I truly want to do better. I want to become so aware of God’s abiding presence in my life that I fall asleep in His arms at night and awake to His presence in the morning.

When everything had settled after the accident, Mitch could no longer hold in his emotions of worry and fear. Burying his head in my chest, he burst into tears. It was his way of releasing his anxieties and casting them on me. Because I love my son, I gladly supported him in the midst of his pain.  Wrapping my arms around Mitch, I reassured him that he was safe.

In the same way, our fears and worries should drive us into the safety of God’s arms. Those who trust in him have tremendous security. We find support in God’s presence when we cast our cares on Him. No worry is too big for our Father to shoulder. Because of His great love for us, He gladly takes away our fears and quiets our hearts with peace. “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3). The Lord picks us up out of our wrecked lives while we are still scared and afraid and He comforts us. It’s in God’s loving care that our spirit is renewed and we know for certain there is no safer place on earth.

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