First United Methodist Church Cocoa Beach

When life takes an unexpected turn—a diagnosis, a struggle, a burden you never planned to carry—where is God?

This Sunday's message reminds us that suffering is not evidence of God's absence or punishment. Like the blind man in John 8, our pain doesn't mean someone failed. Instead, it's where God's grace becomes most visible. When the Apostle Paul begged God three times to remove his "thorn in the flesh," God responded: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

You don't have to be enough. You don't need unlimited strength, patience, or wisdom. God simply asks you to trust the One who IS enough. In your weakness, God's power shows up—not always as miraculous healing, but as strength for one more day, patience for one more conversation, love for one more difficult moment.

God doesn't look at you with disappointment. God stoops down, draws near, and whispers: "I love you, and I am right here with you." That's the promise. That's grace.

Get a 5-day devotional or listen to the podcast at www.revmarkreynolds.com.



https://youtu.be/XFd7V4_UuAE

When Life Isn't What You Expected (Messy Families: Episode 5) Life rarely unfolds the way we imagined.Some people face unexpect...

What happens when life doesn't unfold the way you planned?

This Sunday, we'll hear the moving story of a mother whose world changed overnight when her newborn daughter began experiencing seizures and was later diagnosed with a rare developmental disorder. Like many parents of children with disabilities, she faced fear, exhaustion, uncertainty, and the constant question, "Am I enough for this?"

Yet through that journey, she discovered something unexpected about God, faith, gratitude, and what truly matters.

Drawing on John 9 and 2 Corinthians 12, we'll explore how Jesus responds when suffering enters our lives. Rather than assigning blame, Jesus points us to God's presence. Rather than promising that life will always be easy, God offers grace sufficient for whatever we face.

While this message centers on the experience of raising a child with special needs, it speaks to anyone navigating an unchosen future, carrying a burden they cannot control, or wondering where God is amid life's struggles.

Join us this Sunday for The Life We Didn't Plan For.

🕤 Contemporary Worship – 9:30am
🕚 Traditional Worship – 11:00am

This will also be my final sermon before Pastor Mark begins his Renewal Leave on June 21.

Stay up to date on what's happening this week and all summer.

The burdens caregivers carry: How to keep going when life is not as we expected Email from First United Methodist Church of Cocoa Beach Stay up to date on what's going on at FUMC Cocoa Beach! June 12, 2026 This Sunday: Messy Families series continues Most parents imagine a certa

Brentwood UMC Yourh Choir setting up. Don’t miss them at 7:00 tonight!

There are few things more painful than loving someone who feels far away.

Maybe it's a child who no longer calls, a parent who has grown distant, a friendship that ended badly, or someone you care about who seems unreachable emotionally, physically, or spiritually.

Many of us know the ache of unanswered texts, missed holidays, awkward conversations, and wondering if a relationship will ever be restored.

This week, I reflected on Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son and what it means to keep the porch light on when someone you love is far away. The challenge is learning how to keep our hearts open without trying to control another person's journey home.

I also created a companion 5-Day Devotional to help you pray, reflect, and hold on to hope throughout the week.

📖 Read the article:
https://revmarkreynolds.com/2026/06/01/when-someone-you-love-is-far-away-keeping-the-porch-light-on/

🙏 Download the free 5-Day Devotional:
https://revmarkreynolds.com/2026/06/01/5-day-devotional-when-someone-you-love-is-far-away/

If this speaks to a situation in your life, I hope you'll take a few minutes to read, reflect, and share it with someone who may need encouragement today.

(Unfortunately, we had technical issues recording on Sunday, and the message will not be available on my YouTube or podcast channels.)

When Someone You Love Is Far Away: Keeping the Porch Light On There are few things more painful than silence from someone you love. Whether it’s a child, parent, spouse, sibling, or friend, distance can leave us wondering if reconciliation is possible. …