You are not alone in all these mysteries …
When all is lost.
Have you ever had one of those days when you felt the life drain out of you and you were totally done? I’ve endured several in my lifetime, but this one was unlike any before. No one died. No natural disaster, or otherwise. I had made a careless mistake. Maybe one of the worst mistakes of my life.
Smudged mascara stained my cheeks until I resembled a legendary 70’s rock star. My husband and I drove 30 minutes and searched with headlamps in a dark parking lot at midnight but didn’t turn up any clues or solve the mystery of my stupidity. The heaviness of our silence lingered while he drove us home.
Later that evening, we embraced, and more tears flowed. “It was an innocent mistake.”
A peculiar sting gripped my heart. “I love you, Dennis, but nothing you say can fix this.”
There was no rest for my weary soul that night, only what-ifs and whys as my sobbing and prayers continued till morning.
… Oh Jesus, where are you? I need you. Not that I blame you for this unimportant material loss—It was all me. I only wish you had stopped me … helped me. See me once again.
Please forgive me, Lord. I know I’ll never find it—and why should you help me? I’m so careless.
May 20, 2026 12:02 PM
My doubting didn’t end when a friend offered to join me in round two of the search. Still, we jumped in my Jeep and headed north—until this text from my husband came across my phone.
Dennis: Let’s see how much God loves you. A CHAPLAIN found it in the parking lot. A CHAPLAIN? Really? You are truly blessed.
Me: I’m so happy … OMG!
A Chaplain found my wedding ring?
As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! ~ Psalm 40:11
A chaplain, a ring, and all the mysterious stuff that follows
Dear Mr. Chaplain,
I will never be able to repay you for the selfless act of kindness you have done, but I will forever keep you in my prayers. I already know you are a man of wisdom, and for that I am eternally grateful.
Not just “a thing.”
It’s not because you have returned an item I’ve admired for over 30 years, but because it is a symbol of the love my husband and I have held dear. Thank you for returning my wedding ring.
For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I will walk in your faithfulness. Psalm 26:3 ESV
A sea of waves and finding deeper faith
Although I’m a woman of deep faith, last night I mourned the loss as if my ring were a loved one. I’m sad to say I doubted I’d ever see it again after it fell from my lap when we parked near Dennis’s doctor’s office—I only wanted to soften my hands with lotion. My husband and I prayed and prayed, yet I felt alone. Defeated. My God, so unusually quiet. I was alone … and swimming in a sea of overwhelming waves.
I will never leave you nor forsake you ~ Jesus
What faith can do
Thank you, sir. I wish you a hundredfold of blessings, and most of all, I thank you for rekindling a flame in my heart where my (usually) unwavering belief in all miracles, big and small, still abides. I guess I needed a reminder about what faith can do.
Thank you.
Thank you so much. And … most of all, I thank God for trusting you.
In Jesus’s love,
Joann (and Dennis) Claypoole
I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart: I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. ~ Psalm 9:1
Special thanks to Pixabay and image artists for free use of all images: Feature: Kranich17, #1 BMVBenie, # 2 Pexels, #3 Image by sunnysoleildream from Pixabay.