Nancie Carmichael ~ Inspiration and Encouragement for Women

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"Nuggets from Nancie" October 27, 2009

What a year! Everyone I know is relieved to have it over: job loss; stock market dive; real estate investments gone sour. The daughter of a friend of ours committed suicide. Another friend discovered he had terminal cancer. And on and on it goes.

Surviving One Bad Year. Aren't you glad there's just one?? (Don't we wish!)

I'm looking forward to seeing my new book, "Surviving One Bad Year: Seven Spiritual Strategies to Lead You to New Beginning" as it makes its debut this week. I can't wait to share the message that no matter what happens, God is with us. No, there are no simple answers. Yes, bad things happen, but grace happens, too. We do get through. We can become better people.

This journey we're on is actually taking us somewhere. When we trust Him, no matter what, we are transformed from being self-centered, self-absorbed, materialistic people into people of substance, who care about the big things of life...who want to make a difference and quietly determine to do just that...because of what we've been through. And we discover the only safe place to put our trust.

Our own story was helping our daughter relinquish her baby for adoption. I include in my book stories of people who shared with me their unbelievably hard years:

A shattering divorce
A baby boomer couple faces financial devastation
A young mom accidentally backs over her young daughter
An unexpected death of a young husband
The life-shaping diagnosis of MS in a young woman
A couple learns their baby son is profoundly handicapped
A daughter hears that her mother is murdered by her step-father

When you experience loss, you see what you do have: People who care. Family. Faith. A home. Purpose. The privilege to give to other people.

When all the props are kicked out from under you, you see what gets you through. And it's pretty simple: trust. Trust that God will see you through. The thing is, we can trust him. His word is good. I've seen the results of trusting Him -- no matter what -- in my own life, and in the lives of many other people.

There are seven specific strategies that I discovered through our own experience and those of others on how God's grace helps us get through. (I will be posting blogs and articles on how to use these strategies on my website and the website onebadyear.com.)

God holds for you new dreams and fresh possibilities. He is indeed near to your breaking heart, and it is indeed true that through His mercies we are not consumed.

In the midst of despair, there is hope. Things can get better. The sun will come up in the morning. So, let's talk. E-mail me. Hold on, my friend. Don't look at what is going around you; hold on to what you know -- God is. And no matter how it looks, know that God can make a way when there seems to be no way.

When I am walking in darkness, on shifting ground, remind me that you are still leading me by the hand. . . no matter that I cannot feel your touch. Remind me when I am passing through even the driest place that you are ahead of me, opening secret springs of water for my soul. Amen.*

* You Set My Spirit Free; John of the Cross, Arranged and para. by David Hazard; (Bethany House Publishers, Minneapolis; 1994), 132