THREE ANGELS BROADCASTING NETWORK DEVOTIONAL
My Vacation.
By Tracey Ridenour December 12th, 2025
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8–9
After two camp meetings, I was looking forward to a relaxing vacation at home. Things started off with a few bumps in the road, but nothing major. Until Thursday, when my life changed.
But let me back up a little and explain. The previous Wednesday, Mom and I decided to get some peaches in Missouri, so we could freeze them for winter. As I drove, Mom and I were talking and enjoying each other’s company. Then, after we purchased our peaches, Mom decided she would like to get a watermelon and a few other odds and ends.
After shopping, we decided to grab a bite to eat at an Asian restaurant, so after we arrived back home and unloaded the car, we were both exhausted and decided to go to bed early. But little did I know what the night would bring as we both fell asleep.
At approximately 3:30 a.m. I heard Mom yelling “Hey! Hey! Hey!” As I lay there for a few seconds waiting (sometimes she yells at creatures outside, especially skunks), I knew something was wrong. As I approached her room and turned on the light, I found her on the floor. My heart sank, and as I knelt down next to her, I realized she couldn’t see that I was there.
“Are you okay, Mom?” I asked.
“Call 911, because I think I’m having a stroke.”
I sent up a prayer to remain calm for her and called 911. Then I called a dear friend who agreed to meet me at the hospital.
After the ambulance arrived and loaded Mom up, I hurried so I could follow them in my car. So many thoughts were swirling around in my mind as I prayed silently to God asking “Why?” After making several more calls, the tears began to flow. We’d had such a wonderful time the day before.
But there’s something I haven’t mentioned. I’d been complaining to God as to why we couldn’t go anywhere far away for our vacation—but little did I know this would happen. Right then, I heard His still small voice say, This is why you couldn’t go away, Tracey.
The light came on inside my head. It made sense now. What would I have done?
As I pulled in behind the ambulance at the hospital, my friend was waiting for me. Still in shock, I gathered my thoughts, and as doctors and nurses came into the room, I began asking questions. After several hours, they decided to fly her to Evansville, Indiana, and my friend offered to drive me there—even though I wanted to drive myself. I rushed home to gather a few things, then off we went. We arrived at the hospital, found Mom’s room, and my tears started to flow again as I saw her lying in bed.
How can I be strong now? I wondered. I was so scared. My whole world had been turned upside down.
You know, sometimes life treats us that way. I don’t know if you’ve had the experience of kneeling in prayer and having no words come to mind. That was me when I arrived home that evening. As I knelt down, no words would come. And that’s when God placed the song in my mind “Life Is Hard, But God is Good.”
You know, God knows that this world is hard, and He understands our tears. In fact, Psalm 56:8 (NLT) says, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.”
I like the way that translation puts it. God hasn’t forgotten or forsaken us. He’s still there with His mercy and grace, walking with us on our journey home.
Soon, and very soon, we will see the King of kings coming through the clouds, and we will finally be going home. Don’t give up! Life is hard, but God is good!
And by the way, for anyone who is wondering how Mom is doing, she’s recovering very well.
My Vacation.
By Tracey Ridenour December 12th, 2025
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8–9
After two camp meetings, I was looking forward to a relaxing vacation at home. Things started off with a few bumps in the road, but nothing major. Until Thursday, when my life changed.
But let me back up a little and explain. The previous Wednesday, Mom and I decided to get some peaches in Missouri, so we could freeze them for winter. As I drove, Mom and I were talking and enjoying each other’s company. Then, after we purchased our peaches, Mom decided she would like to get a watermelon and a few other odds and ends.
After shopping, we decided to grab a bite to eat at an Asian restaurant, so after we arrived back home and unloaded the car, we were both exhausted and decided to go to bed early. But little did I know what the night would bring as we both fell asleep.
At approximately 3:30 a.m. I heard Mom yelling “Hey! Hey! Hey!” As I lay there for a few seconds waiting (sometimes she yells at creatures outside, especially skunks), I knew something was wrong. As I approached her room and turned on the light, I found her on the floor. My heart sank, and as I knelt down next to her, I realized she couldn’t see that I was there.
“Are you okay, Mom?” I asked.
“Call 911, because I think I’m having a stroke.”
I sent up a prayer to remain calm for her and called 911. Then I called a dear friend who agreed to meet me at the hospital.
After the ambulance arrived and loaded Mom up, I hurried so I could follow them in my car. So many thoughts were swirling around in my mind as I prayed silently to God asking “Why?” After making several more calls, the tears began to flow. We’d had such a wonderful time the day before.
But there’s something I haven’t mentioned. I’d been complaining to God as to why we couldn’t go anywhere far away for our vacation—but little did I know this would happen. Right then, I heard His still small voice say, This is why you couldn’t go away, Tracey.
The light came on inside my head. It made sense now. What would I have done?
As I pulled in behind the ambulance at the hospital, my friend was waiting for me. Still in shock, I gathered my thoughts, and as doctors and nurses came into the room, I began asking questions. After several hours, they decided to fly her to Evansville, Indiana, and my friend offered to drive me there—even though I wanted to drive myself. I rushed home to gather a few things, then off we went. We arrived at the hospital, found Mom’s room, and my tears started to flow again as I saw her lying in bed.
How can I be strong now? I wondered. I was so scared. My whole world had been turned upside down.
You know, sometimes life treats us that way. I don’t know if you’ve had the experience of kneeling in prayer and having no words come to mind. That was me when I arrived home that evening. As I knelt down, no words would come. And that’s when God placed the song in my mind “Life Is Hard, But God is Good.”
You know, God knows that this world is hard, and He understands our tears. In fact, Psalm 56:8 (NLT) says, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.”
I like the way that translation puts it. God hasn’t forgotten or forsaken us. He’s still there with His mercy and grace, walking with us on our journey home.
Soon, and very soon, we will see the King of kings coming through the clouds, and we will finally be going home. Don’t give up! Life is hard, but God is good!
And by the way, for anyone who is wondering how Mom is doing, she’s recovering very well.
THREE ANGELS BROADCASTING NETWORK DEVOTIONAL
My Vacation.
By Tracey Ridenour December 12th, 2025
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8–9
After two camp meetings, I was looking forward to a relaxing vacation at home. Things started off with a few bumps in the road, but nothing major. Until Thursday, when my life changed.
But let me back up a little and explain. The previous Wednesday, Mom and I decided to get some peaches in Missouri, so we could freeze them for winter. As I drove, Mom and I were talking and enjoying each other’s company. Then, after we purchased our peaches, Mom decided she would like to get a watermelon and a few other odds and ends.
After shopping, we decided to grab a bite to eat at an Asian restaurant, so after we arrived back home and unloaded the car, we were both exhausted and decided to go to bed early. But little did I know what the night would bring as we both fell asleep.
At approximately 3:30 a.m. I heard Mom yelling “Hey! Hey! Hey!” As I lay there for a few seconds waiting (sometimes she yells at creatures outside, especially skunks), I knew something was wrong. As I approached her room and turned on the light, I found her on the floor. My heart sank, and as I knelt down next to her, I realized she couldn’t see that I was there.
“Are you okay, Mom?” I asked.
“Call 911, because I think I’m having a stroke.”
I sent up a prayer to remain calm for her and called 911. Then I called a dear friend who agreed to meet me at the hospital.
After the ambulance arrived and loaded Mom up, I hurried so I could follow them in my car. So many thoughts were swirling around in my mind as I prayed silently to God asking “Why?” After making several more calls, the tears began to flow. We’d had such a wonderful time the day before.
But there’s something I haven’t mentioned. I’d been complaining to God as to why we couldn’t go anywhere far away for our vacation—but little did I know this would happen. Right then, I heard His still small voice say, This is why you couldn’t go away, Tracey.
The light came on inside my head. It made sense now. What would I have done?
As I pulled in behind the ambulance at the hospital, my friend was waiting for me. Still in shock, I gathered my thoughts, and as doctors and nurses came into the room, I began asking questions. After several hours, they decided to fly her to Evansville, Indiana, and my friend offered to drive me there—even though I wanted to drive myself. I rushed home to gather a few things, then off we went. We arrived at the hospital, found Mom’s room, and my tears started to flow again as I saw her lying in bed.
How can I be strong now? I wondered. I was so scared. My whole world had been turned upside down.
You know, sometimes life treats us that way. I don’t know if you’ve had the experience of kneeling in prayer and having no words come to mind. That was me when I arrived home that evening. As I knelt down, no words would come. And that’s when God placed the song in my mind “Life Is Hard, But God is Good.”
You know, God knows that this world is hard, and He understands our tears. In fact, Psalm 56:8 (NLT) says, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.”
I like the way that translation puts it. God hasn’t forgotten or forsaken us. He’s still there with His mercy and grace, walking with us on our journey home.
Soon, and very soon, we will see the King of kings coming through the clouds, and we will finally be going home. Don’t give up! Life is hard, but God is good!
And by the way, for anyone who is wondering how Mom is doing, she’s recovering very well.
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