The Connection Corner

Purpose in the Pain

Matthew 5:4 — God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Grief doesn’t knock. It breaks the door down and rearranges everything inside. There really aren’t words for it. When you lose someone you love, it’s like everything reminds you of them.

I read about a mother who lost her son in a tragic car accident. The loss left her numb, angry, and searching for God in the silence.

Even though people tried to help, there were no easy answers—just a deep, unrelenting void. But through her grief, something sacred began to take shape inside of her.

She noticed how many other parents were grieving in isolation, unsure where to turn or even how to begin healing after the loss of a child.

So she did something courageous. She opened a small grief counseling center, specifically for parents who have lost their children. She doesn’t try to offer quick fixes or easy theology. Instead, she offers understanding, a space to mourn, a space to simply… be.

“I still feel the pain,” she says, “but now it has a purpose. I get to walk with others in their grief.”

Blessed are those who mourn, scripture says. That’s not because mourning is good, but because God meets you there. And over time, He can begin to shape those broken places into a shelter for someone else. God truly can create beauty from the ashes.

Maybe you are walking through grief this Mother’s Day week too. I get it. It’s hard, but I want you to know that God will never waste your sorrow.

Nope. He is better than that.

Lean into Him. Trust that He is holding you, even here. And when you’re ready, let Him begin to bring comfort—not just to you, but through you.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

What does grief look like in your life right now—loss, disappointment, or something else?
Have you experienced God’s comfort in a difficult season before? What did that look like?
Are you allowing yourself space to truly mourn, or trying to move past it too quickly?
Who around you might need the kind of understanding and presence you’ve received from others?
What would it look like today to simply let God meet you in your grief?

May 6, 2026/by Brenda Price

God in the Scary Moments

Bri Dunn, Daily Devotional

Psalm 73:28 — But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

It’s easy to believe God is good when the picture is already beautiful. It’s harder—much harder—to say it when everything feels uncertain and unfinished. But there’s something powerful about choosing to stay close to Him—to make Him your refuge—before you see how it turns out.

I was talking to my friend Emily recently, just thanking God for His faithfulness. She was reminiscing and told me a story of God’s faithfulness when her son was born.

She had tested positive for COVID the day before, so everything felt uncertain and overwhelming.

It was terrifying.

After the baby was delivered, doctors moved in and out of the room, using words like ‘abnormalities’ and ‘we’re not sure yet.’

She remembers lying in a cold hospital bed, gasping for air—shaking and too weak to move. Through tears, all she could say was, “Lord, I trust You. And when You show up like only You can, I will tell everyone about Your goodness!”

Days passed. Then months. Then years.

She and her son are now doing amazing, and I’m getting to hear the story of how God took care of them. She’s posting the cutest pictures of her kids—Asher and his big sister—playing at the park. His big sister is fearless and halfway down the slide. Her little brother is right behind her.

The Lord truly is our refuge—and He cares for us in ways we don’t always see in the moment. He’s so good, and like Emily, I want to keep telling everyone about the wonderful things He does for us.

So today, stay close to Him. He is faithful. Hold on to that, and one day you’ll look up and realize you have more stories of His goodness than you can count.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

When life feels uncertain, do you tend to draw closer to God or pull away?
What does it look like for you to make God your “refuge” in difficult moments?
Can you think of a time when God proved His faithfulness after a season of waiting?
Is there a current situation where you need to choose trust before you see the outcome?
What is one story of God’s goodness in your life that you can share with someone this week?

May 5, 2026/by Bri Dunn

Lessons Baked by Love

Daily Devotional, Denise Pagano

Hebrews 6:10 — For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.

Flour had a way of finding everything in my grandma’s kitchen—even places you wouldn’t expect.

She was my mom’s mom—and she was my person. I grew up on a chair pulled close to her counter, watching her hands move with a kind of calm confidence. She ran a catering business when I was little, and she taught me everything—how to measure, how to trust your instincts by tasting as you go, and how to fix what doesn’t turn out right.

Years later, with my own boys underfoot, I found myself doing the same thing. There would be flour on the counter, timers going off, and little hands trying to help. I even started a small cake business for a season.

The best part was spending time in the kitchen with her.

I’ve realized those memories were never really about sugar, butter, or ooey-gooey desserts. They were about the kind of legacy you build by pouring into others.

When you bake with your kids or grandkids, they’re picking up more than recipes. They’re learning patience, follow-through, and how to connect.

It becomes something that lasts—long after the moment is over.

Scripture tells us that God is not unjust—He does not forget the love we show Him by caring for others.

And now, looking back, I can see it clearer than I could then—none of it was small. None of it was wasted. Every quiet hour, every small act of care, every unseen moment of showing up… it all mattered. And God hasn’t forgotten a single one.

So maybe today doesn’t have to be impressive to be meaningful. Maybe it looks like staying a little longer, letting it get a little messy, or making space for someone to slow you down.

Because long after the kitchen is cleaned and the last of the flour is gone,the love that filled the room is what stays with you the longest.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

What are some “small” acts of love or care you’ve shown that might feel unnoticed right now?
How does it encourage you to know that God sees and remembers even the quiet, unseen moments?
Who has poured into your life in a way that shaped you more than you realized at the time?
Where might God be inviting you to slow down and invest in someone today?
What kind of legacy are you building through your everyday actions?

May 4, 2026/by Denise Pagano