When will I learn? You’d think by now, aware of the limitations of my blindness, I’d be careful, really careful with the experiments and projects my young granddaughter and I do.
“It’s a disaster,” she groaned.
She was right. I had placed the hot iron on the paper covering the group of beads she creatively arranged on a pegboard. The iron was too hot? I pressed too hard? Or missed one step in the instructions?
Don’t know. But after I lifted the iron, part of the melted beads had spread on the carpet, burning a baseball-size spot. Gulp.
After we dried her tears of disappointment, I took a deep breath, and then wisdom trickled in.
I knelt on the carpet and once the rug had cooled, I gently rubbed the palm of her hand on the scorched spot. “Feel this? This will help us remember that when we mess up, it’s not a failure if the mess-ups teach us a lesson.”
“What lesson?
“To read instructions more carefully.”
How many disasters have you have in life? Broken relationships, financial troubles, bad decisions, failed careers.
And the mess is there. They formed a rough spot in our heart, difficult to clean up. Heartache and regret melted in areas where they shouldn’t.
Instead, those very events can become God’s powerful reminder that He still restores. Because of Him, we may stumble, but will never fall. Relationships end, but His love still remains vibrant. Finances crumble, but He still provides. Careers end, but He gives new beginnings. Illness wants to shake away our peace, but His hand stops the fear.
When embracing the lesson, life smiles again as we repeat “I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (Psalm 16:7-8).
Father, how often the failures, mistakes or calamities of life had threatened to shake me. But now, because you’re near me, peace still sings in my soul. And I know each broken area is the lesson that teaches me to wait in expectation for something new, something better, something richer and something worthy of your praise. In Jesus’s name, amen.
Janet
Did you know I wrote a book filled with words of encouragement, uplifting thoughts and illustrations of real-life triumph to empower you? Its title, Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life. You can get it HERE.
CLICK HERE for a one-minute inspirational video.
Looking for a speaker for your upcoming event? A great speaker makes the difference between a so-so event and one that shines with impact. I invite you to view one of my two-minute videos HERE.
Please share: Feel free to share Janet’s posts with your friends.
Let’s connect:
Comments: I welcome your thoughts; please consider leaving a comment. Just look for the word REPLY at the end of the post after the list of keywords.
The perfect guide to peace.
Janet Perez Eckles
11/8/2024
An urgent call for today’s turmoil.
Janet Perez Eckles
10/26/2024
What to do when life becomes too much.
Janet Perez Eckles
10/25/2024
What to do when our world shakes.
Janet Perez Eckles
10/11/2024
He’ll calm your storm.
Janet Perez Eckles
10/9/2024
No eyesight, no limbs, but enjoying the fullness of life.
Janet Perez Eckles
9/27/2024
What to do when feeling trapped.
Janet Perez Eckles
9/13/2024
The sure way to find direction in life.
Janet Perez Eckles
8/30/2024
What to do while we wait for the answer.
Janet Perez Eckles
8/16/2024
Five reasons why you must never be discouraged.
Janet Perez Eckles
8/2/2024
How the 4th of July reminds us that we can have freedom from worry.
Janet Perez Eckles
7/19/2024
Is this what you're missing?
Janet Perez Eckles
6/21/2024
When my problems are too deep.
Janet Perez Eckles
6/7/2024
What does God say about immigration?
Janet Perez Eckles
6/2/2024
When will God heal me?
Janet Perez Eckles
5/24/2024
Your secret to become the best mom.
Janet Perez Eckles
5/10/2024
A free event to empower you.
Janet Perez Eckles
4/24/2024
How to prepare for the end times.
Janet Perez Eckles
4/12/2024
How do I know I'll go to heaven?
Janet Perez Eckles
3/22/2024
Six choices that make you a victor.
Janet Perez Eckles
3/8/2024
A surprise is tucked inside.
Janet Perez Eckles
2/27/2024
How long before the heartache stops?
Janet Perez Eckles
2/23/2024
Does God see my loneliness?
Janet Perez Eckles
2/9/2024
When bad situations turn to victory.
Janet Perez Eckles
1/27/2024
5 ways you can have a victorious new year.
Janet Perez Eckles
1/5/2024
Good news in the midst of fear and loneliness.
Janet Perez Eckles
12/22/2023
What to do when facing a war.
Janet Perez Eckles
12/8/2023
The secret to a real celebration of Christ.
Janet Perez Eckles
12/6/2023
A Message of Appreciation
Janet Perez Eckles
11/24/2023
What is the purpose for my life?
Janet Perez Eckles
11/10/2023
Happy birthday to...me!
Janet Perez Eckles
10/27/2023
Three lies that can rob your security.
Janet Perez Eckles
10/13/2023
This is how you overcome stress, sadness, and worry.
Janet Perez Eckles
9/29/2023
Avoid pitfalls and pain with these three steps.
Janet Perez Eckles
9/15/2023
What kind of prayers does God really answer?
Janet Perez Eckles
9/1/2023
How to calm your emotional turmoil.
Janet Perez Eckles
8/18/2023
Five promises to live free from fear.
Janet Perez Eckles
8/4/2023
This is the way to a rich life.
Janet Perez Eckles
7/21/2023
Saying goodbye.
Janet Perez Eckles
7/4/2023
It's a hot summer, but timely inspiration is so cool!
Janet Perez Eckles
7/3/2023
Is that blind woman dancing?
Janet Perez Eckles
7/2/2023
Free...For You!
Janet Perez Eckles
7/1/2023
No eyesight, no limbs, but enjoying the fullness of life.
Janet Perez Eckles
6/30/2023
The best way to celebrate our Father...our Heavenly Father.
Janet Perez Eckles
6/16/2023
Your joy is closer than you think.
Janet Perez Eckles
6/9/2023
Five reasons why loneliness cannot enter your heart.
Janet Perez Eckles
5/26/2023
Five weapons for mothers to overcome stress.
Janet Perez Eckles
5/12/2023
Three steps to contentment during chaos.
Janet Perez Eckles
5/5/2023
This is what you need to remove to have a happier and peaceful life.
Janet Perez Eckles
4/21/2023
Because the tomb is empty, your loneliness, fear, and anxiety can end.
Janet Perez Eckles
4/7/2023
Your pet might be speaking the love that no human can.
Janet Perez Eckles
3/31/2023
3 ways to know if God will find you strong and committed or find you lukewarm instead.
Janet Perez Eckles
3/17/2023
Three questions to determine how prepared you are to face life's troubles.
Janet Perez Eckles
3/3/2023
Three ways to prepare for the end times.
Janet Perez Eckles
2/17/2023
Overcoming Loneliness on Valentine's Day
Janet Perez Eckles
2/14/2023
Something just for you.
Janet Perez Eckles
2/10/2023
Four decisions to turn anxiety to peace.
Janet Perez Eckles
2/3/2023
God is with us...always!
Janet Perez Eckles
1/27/2023
12 questions to determine the success of your new year.
Janet Perez Eckles
1/20/2023
Five steps to keep depression out.
Janet Perez Eckles
1/6/2023
This is where you find comfort this Christmas.
Janet Perez Eckles
12/23/2022
This is how stress turns to peace this Christmas.
Janet Perez Eckles
12/18/2022
How to end your worry.
Janet Perez Eckles
12/5/2022
Big Announcement ... Read On
Janet Perez Eckles
11/19/2022
How to get rid of loneliness.
Janet Perez Eckles
9/2/2022
How to get rid of anxiety.
Janet Perez Eckles
8/12/2022
Your battle belongs to the Lord.
Janet Perez Eckles
7/29/2022
The only connection you need to feel safe and secure.
Janet Perez Eckles
7/15/2022
10 steps to help you never, never fear
Janent Perez Eckles
4/1/2022
How to overcome this hot summer of loneliness
Janent Perez Eckles
8/21/2020
How to see God’s way out of our troubles
Janent Perez Eckles
7/10/2020
With these four promises, we can dare to expect a brand new, beautiful, tomorrow
Janent Perez Eckles
6/19/2020
When God Meets our Greatest Needs
Janent Perez Eckles
4/24/2020
Trust in the Real Source
Janent Perez Eckles
4/10/2020
6 ways to know God is watching your anxious moments
Janent Perez Eckles
3/7/2020
12 ways to transform your life
Janent Perez Eckles
1/17/2020
Avoid these three traps when facing impossibilities.
Janent Perez Eckles
12/20/2019
Consider these three steps before getting angry.
Janent Perez Eckles
11/8/2019
Three steps to have your prayers answered.
Janent Perez Eckles
11/1/2019
The secret to live a happy life.
Janent Perez Eckles
10/4/2019
Three secrets of a real winner.
Janent Perez Eckles
9/6/2019
So, what’s another disaster?
Janent Perez Eckles
8/2/2019
One thing you need to remove in order to live with confidence.
Janent Perez Eckles
6/7/2019
What to do when life becomes too much.
Janent Perez Eckles
2/22/2019
Five questions to see if you’re a people pleaser.
Janet Perez Eckles
11/23/2018
How to achieve the best of life.
Janent Perez Eckles
11/9/2018
I need encouragement.
Janent Perez Eckles
11/9/2018
6 Steps to Bring Back Peace
Janent Perez Eckles
6/8/2018