Category Archives: Devotionals

Beauty in the Ashes—Part 1

The Pattern in the Pain

Grief doesn’t just break your heart—it opens your eyes.

After my brother and my husband passed away, I began to see something I hadn’t noticed before. In the middle of sorrow, certain numbers started to speak.

My brother was born on May 17. My husband died on April 18.

When I added the numbers of those dates—5 + 17 and 4 + 18—they both equaled 22.

Later, I looked at the other set:

My brother died on April 1. My husband was born on May 2.

When I subtracted the numbers—4 – 1 and 5 – 2—they both equaled 3.

22 and 3.

And then I saw something else:

2 + 2 + 3 = 7.

In Scripture, seven is the number of completion. It’s the whisper of “It is finished.” It reminds us of God’s finished work in creation, and Christ’s finished work on the cross.

Even in the ache of loss, that quiet total said to me: There is a wholeness you can’t yet see. Something has been fulfilled, even if it broke your heart in the process.

Reflection

In spiritual symbolism, 22 is called the “Master Builder”—a number of deep purpose, divine alignment, and soul legacy. And 3 is the number of divine presence: Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Unity. Wholeness.

These numbers whispered to me that their lives were part of something eternal. Something God-designed.

“In Him all things hold together.” —Colossians 1:17

Even the dates. Even the grief. Even me.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” —Psalm 34:18

When you love deeply and lose deeply, you begin to look differently. Listen differently. Sometimes, even in sorrow, you hear the rhythm of heaven breaking through.

God of design and detail, thank You for showing me that even in loss, You leave traces of hope. Thank You for the patterns that help me remember that love is never wasted, and nothing is outside Your hands. Help me listen for You, even in the quietest grief. Amen.

Lovingly & Faithfully,

Sally

Like this reflection?

Subscribe below to get new posts and updates sent straight to your inbox from Seek Him With Me —I’d love to journey with you.

Beauty in the Ashes—Part 2

Marked by God’s Calendar

Some dates don’t just stay on the calendar. They burn into your memory. They carve meaning into your soul.

My brother died on April 1st. My husband died on April 18th. For a long time, those days just brought sorrow. But this year, something sacred broke through.

April 1st, I learned, often aligns with the start of the biblical year. In Exodus 12:2, God says, “This month shall be for you the beginning of months.” That month is Nisan—when God rescued His people from Egypt and began a new story of freedom, symbolizing new beginnings and redemption. Significant for the Passover holiday in which Israel was delivered from slavery.

My brother died at the start of God’s calendar. A new beginning. Not an end.

Then, I looked at April 18th, 2025. The 7th anniversary of my husband’s death.

It’s Good Friday. The day Jesus gave His life.

He died on the same day we remember the cross—the day love paid the ultimate price, and hope seemed lost.

That’s when I realized: their dates weren’t just personal. They were sacred.

Reflection

God doesn’t waste our pain. He weaves it into something bigger than we can see.

My brother’s passing on the first day of God’s redemptive calendar reminds me that even in death, there is a beginning. And my husband’s passing on Good Friday echoes the deep truth that sacrifice is never the end of the story.

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” —Psalm 116:15

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens… a time to be born and a time to die.” —Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

Maybe our grief lives inside God’s seasons. Maybe our losses are not random, but woven into His holy calendar.

Lord of all seasons, thank You for revealing the sacred in the sorrow. Thank You for showing me that even the hardest days are not forgotten—they are marked on Your calendar, full of purpose and promise. Help me trust You with the dates that hurt, and believe You are still writing a story of resurrection. Amen.

Lovingly & Faithfully,

Sally

Like this reflection?

Subscribe below to get new posts and updates sent straight to your inbox from Seek Him With Me —I’d love to journey with you.

He Was There

Scripture Focus:

“Evan though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and staff, they comfort me.” —Psalm 23:4

How can someone possibly understand what you’re going through if they’ve never experienced it themselves?

I’ve been through a lot since childhood. My parents were deaf, and I was what they call a “parentified child.” With sign language being my first language, I spent my early school years in speech therapy. By the third grade, I was the voice for our family—translating, interpreting, and even disciplining my siblings through my parents’ words. I carried adult responsibilities far too early.

It’s no wonder I left home at 14 and found myself in a toxic relationship with a man four years older. I became pregnant at 15. Then, while pregnant again at 16, I lost my brother in a car accident—the father of my children being the driver.

Religious pressure forced me into marriage with that same man. After the accident, he became violent and turned to drugs. My life spiraled. I remember crying out to God, “Why? Why me? Why do You hate me so much?”

For many years, I was broken inside. That pain poisoned my relationships, my view of myself, and my faith. I became someone I didn’t recognize—someone hurting others because I was so deeply hurt.

Then, everything changed when my mother passed. I was 32. Her death cracked something wide open in me. For the first time, I stopped asking, “Why?” and began asking, “What?—What are You trying to show me, God?”

I was empty. Done. Worn out from pain. And that’s when I felt it—a tap on my shoulder. A quiet invitation to fast. And in that sacred act of surrender… He was there.

Not angry. Not distant. But present.

God didn’t hate me—He had been grieving with me. Waiting for me. Pursuing me through every loss, every wrong turn, every silent night of tears. And when I finally turned back, He met me with mercy.

Psalm 23 became my anchor:

“The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for You are with me;

Your rod and staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all of the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.”

He was with me. He is with me. And friend, He is with you too.

Lord, thank You for being with me in the valleys. For never leaving me, even when I doubted You. Thank You for restoring my soul and leading me beside still waters. I pray for anyone reading this who feels forgotten or unloved—wrap them in Your presence today. Remind them they are not alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Reflection Questions:

1. What valley are you walking through right now?
2. Can you shift your question from “Why?” to “What are You showing me, Lord?”
3. How might God be meeting you right in the middle of your mess?

Lovingly & Faithfully,

Sally

Like this reflection?

Subscribe below to get new posts and updates sent straight to your inbox from Seek Him With Me—I’d love to journey with you.

The Battle for Our Attention

He Wants Your Attention

Setting aside time to give God our undivided attention can feel like an uphill battle in today’s world. With so much noise, endless distractions, the hum of social media, gossip, judgment, and constant mental clutter, it’s no wonder we struggle to hear His still, small voice.

“Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy… I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word, I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning.” —Psalm 130:1-2, 5-6

This waiting… this watching… It’s sacred. But to wait on the Lord requires more than just stillness—it requires intention.

God is already present within us

His Spirit isn’t distant or hiding in some unreachable place. He’s near. He resides in the depths of our being. And when we pause, quiet the chaos, and lean in with expectation, we begin to sense that divine nearness. You’ll find joy in knowing that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is living inside of you—rooted deep like the foundation of a tree.

“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my innermost being, praise His holy name.” —Psalm 103:1

Just like a tree depends on its roots to remain steady through wind and storm, we need our Father more than we even realize. He is our source. Our sustainer. Our roots. Without Him, we wither. But with Him, we flourish.

Surrender & Repentance

Surrendering our hearts and repenting isn’t about guilt or shame. It’s about transformation. It’s about release. It’s about turning away from what separates us from God and stepping into newness. The privilege of repentance—of being able to grow spiritually—is a direct gift of Jesus’ atonement. It’s not just a one-time decision but a daily posture of the heart.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” —2 Corinthians 5:17

Repentance is a holy pivot. It’s a choice to turn around, refocus, and align our lives with God’s will. It’s not about perfection—it’s about direction.

It’s about humbly saying…“God, I want Your way more than mine.”

Revelation 3:3 reminds us to remember what we have received and heard, to hold it fast, and repent.

So today, ask yourself:

What new thing is the Lord doing in my life?

What is He working in me, through me, and around me?

Start your day with Him

Set aside just 10 minutes to recalibrate your heart. Open in praise. Speak life over your day. Invite the Holy Spirit into every space of your being.

Ask Him:

Lord, what are You asking of me?

Lord, what are You teaching me right now?

Lord, where do You want my time and focus today?

Lord, how do my priorities need to shift to reflect Your heart?

Fix your eyes on the One who holds eternity in His hands. He alone is worthy of our attention, our affection, and our time. He alone carries the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. And the beautiful thing is—He’s inviting you to walk with Him today.

Prayer Journal Prompt:

Set aside 10 quiet minutes with your journal. Light a candle, play soft worship music, or simply sit in silence. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your heart and hand as you reflect. Then, write openly and honestly in response to these prompts:

1. Lord, what distractions have been pulling me away from You lately? What can I surrender today to quiet the noise around me and hear Your voice more clearly?

2. Where do I need to pivot in my life right now? Is there an area where You’re asking me to let go, repent, or move in a new direction?

3. God, what new thing are You doing in me? What are You birthing in my spirit? What truth are You teaching me?

4. Father, how can I better align my heart and time with You? What’s one intentional way I can give You my first and best today?

Finish with a written prayer of surrender and praise, acknowledging His presence in your life.

Lovingly & Faithfully,

Sally

Like this reflection?

Subscribe below to get new posts and updates sent straight to your inbox from Seek Him With Me —I’d love to journey with you.