Trust in the One There are times when life can feel like a dark valley with no sight of a way forward. Our senses become overwhelmed with what we see and feel, and hope seems distant. In these moments, the enemy tries to drown out God’s voice, filling our hearts with doubt. But even in the darkest valley, God has a promise – healing is coming. Faith calls us to lift our eyes and look to our Father. Faith reminds us that even when healing seems distant, and restoration feels impossible, God is at work. He declares, ‘I will bring it health and healing.’ Not might, not possibly, but I will. His healing extends beyond the physical – it reaches our emotions, minds, and spirits. His restoration is not just about fixing what’s broken but about giving us something more – an abundance of peace and truth. What the enemy meant for harm, God will use for glory. Restoration is more than repairing the past; it’s about unveiling something wonderful about the heart of our Father and the life-changing peace He has for us. When we stand on His Word, even when our earthly senses wrestle with doubt, we align ourselves with Heaven’s reality. We may not see the way out just yet, but we can trust the One who holds the path. Healing is on the way; an abundance of peace and truth will be given to you. Prayer: Lord, I may not see a way out yet, but I choose to believe Your Word. I receive Your healing. I trust in Your restoration. Thank You for the abundance of peace and truth You are revealing to me. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Written by ELISHA JURGENSEN

I remember it like it was yesterday. Early one Sunday morning the announcement was made for a special business meeting to discuss the future of my husband, Jeff. Only a few knew the announcement was coming, and when it came, it shook the whole congregation. The next thing I knew it was time to lead that same congregation in worship even though the last thing I felt like doing was singing. I wanted to scream, cry, throw things, anything but stand on a stage and lead worship. The ministry we poured our lives into was falling apart, and the people we had loved and led for years were pulling away. My heart was in pieces. In that dark, painful moment, God brought to mind this gentle whisper to my soul: Consider this an opportunity for joy, my daughter. JOY? For real, Lord? I’m supposed to choose JOY right now? Joy is a choice. It's choosing to see the goodness of God in the midst of my circumstances. Choosing joy is seeing God's plan beyond my temporary pain. Things may be falling apart now, but this “light and momentary struggle is achieving for me an eternal glory” that far outweighs everything I'm going through. This testing of my faith will produce endurance, character, strength and trust. But it’s so painful during the process. Looking back, I see that God used this trial to change me. Was I singing for the attention of people or the applause of God? Was I doing ministry in my own strength or fully relying on God to accomplish His work through me? On that day I learned a great lesson: I can choose joy because His approval is all I need. And looking back, I know that my faith has been made stronger because of it. On that dark day I stood on the platform, closed my tear-filled eyes and chose to praise Him in my pain as I sang these lyrics with all my heart: Our God is greater, Our God is stronger, God, You are higher than any other! And with each word, my joy increased and my faith went to a new level. That, my friends, is why we can choose joy! We must choose joy.

I remember it like it was yesterday. Early one Sunday morning the announcement was made for a special business meeting to discuss the future of my husband, Jeff. Only a few knew the announcement was coming, and when it came, it shook the whole congregation. The next thing I knew it was time to lead that same congregation in worship even though the last thing I felt like doing was singing. I wanted to scream, cry, throw things, anything but stand on a stage and lead worship. The ministry we poured our lives into was falling apart, and the people we had loved and led for years were pulling away. My heart was in pieces. In that dark, painful moment, God brought to mind this gentle whisper to my soul: Consider this an opportunity for joy, my daughter. JOY? For real, Lord? I’m supposed to choose JOY right now? Joy is a choice. It's choosing to see the goodness of God in the midst of my circumstances. Choosing joy is seeing God's plan beyond my temporary pain. Things may be falling apart now, but this “light and momentary struggle is achieving for me an eternal glory” that far outweighs everything I'm going through. This testing of my faith will produce endurance, character, strength and trust. But it’s so painful during the process. Looking back, I see that God used this trial to change me. Was I singing for the attention of people or the applause of God? Was I doing ministry in my own strength or fully relying on God to accomplish His work through me? On that day I learned a great lesson: I can choose joy because His approval is all I need. And looking back, I know that my faith has been made stronger because of it. On that dark day I stood on the platform, closed my tear-filled eyes and chose to praise Him in my pain as I sang these lyrics with all my heart: Our God is greater, Our God is stronger, God, You are higher than any other! And with each word, my joy increased and my faith went to a new level. That, my friends, is why we can choose joy! We must choose joy.

As fast as you can blink your eyes, almost everything was gone. What I held dear, lived for, prayed for, felt called to, gone. My son, Noah, and my husband, Chris, remained. I still loved Chris but my respect and devotion to him was destroyed. Because on that fateful morning he confessed the most devastating news a man can to his wife. Adultery. Addiction. Deep betrayal. Instant grief. Overwhelming sadness. I didn’t want to throw in the towel in ministry. I simply had no choice but to. What could I offer someone if I was dying inside? Not much. With a grateful heart, I can tell you that God didn’t just restore my marriage, He gave me a brand new one. Within no time, God fast-tracked our healing journey. We were in awe at what God did in us. And we didn’t want anything to mess it up. Especially re-entering full-time ministry. But I remembered back to the fall of 1995 when God spoke to us and gave us Romans 10:14-15 to stand on in our decision to enter full-time ministry. These verses were the foundation for our decision and the reason we kept going through the tough seasons. We knew God was paving the way for our return into ministry. An 18-month break to find healing and wholeness didn’t remove the calling God placed on us. As the passage in Romans says, there were still people who hadn’t heard of Jesus, who were walking through life without purpose, who needed hope from our story because it would become their story. Our job was not finished. So, we went back in as prepared as we could be. When the Enemy started bombarding me with lies that my marriage couldn’t withstand the pressures of ministry or the judgments of those around me, I stood on the truth that God called us to this and where God guides, He always provides. When people voiced their opinion that my husband had disqualified himself by his actions, we stood on the truth that God’s call is irrevocable and that a lost and dying world still needed to know about a Savior who died for them. My husband’s moral failure didn’t remove the call of God on our lives, it intensified it.

Oh how I love and need this verse! It has renewed and refreshed me in my life and in ministry. Two and a half years ago I entered a season of great transition. I had just gotten married and a few months later, my husband interviewed for his new ministry role in Las Vegas. Right about that time, I found out we were pregnant. Days before moving to our new home for a new role in our new marriage, I had a miscarriage. I know what you are saying. “Elaine, you're not supposed to get married, change jobs, move to a new city, and start a family all in the same year!” Well, by God’s loving and sovereign hand, we were experiencing all of it. How could I do it all? Support my husband in ministry. Find a place I could serve at our new church. Make new friends. Mourn the loss of a child. Heal from the hurt we experienced in our former church. Prepare for the wonderful ministry ahead in Las Vegas. The task ahead of me was tremendous. The moments of pain and loneliness were excruciating at times. Some days I didn't think I would survive! But let me tell you something amazing - My God met me there and carried me. When I didn’t know how I was going to do it, the Lord led me back to this verse. He opened my eyes and renewed my mind with the truth from His Word. God calls me to Himself above all. All of the highs and lows in ministry are about knowing and glorifying Him. God has given me EVERYTHING I need for the life He has planned for me and my family - I don't need to doubt or be distracted by the circumstances surrounding me. The more I know and delight in Him, the deeper I know and experience these truths. Life and ministry bring constant change to our lives. We can be distracted and tempted with doubts and insecurities. Be encouraged! God is with you and has given you everything, EVERYTHING, you need to continue this good work and to live this life He has called you to. Don’t give up. Are you experiencing changes and great transition in your life and struggling with this as well? How can you begin to experience this divine power in your life?