The Unexpected Blessing of a Shattered Screen

Author Theresa Miller reads her devotional "The Unexpected Blessings of a Shattered Screen" from the new book "Unexpected Blessings: 40 Days of Discovering God's Best." (PLUS EXCITING PUBLISHING NEWS! KEEP READING….)And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.–ROMANS 8:38 NLTThe truth is that God cares more about our hearts than tallying up our mistakes.As I stroll through the front door after returning home from a quick errand, myeleven-year-old son walks out of the home office, crying.“What is it?” I ask, worry evident in my voice.He directs me back into the office to reveal the shattered screen of our home cell phone.Through whimpers, he confides he intended to text me when the phone slipped from his hands to the floor, and he’s afraid his dad will be upset with him. My heart melts over his distress. Even more so, it stirs over how deeply he desires his father’s approval. I wrap my arms around his frame.“Son, even if your dad is upset, remember he is good, fair, and loves you. That is his character, so you don’t have to be afraid.”That evening, I was on the phone with his dad, who was out of town for work, when my son approached and asked if he could speak with him. I handed over the phone and overheard him explain the incident, adding that he would work to pay for a new screen.Soon after, he returned the phone with a hint of a smile.“Dad said it would be okay.”This scene spoke volumes to my heart. How often have I avoided God, convinced He is disappointed in me? How many times have I felt He must be throwing His hands up over yet another mistake?Yet Romans 8:38 assures us that nothing can separate us from the Father’s love. One thing we can depend on is when we courageously turn to our heavenly Father with our fears or mistakes, He will love us unconditionally through them.Do you feel God is disappointed in you? Friend, our heavenly Father may very well be the Almighty Judge, but like I reminded my son, He is good, fair, and loves us to no end. That is His character, so we don’t have to be afraid to confide in Him.When we turn our hearts toward God, He assures us it will be okay. He trades beauty for ashes, joyful blessing for mourning, and praise for despair (Isaiah 61:3). The truth is that God cares more about our hearts than tallying up our mistakes.Even as we endure the consequences of this broken world, we will never need to earn our Father’s love. He holds our tender hearts secure, assuring us that His Son, Jesus, already paid the unaffordable price for God’s immeasurable love so we can walk freely in Him.Thank you, Father, for Your immeasurable and unconditional love. I am in awe of Your invitation to come to You in my mess and with my mistakes. You are so good to me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. Friend, have you ever avoided God over something you felt he might be disappointed about?Do you feel unworthy to run to him when you find yourself in a dilemma that you got yourself into?Talk to him about it. He already knows and is waiting for you to trust him with your heart.We'd love to hear in the comments below.ABOUT THERESA MILLER: Theresa M. MillerTheresa Miller is adventurous at heart and dedicated to pursuing spiritual, mental, and emotional healing for the betterment of future generations. Originally from the wooded East, Theresa now resides in the wide-open spaces of Wyoming, nestled near the Big Horn Mountains. She cherishes her role as a wife to Rob and mother to their four children. Weaving words has been her creative outlet since childhood, bringing clarity to life’s complexities. Theresa is the author of the Bible study, The Posture of Victory: Finding True Peace amidst Our Everyday Battles. She actively serves in women’s ministries as a Bible teacher and a MomCo Mentor in her community. She co-founded Dandelions, Potholes, & Wrinkles and The Sisters on Purpose Podcast. In addition to guest appearing on several podcasts and blogs, she has been published in Calla Press Literary Journal, Moms Ezine,(in)courage, and various other publications. You can find Theresa encouraging women to dig deeper to reach higher in their faith and calling on Instagram and Facebook@theresammillerauthor and on the podcast she hosts with her sisters, The Sisters on Purpose Podcast.SCHEDULE: Unexpected Blessings: 40 Days of Discovering God's Best with* March 6: Nichole Suvar* March 13: Theresa M. Miller* March 20: Susan Davidson* March 27: Traci Shnider* April 2: Deborah Rutherford.Our prayer is that in these 40 days, you will shift your perspective, trust God's timing, lean into Jesus, and recognize His blessings in unexpected ways. So join us on the podcast here and grab your copy of the book today on Amazon! Could you help us spread the word? Share this newsletter, text a friend, or leave a review!UNEXPECTED BLESSINGS: https://amzn.to/3XNNR4Q BIG NEWS!!! Poetry book news:The Way Back Books is the new boutique publishing imprint from The Way Back to Ourselves, focusing on soul-care, authentic relationships, creative excellence, and telling “beauty from ashes” stories that beautify the Kingdom. My debut poetry collection, Prodigal Daughter: Poems of Light for the Lost Ones will be released with Kimberly Phinney Kimberly’s second poetry collection, Exalted Ground: Poems of Praise and Lament for the Living and Rosa Gilbert debut poetry collection. God is so good and I am praising Him for dream of a lifetime coming true. Thank you God, thank you Kimberly and her beautiful community The Way Back To Ourselves who has given my writing a second change, a new beginning and a harvest.May your days be full of God's goodness and love! Much love and God's blessings to all of you.From my heart to yours,DeborahSign up for the Behold-Her Beauty Podcast- Don't miss an episode.https://deborahrutherford-com.kit.com/18a8f0d137 Get full access to Deborah Rutherford's Behold-Her Beauty at deborahrutherford.substack.com/subscribe