A Softer Voice

Last week our state experienced an October surprise that had nothing to do with the upcoming election. An ice storm. An epic ice storm that sent tree branches crashing TO the ground and INTO the ground like spears boring into the earth at an angle. Trees that had been planted and nurtured for years now stand stripped of their glorious branches and leaves. The power outages have been rampant, and more than 300,000 homes in our communities were left without power during the freezing temperatures. Those homes had more than one person living inside so that number doesn't tell the entire story. A week later, 120,000 are still waiting for their comfort to return with lights, heat, and in rural areas, water. Thankfully, our beautiful fall weather has returned making it so much easier for clean up crews and residents trying to stay warm without power.an

As I look at the widespread broken tree limbs around the city, I’m reminded that at one time or another we all experience brokenness. And then I’m reminded of the amazing process of healing that follows. Through our salvation, we are all made new. A clean slate that is our heart and one on which the Lord will write a new beginning and the work that He has begun will be completed. He is faithful to help us over the bumps along the way and eager to forgive because those missteps the Bible calls “sin” are already covered by the blood of Jesus. I find great comfort in knowing that His mercies are new every day. Like trees that will return in full splendor next Spring, our lives can flourish in the promise of redemption.

’m reminded