O the windings, the turnings, the ups and downs that He has led me through! And even so, it still seems as if it will be a long way to the shore. — Samuel Rutherford O gracious and beautiful Savior, let there no longer be any pretense plaguing my heart. Let not the trials and tempests be for naught. I am like a child, unsteady in my steps. You have led me through the darkest hours, the storms raging all around me, the land sinking and crumbling beneath me, the waves of affliction crashing against my face, causing me to choke and sputter with my every breath. How much longer,…

This piece was originally written on December 19, 2016, and has been lightly edited for clarity. It reflects a season of profound trial, marked by the near loss of my mother and the enduring reality of my son Joshua’s medical journey. The year prior, he had been diagnosed with a rare terminal neurodegenerative disease. During this period, he underwent complex spinal surgery followed by serious complications that required an additional hospitalization. I share this reflection not to revisit hardship, but to bear witness to the faithfulness of God in the midst of it. The temperature outside is frigid, the ground cold, dead, and hard. December may conjure warm memories for…