What is so special about Wednesday? According to the famous children’s poem, “Wednesday’s child is full of woe.” Many people covet Wednesdays. For the workforce that works Monday through Friday, they sometimes refer to Wednesday as hump day. The anticipation is like opening an unknown bonus check. According to Merriam-Webster, hump day was first used in 1959. That is the year I was born, and I was born on a Wednesday!

However, in reality, most weekends seem like a continuation of work, cleaning a house, yard work, running errands, or taking your children to sports events. Possibly, Sundays are more restful, or should be, God said,

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God…” (Exodus 20:8).

Other than the blog and writing the book, I wanted to add something else. I wanted to add a splash of encouragement for the middle of the week. I am introducing Wednesday’s Ripples beginning Wednesday, May 18th.

Mental health issues have accelerated. The only person and truth you can rely on one hundred percent is God. Discouraged, depressed, disconnected, distracted, debilitated is how a large percentage of America is walking through each day.

I want to infuse hope in you. No matter what you are going through, earth-shaking as it may be, as long as you have breath, you have hope.

I love this photo that I found and use on the main page of the blog. To me, it is the perfect image of how to turn adversity, waves of trials, into waves of gratitude.

According to Wikipedia, Rogue waves (also known as freak waves, monster waves, episodic waves, killer waves, extreme waves, and abnormal waves) are unusually large, unpredictable and suddenly appearing surface that can be extremely dangerous.

Does that sound like something going on in your life?

Unusually large… unpredictable… suddenly appearing… possibly life threatening?

I’ve been there. I’m there right now.

However, look at the wave in the photo, when the wave hits the rock… it bursts upward.

A rock can be negative… hitting a wall, nowhere to turn, landing on the bottom hard…

Or… on the positive side,  you can look to the ROCK.

“I Love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. My God, my rock in whom I take refuge;…” (Psalm 18:1-2a).

“Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress” (Psalm 71:3).

“He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken” (Psalm 62:6).

“Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly; Be to me a rock of strength, a stronghold to save me” (Psalm 31:2).

“There is no one holy like the LORD. Indeed, there is no one besides You. Nor is there any rock like our God” (1Samuel 2:2).

If you turn to the LORD in the moment of your need, heartbreak, disappointment, or grief, He will be with you. You can turn your devastation into praise and watch how God will work through you, and give you joy amid the loss.

I want to encourage you. Like a ripple, breath in and out, be calm among the tumultuous waves. You can have peace through the chaos. God said, “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trust in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for in God the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock”.

Ashley Judd recently shared about dealing with grief over the death of her mother. She said, “There’s a miracle, but there’s footwork. I’m in the footwork department. God is in the results department.”

When tragedy hits you, you won’t find lasting peace in your own will. Give it to someone stronger and higher than you.

I hope to give you a ripple of encouragement from God’s Word. Something to meditate on, ask yourself questions about, breath in and out. God’s Word always turns the worst to worship. Then watch the wave of your peace ripple into your family, your friends, your world, and your life.