Jesus meets us in our disappointment

New Women's Devotional Bible features reflections by women for women

Welcome to my table, sweet friend! I send out this weekly Glorygram as an invitation for you to pull up a chair and linger with me at the table. I’m serving up a bowl of Filipino Garlic Fried Rice. Join me for a feast on the glory of God!

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The following is a devotional I wrote that is published in the new Women’s Devotional Bible - The Gospels released this March based on John 11.

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When my husband was diagnosed with stage four cancer and graduated to Heaven three short months later, the story of Jesus, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus became deeply meaningful to me. Here we find a co-mingling of two weighty themes: dealing with disappointment and the power of belief.

Jesus received word from his dear friends, Mary and Martha, that their brother was gravely ill. Jesus assured his disciples that the sickness Lazarus faced would be “an occasion to show God’s glory by glorifying God’s son” (John 11:4).

Given the seriousness of Lazarus’ illness, we might have expected Jesus to respond right away. However, he lingered two more days before heading out to Judea where his friends lived. During that time, Lazarus died.

When Jesus arrived on the scene, he was greeted on the road by Martha.

She said, “Master, if you’d been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. Even now, I know that whatever you ask God he will give you” (John 11:21-22).

Martha expressed her disappointment. Her brother had been dead for four days; she had hoped Jesus would come earlier and heal him. Martha’s sentiment is so relatable. I, too, prayed and believed healing was possible for my husband.

But Martha’s disappointment emerged alongside belief. She trusted that Jesus was still Master, that God would give him whatever he asked. Her disappointment did not cloud her core belief in who Jesus is and why he came to earth.

Jesus responded: “I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live.”

Jesus underscored the power of belief. There will soon be a whole different life—an eternal life—for those who believe in him. Jesus wants to be sure Martha hears this.

Then Martha’s sister, Mary, ran to meet the beloved Teacher and greeted him with similar words. She, too, expressed disappointment that Jesus did not come earlier. Mary’s sorrow evoked emotion in Jesus. He wept with these dear friends.

Jesus knew he was about to perform a resurrection miracle for Lazarus, yet he took time to grieve with them. This tender sharing of sorrow shows how deeply Jesus cares about our disappointment, our doubts, our discouragement.

When my husband was diagnosed with cancer, we prayed fervently for the healing of his body. We believed God could perform a miracle. Yet, God chose to heal my husband in heaven rather than on this earth. I am not grateful for his death or our suffering, but I am grateful for how God transformed our grief. I have come to understand that grief and glory are constantly co-mingling. God brought my new husband Shawn and a daddy for my girls – a chapter of our story I never would have imagined.

Together we grieve the loss of Ericlee and also live out his legacy of faith. In life, we will experience prayers that are not answered the way we hoped. John 11 reminds me that Jesus meets us in our disappointment and offers us the expansive hope of his glory. He is our friend, our daddy, our king!

*Excerpted from The Message Women’s Devotional Bible © 2025 by The Navigators. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Glory recommendations

Each week I like to share links to some of my own work or resources that are inspiring me and my family to chase after God’s glory! Here are five for you to check out this week:

1. Every month I give away a special book to one of my Glorygram subscribers. The June Giveaway is meaningful because my words are included in this book! The Women’s Devotional Bible - The Gospels. The full bible with devotionals releases August 5. The Scriptures are meant for us, to draw near to God and discover God’s vision for us. This devotional portion edition of The Message Women's Devotional Bible invites women of all ages and life experiences to consider what it means to be made in God’s image and invited into God’s mission out of our unique design. With down-to-earth insights into the experience of women in the Gospels, and informed by the wisdom of women in our contemporary context, this Women’s Devotional Bible portion expands our imagination for faithfulness in our time.

   
   Often overlooked in the Scriptures are women actively participating in the story of God. Many of them are unnamed; many of them are only mentioned or alluded to. But the message of the Scriptures is incomplete without them. This Bible portion draws our attention to the insights hidden in their stories and the relevance of their lives to ours. The writers for this project include 82 contributors, all women of diverse ages, vocations, backgrounds, races, and ethnicities. Another cool tidbit is that 27 of these writers are my author friends through the Redbud Writers Guild. I love collaborative projects! If you’re interested in winning a copy of The Gospels, comment below with why.

2. If you like movies in the vein of “Pride & Prejudice” and “Little Women,” I highly recommend the Miss Austen series on Masterpiece PBS. Based on Gill Hornby’s best-selling novel, this is a fascinating, witty and heartbreaking story of sisterly love. Cassandra Austen races to see her friend Isabella, who is about to lose her home. Cassandra is conveniently there to help, but her real motive is to find a stash of private letters which could destroy her beloved sister Jane Austen’s reputation. I watched this three-part series with my daughters, and we loved the acting and the portrayal of the Austen sisters.

   

3. If you’re looking for a way to celebrate Father’s Day when your daddy is gone, I wrote this article with ideas for you. My heart and prayers are with you this Father’s Day.

   

4. My book, Kailani’s Gift, features the story of a girl named Kailani who watches her siblings practice a traditional Filipino dance for their grandparents’ anniversary party and longs to join them. But keeping up with the rhythm and hopping in time with the beats of the tinikling is much harder than Kailani imagined! With her Daddy’s help, Kailani practices the motions of the dance step by step. But will she be able to learn the tinikling in time to surprise her Lolo and Lola? I especially love the way illustrator Lynnor Bontigao makes this story come alive with color and inviting details. This makes a fun summer read for kids of all ages!

5. Summer is here, and moms of littles, I have the perfect gift for you!
   SUMMER OF STORIES is:
   - a FREE video series
   - 30 Christian children's book authors (award-winning and best-selling) reading their books
   - daily book giveaways just for participating
   
   Sign up with your email and the videos come to your inbox weekdays from June 9-July 27. This is an easy peasy way to start faith-filled conversations in your home this summer and a quick go to when the kids say, "I'm bored!"

*This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping to support this ministry!

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Friend, I’m so grateful you are a part of my Glorygram tribe! I count it an incredible privilege to connect with each of you through this Glorygram. I offer a paid subscription to this newsletter with all the bells and whistles! For $50 per year (or $5 a month), you'll gain access to my full archive, bonus posts, monthly recipe posts, and my Lent and Advent devotionals! While the free weekly emails will continue, my subscription-only content will be an extension of the foundation we've built together. My goal is always to help you continue to feast on God’s glory in your everyday lives. To subscribe and unlock this exclusive content, simply hit the Subscribe Now button. Founding members will also get a personalized, signed copy of one of my books! I am so grateful for all of your prayers and support!