AlzLove: Feeling sad? You are loved, protected, and chosen by Jesus. He is with you.

ISAIAH 43:2

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

If you're reading this, chances are you're in the midst of a storm...walking the difficult road of Alzheimer's alongside a dear family member. The scripture above, Isaiah 43:2, is a powerful reminder. It speaks to those moments when life feels impossibly hard, when you're unsure if you’ll ever make it through. It assures us that God is with us. He promises His protection, that we will not be overcome, and that we will come through this...whole.

But if you're anything like me, you might find yourself questioning that promise. You may be crying out to God, saying, “I am getting burned!”

The pain is real. It stings when your loved one lashes out with hurtful words or refuses your help, even when you're trying to keep them safe. As their disease progresses, you may witness drastic personality changes. The person who was once gentle and kind may now seem angry, confused, or even combative and treating you like an enemy rather than someone who loves them.

This journey is brutal and while the fire of uncertainty feels scorching, Isaiah 43:2 reminds us that we are not walking through it alone.

This blog was written for you. Each Alzlove story is a true account drawn from real moments in my life, sharing how I faced difficult situations and how my Heavenly Father guided my heart and my steps while teaching me how to love when it felt impossible. I slowly learned how to care for my mom with compassion, patience, and a deeply heartfelt love.

Would you like to hear about another story, similar to my own, but right from the bible? If so, keep reading!

There is a beautiful story in the Bible that profoundly changed my perspective and allowed me to see my life through God’s eyes. It is the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, found in Daniel, Chapter 3.

At that time, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon built a massive golden statue of himself, standing ninety feet tall and nine feet wide, and placed it on the plain of Dura near the city of Babylon. He commanded all the people to bow down and worship the statue whenever music was played throughout the day. A decree was issued stating that anyone who refused to worship the image would be thrown into a blazing furnace and face a fiery death.

Yet three Jewish men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, refused to bow. They chose to worship only the one true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, openly defying the King’s command.

When King Nebuchadnezzar learned of their refusal, he became furious and ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual. He commanded his guards to throw the three men into the fire, fully expecting their imminent death.

But this is where the story takes a breathtaking turn. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the furnace, they did not burn. Their hair was not singed, their robes were untouched, and there was not even the smell of smoke on their clothes.

I often imagine witnessing that moment. Their unwavering faith in their Heavenly Father was so strong that they were willing to give their very lives for Him. As I read this passage, I picture their faces as they were cast into the fire. Perhaps they were wrestling with fear, or perhaps they were crying out to God for mercy, or perhaps they were overwhelmed with joy, knowing they would soon stand face to face with their Creator.

I imagine them walking out of the fire standing a little taller, smiles stretching across their faces, filled with the joy of the Lord. I picture laughter erupting as they realized they were not only alive, but untouched by the flames. They did not even smell like smoke. I imagine them falling to their knees, then fully to the ground, arms outstretched, worshiping their Heavenly Father in awe and thanksgiving.

I believe Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego walked out of that fire profoundly changed and very different people than when they went in.

During that long and painful season before my mom passed, I truly felt as though I was being burned. Yet in His kindness, my Heavenly Father eventually invited me to look in the mirror and truly see who I had become through the fire. Over time, I realized He had recreated me from the inside out as I walked my mother through the hardest journey of her life. In that sacred space, my mom and I grew closer, and I was given memories I will cherish forever. At her funeral, I felt deep sorrow, but also an inner peace that could only come from walking closely with my Heavenly Father. I knew then that I was no longer the same person I had been before her diagnosis. I was stronger, more confident, and carried a touch of sass and a dry sense of humor that sustained me through the darkest days. Most of all, I saw myself as a woman whose heart had drawn nearer to Jesus because I cried out to Him constantly and leaned on Him when I had nothing left.

That transformation also reshaped how I see and respond to others. Walking so closely with my mother’s ongoing and often life-threatening needs heightened my sensitivity to the needs of those around me, teaching me to place someone else’s well-being above my own. My once self-focused nature began to shift as caring for her became my daily priority, leaving little room to think about myself. While I still wrestle with self-centeredness, my Heavenly Father continues to use every difficult situation to shape something more beautiful within me. I now welcome hard assignments, knowing He is with me and able to use any circumstance to make me more Christ-like.

This blog was written for you.

Each Alzlove story is a true account drawn from real moments in my life, sharing how I faced difficult situations and how my Heavenly Father guided my heart and my steps. He taught me how to love when it felt impossible and how to care for my mom with compassion, patience, and a deeply heartfelt love.

In much the same way, through my own journey with Alzheimer’s, where Satan sought to steal, kill, and destroy my future, my Heavenly Father used the fire to shape and mold me into the person I am today. And that truth fills me with joy. God truly created beauty from ashes. The journey was not easy, and one day I will ask my Heavenly Father to show me the bucket of tears I shed for my mother along the Alzheimer’s walk. I will cherish every single one of them, for each tear was a tear of love.

Let us pray:

You are the God of miracles and our faithful protector in every trial. No matter what the enemy brings against us, You stand with us in the fire, guarding our hearts and shielding us from the ways of this world. Father, I lift up all who are walking through the fire right now. May they not be burned but instead encounter a deeper revelation of Your glory and a closer, more intimate relationship with You. Bless them beyond measure. Send Your love to guard their hearts as the hardship unfolds and reveal moments of miracles that expand their awareness of Your presence and glory. Give them an unshakable assurance that they are never alone.

Father, remind them that the greatest gift anyone can offer is faithful presence during the hardest seasons. Let them know they are warriors in Your Kingdom, chosen and anointed for this sacred calling. To be entrusted with such a task is a royal honor. Grant us Your strength, Your wisdom, and Your abundant blessings during this time.

We love You, Lord Jesus, and we praise You, for You never leave us nor forsake us.

Amen.