Lily Dawn Bilsland
About the Author

Lily Dawn is a pessimist turned optimist by God’s grace. Happy mama to Nolan, Ty, and Reese on Earth and baby Evie in Heaven. Head over heels for a boy named Goose.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. As I’ve sorted through my own losses, I’ve had to walk the road of understanding that He is good and I can trust His ways.

    What you wrote is so beautiful, Lilly, and certainly comes from living a story of heartache and grief to see just how amazing He is. His grace is *that* big! He makes beauty out of pain, and it’s our obligation to tell of these times – and it’s then when we worship.

    Rich blessings as you continue to turn to Him for understanding, Lilly…

  2. Thank you very much for sharing this ! It’s so true ! In the midst of our darkest struggle He is near, .. and He knows, .. and He understands. He sees the depths of our heart and He loves us the same. What an amazing grace !

    I wish you a blessed week !

  3. “The afterlife of shocking news often molds us…”

    So true and so beautiful. We were just speaking last night about the night my husband was hit by a car and the way those next few days affected me. Even though he survived and has had an amazing recovery, listening the voicemail from the fireman changed my life forever.

    And praise God for the Savior.

    • Thank you Monica 🙂 I just read some of the posts about your husband on your blog. I am so glad that he is okay and i couldn’t imagine getting that news. It is a great testimony and I know you will never forget those first moments. thank you for sharing your story!

  4. Thank you for sharing. My mom was just diagnosed with cancer, but God was very gracious with us, after her surgery she came back cancer free and now is doing radiation as a preventative. God is Great!

  5. I started singing in the middle of reading your post b/c the scripture you posted was one of the songs my daughter learned at Vacation Bible School last year (Son Quest Rainforest). “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer in petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God”. “And the peace of God will guard your hearts, the peace of God will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”.
    I’ve never read someone quote this scripture so thanks for sharing and letting me remember that fun tune!

    • Thanks Sheila, I know just the song you are talking about- my boys sing it too from church! This scripture has helped me in so many different ways over the past few years…. it continues to be a favorite 🙂

  6. In the midst of our devastation, we don’t realize the truth of your statement, “The afterlife of shocking news often molds and changes us in a greater way than even the happiest of moments. If we allow Him to work, these experiences will not break us, but will bring us to a new level of intimacy with our Savior.” It comes in time, thanks to God’s grace and love. Amazing grace. Amazing love. Beyond our comprehension. Thanks for sharing from your heart. Thanks for comforting us with the comfort God has given you.

    Linda

  7. Please pray for the McReynold’s family as a terrible accident has taken their baby girl, only 2 and so full of life, hope and love to heaven with Him. Pray for her Daddy, Jackson

    • Thank you for sharing this with me Victoria. I will absolutely lift Jackson and the McReynold’s family up in prayer, and I pray God will hold onto them tightly during this season of heartache and questioning as only He can.

  8. When my daughter died I held on to this scripture. I knew I would never understand why but had to trust. The step of blind faith is what made me see for the first time. Xx

    • It is a powerful verse- the “transcends all understanding” always stood out to me… and it took me a long time to accept that we are not supposed to understand everything right now. I have been reading your story on your blog and your testimony is beautiful and so inspiring to me- thank you Sara for sharing your family’s story.

  9. My “news” came July 26, 2010 at 6 months pregnant. My precious Mary Chandler was gone. I’m still trying to catch my breath. Thank you for sharing. It’s people like you who inspire and encourage me 🙂

    • I am so sorry for your loss Kendall- I am praying for you as you catch your breath. Thank you for your encouragement as well 🙂

  10. My news came 3 weeks ago – May 12th, at my 20 week ultrasound. We found out our baby was a girl, AND had a large cystic hygroma on her neck and fluid in one of her lungs and around her heart. They believe she has Turner syndrome. That is the day I felt like I got the breath knocked out of me. I have been trying to recover ever since. We have been told our baby has a 2-7% chance of surviving. It took me almost a week, but I am now praying for God’s healing. We know he is way bigger than that 2-7%. Thank you for sharing this, it really lifted me up today. Tomorrow we have our first follow-up ultrasound, and again I feel like I’m holding my breath.

  11. Lily, thank you for the post. All the writers at (in)courage are great, this is the first I’ve read from you but I appreciate your writing on “the news” and the reminder that God understands when we don’t. My dad was diagnosed with a brain tumor two Thanksgivings ago; we grieved then, and went on to have a wonderful year of happy memory-making days with him as father and grandfather before he passed in January. “The news” was certainly a turning point for us, as we all searched for meaning in the change… but it was a good reminder to us that no one knows how many days he or she might have, and to make them all good. We change the road we’re following, always remembering that God is at the end of every road. Thank goodness he is! 🙂 And thank you again for the reminder. 🙂 Bless you.

    • Emily, I am glad you were able to make those precious memories with your father. Those experiences change us in so many ways, and while the grief is so consuming- it does remind us to make each day count and be thankful that He is always there for us! Thank you for the encouragement 🙂 God bless~ Lily