Peggy D. Johndrow is an RN, MSN, FNP-C (family nurse practitioner- certified). With 25 years in nursing education, she is now the Assistant Professor, Patty Hanks School of Nursing in Abilene, Texas, USA. Peggy is a Catholic and is a member of a Charismatic prayer group in Abilene.

During this joyous season of Easter, we begin to know the relief that the dry desert of Lent is over and our glorious re-birth is here. What a blessing it is to have that renewal of hope and joy. Like the Lenten and Easter seasons, our lives are not one long mountain top high of joy, but also include times of valley depths of sorrow. Our challenge is God’s instruction to rejoice in the Lord always – whether on the mountain of joy or in the valley of sorrow.

Often as we go through a period of loss, grief, and/or spiritual desolation. It seems it will never end. Our hearts are burdened and we feel far from all love, even God’s love. During those times it is hard to remember to rejoice. It helps me to remember that our hope is in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, and He never fails us. I have to remind myself that it is not what I “feel” but what I know.

In dark times, everything can “feel” bad and it may feel like we are alone and even God is nowhere near. It is important to search out His Word and stand on His Word for He tells us that He will never leave or forsake us. Jesus promised he would not leave us alone, but would send the Holy Spirit to be with us always. We know that His Word states that “he is not a man that he should lie or a son of man that he should repent, what he says he will do.” I have to keep on praying and reaching in blind faith that God is with me and that He rules and reigns in all parts of my life.

It is easy to stand in faith when we see God moving for us. It is much more difficult to have faith while only standing on what God is “saying” to us. I find it hard to “wait” because I am a fixer and I want to help fix. God’s time is the perfect time, but He often has us wait. I believe this waiting time is a period of spiritual growth. It is God’s way of helping us to grow our faith. We grow as we put complete faith in our Father God and his love for us. Trusting that He loves us and always provides what is best for us.

The development of our spirit is by the Holy Spirit (John 3:1-8). We grow spiritually from infant to child to adult. We must consciously take time to let the Spirit permeate into our mind and body and bring all our thoughts and actions into submission.

Jesus came into the world as God and man and by His truth he conquered Satan, death and sin. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.” (John 14:6) “Yet in all this we are more than conquerors because of him who has loved us. For I am certain that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor powers, neither height nor depth nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God that comes to us in Christ Jesus, our Lord.” (Romans 8: 37-39) By His Life, death and resurrection, he gave us life. “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, though he should die, will come to life; and whoever is alive and believes in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26) We have life in Jesus and He intends our life to be abundant. “The thief comes to steal and slaughter and destroy, I came that they may have life, and that they have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Jesus knows our hearts and our human weakness. Of ourselves we can do nothing, but we can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens us. Let go and let God - it works! Jesus guides us through thoughts, scriptures, and convictions in our spirit. How do we know it is the Lord? As we know a close friend we spend time with, we recognize the Lord's presence. His voice is a gentle voice expressing love, giving messages of comfort, encouragement, or inspiration. Jesus gives correction with a hug in it.

The God-in-us-word brought about our re-birth, our spiritual birth. Our spirit is reborn according to the Word of God and by the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God in our spirit gives us new life. We are a new creation by the Word and the Holy Spirit in our spirit.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, that through the Blood of your Son Jesus, you have made us your true sons and daughters. "And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:18)

"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption. As proof that you are children, God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!' So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through Christ." (Galatians 4: 4-6)

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on his name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1: 12, 13)

I know that my Lord Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. I can always depend on His consistent and faithful love. Also He can stand firm on any ground - in any situation - He is my unshakable rock. So I rest in His always loving arms and He stands with me in on the mountain and in the valley. I don’t rejoice that the valley is deep and filled with despair, but I rejoice that the Lord is with me.

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