comfort Archives - Heart Talk with Linda Rooks

365 Devotions for Hope – Interview with author, Karen Whiting

When people read my Heart Talk blog, one of the main things I want them to find is hope—even when it’s “in unexpected places.” As long as we have hope, we can make it through even the toughest situations. Today I’m pleased to interview Karen Whiting about one of her latest books, 365 Devotions for Hope. Karen is an international speaker, former TV host, and the author of twenty-two books. She loves to let creativity splash on the pages she writes as she reaches out through her writing to help nurture wholesome families. If you’d like a FREE copy of Karen’s book, you can make a comment at the end of this interview to enter our drawing. Karen has also offered to give away a copy of another new book, releasing at the end of the year, called Christmas is Coming: Waiting is Hard. So make your comments below.

Linda: Karen, tell us why you believe hope is so important and why you decided to write about it.

Karen: Hope is what pulls us out of the deep trenches of pain. Hope is the anchor that we cling to tightly during storms that crash into our lives.

Linda: What are some of the topics and themes in your book, 365 Devotions for Hope?

Karen: The hope of the future, love, expectations, seeds of hope, CPR for hopeless times, hope when facing the unexpected, hope for the hurting, hope through renewed thinking, letting go of gloomy thoughts, and laughter.

Linda: Why is it sometimes so difficult to find hope even when we believe in God’s love and sovereignty?

Karen: We are human and our emotions are real. When we hurt, we don’t want platitudes. We want to fill the loneliness, sorrow, and other emotions we feel. In an instant gratification world, it’s hard to slowly go through the process and stages of grief. Time is still a great healer. We do need to allow ourselves to cry and take time for the healing.

Linda: Hope is what keeps us going in particularly hard times, but there are some situations where hope seems so remote. What are some thoughts for those facing struggles like divorce, marital separation, or death of a loved one?

Karen: A home that once filled with laughter and love is broken and shattered by divorce or loss. That’s a time to forgive and let God’s love fill the empty spots. It’s a time to renew friendships and invite friends in. It’s also a time to look outward, go to a place where you can see the horizon and know that God can see beyond the devastation you see now. He knows what blessings are coming. Cling to the hope of that future. Choose to hope.

Linda: What are a few times in your own life when you found hope when you needed it?

Karen: I need hope every day, but a few big struggles included the devastation of Hurricane Andrew to our home and the loss of my parents and then my husband.

Linda: What helped with the hurricane?

Karen: A lot of it is in our attitude. My family likes to laugh. Before I even left the closet, I laughed. I had read scriptures all night to the children (hubby was away on military orders) and just read about Jesus calming the storm . We prayed and everything stilled. Silence reigned until my oldest son piped up, “Mom. You should have read that one first.”

When we realized the hurricane had totaled two bedrooms, the kitchen and lots of other things—altogether totaling $99,000—we added thanks and felt grateful for what remained.

Linda: What helped as you faced the loss of your mom, your dad, and your husband?

Karen: Remembering and sharing happy times in the past and laughing together even as my mom and later husband faced terminal cancer. Our family remained close and shared stories as we also shared our sorrow. We made care packages for my mom, and my younger daughter recorded songs for my husband. All those helped us focus on the love we shared and the eternal hope of God.

Laughter helps us smile and face hardships easier. When Jim had chemo, he’d say, “Ah, just as I got my superman strength back, they hit me with kryptonite again” and other little jokes.

We shared stories of fun times from the past. We always laughed when we recalled how our 2.5 year old son had not talked except a few words until he fell off a sled Jim was pulling through the snow. Micahe stood up and yelled, “Hey, Dad, what’s the big idea?”

With Dad, we had him retell times he snitched watermelons or other antics as a child. One of the last days my dad was able to talk, his little sister came to the hospital and he ended up telling her for the first time everything that happened the day of her birth (he was 16). She shared some of her favorite memories with him. Sharing stories and laughter are some of the best ways to say goodbye.

Linda: I’m intrigued by your care package idea. I know you didn’t live close to your parents at the time. What little treasures did you include?

Karen: Photos and taped messages, dry shampoo, favorite snacks, tiny stuffed animals, and gifts the children made. It provided something positive for my parents to talk about each day. Some days Mom opened several as we promised to send new packages as needed.

Linda: What do you say to a woman who’s lost her husband to give her hope?

Karen: Sometimes it is better not to speak, but to simply hug the person and sit with her. Listen to her as she talks of her loss. Then hug her again.

Linda: There are lots of books on hope, but I know your book is a devotional book. How is reading a devotional book on hope different from reading a regular book on hope?

Karen: A devotional gives people small bites every day. Often, when someone is depressed or needing hope it is harder to focus for a long time so a little bit is easier. Also, for those struggling over a long period, having something positive each day gives them a continual lift about the problems.

Linda: I noticed you have an anchor on the cover of your book? Is there any significance to that? What are a few of the illustrations you use in the book?

Karen: As a Coast Guard wife, I use quite a few nautical illustrations with different types of anchors, tides, and moorings. I also use the newness of flowers, a child’s laugh, and quotes plus anecdotes from people who overcame great odds.

Linda: Where can people find your book, 365 Devotions for Hope?

Karen: Anywhere books are sold. I suggest they support their local bookstores as they are beacons of light in a dark world and disappearing too fast. You can find more about my other books at (www.karenwhiting.com)

Comfort for Those Who Mourn

In the last few days, Orlando, my hometown, has suffered through horrendous tragedy and pain. It began last Friday when a young Christian singer, Christina Grimmie, a third place winner on The Voice in 2014, was murdered after a concert. It continued early on Sunday morning when a terrorist walked into a nightclub and mercilessly slaughtered 49 innocent people and wounded 53 others. And a couple of days later, at a Disney resort, an alligator drug a two-year-old boy into the waters of a lagoon and drowned him to the horror of his parents who were helpless to save him.

The pain is palpable throughout The City Beautiful. Horrific tales of death like these should not happen—and certainly not all in one week.

How do we peek through the dark clouds that hover over our city to find hope? Where is goodness and love and God in all of this? The people of Central Florida have come together in a beautiful way, from every walk of life, to support those who are suffering, and it has been a healing balm for the jagged wounds of a city. But where do we look to find meaning and purpose?

A Story from Laurie

A few weeks ago, a dear friend at church died of cancer after an eighteen-year battle with cancer. Laurie was surrounded with people praying for her healing, and during that time her faith never wavered. Whether she was to be healed in this life or the next, God was still on the throne of Laurie’s heart. She shared this hope frequently with others who were likewise fighting cancer, bringing encouragement and comfort to many. And at her funeral, death did not have the final word. Death had lost its sting. Love and faith reigned supreme.

Throughout the time I knew Laurie, I’d been impressed with some of the devotionals she wrote and had continually encouraged her in her writing. She journaled regularly, and after her home-going her husband shared a few of her entries with me. As I thought of all that had happened here in Orlando over the past few days, one of her writings came to mind as a way that Laurie, although no longer present with us here, could reach out to those in their grief to offer comfort.

Because that’s what Laurie would have wanted to do—to offer comfort—just as she did so often for those who battled cancer during her eighteen-year battle.

And so I share her story here.

Comfort from an Empty Tomb by Laurie Travers

“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb . . .” John 20:1

Almost thirty one years ago, on a sultry July morning, I followed Mary’s footsteps. . . .

My father had died suddenly two nights before of cardiac arrest—one week after his open heart surgery. I awoke on the morning of the funeral, feeling overwhelmed with grief. The pain of losing him seemed more than I could bear. I hurt physically.

It seemed there was no one in those early morning hours that could understand or comfort me. All I could think about was how I wanted to be near my Dad. With that thought, I dressed quickly, quietly snuck out of the house, and drove to the funeral home.

I was thankful no one was around so that I could just sit next to his closed casket and cry. There was something about being there that eased my pain a bit. But the reality of my being there alone, next to the casket of my father, also caused me to cry out to the Lord, who faithfully met me there in a way I shall never forget.

My Bible lay in my lap. Crying out for comfort, I opened it. In that precise moment, the Great Comforter caused my eyes to fall on these words from Luke 24:5:

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here. He has risen.”

My eyes welled up with so many tears that I could no longer see any other words on the page. I was overcome by the grace and love of a God who cared enough to meet my deepest need so wondrously. I realized there was no need to remain at an empty tomb. My heart was too filled with an indescribable joy that gently placed my deep hurt into the eternal perspective of Almighty God.

A Message of Comfort for This Time of Sorrow

In the next few weeks, many funerals will be held in this town; many tears will be shed. The senseless death of so many innocent young people has brought unbearable grief; many hearts are shattered in pain.

But over two thousand years ago, death was defeated by a man who shed the bonds of death, abandoned his tomb, and emerged a Victor. His name is Jesus, and His love and grace is there for all of us.

In Laurie’s original journal entry, she ended with, “As we reach out to others in their pain, may we pray that the God of ALL comfort would meet them where they are with the hope and encouragement of His empty tomb.”

God has words of encouragement for each hurting soul during this time. If we look to Him and cry out to Him, He will bring us words of comfort as He did to Laurie. He wants to meet our deepest need, and He will when we cry out to Him.

The message of the empty tomb is there for all of us.

Christina Grimmie, the young woman who was killed on Friday, leaves us with a song to keep us strong during this difficult time. You can listen to it here.