
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped…
The true and living God is real and He is good. He sees you right where you are.
If you are are in a hard place or you know someone who is going through a difficult trial, I hope you will find encouragement here.
Whatever your season in life, I pray this site will brighten your day and point you to my Friend and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Because knowing Jesus is everything.
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ABOUT ME
You Can Trust Him
Kim Nolywaika
I write about grief & loss, Biblical faith, the Christian life plus whatever else comes to mind. I’m here to tell you about my Savior, Jesus Christ, and to share the wonder of who He is and what He has done.
Because knowing Jesus is everything.

Most of the photos on this site were taken by our son Hans, who currently lives in Heaven with the Lord Jesus.
The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. Nahum 1:7
About the Author
Kim Nolywaika grew up in New York and Florida before relocating to San Diego in 1986. She met her husband, Manfred Nolywaika, via his personal ad in Alaska Magazine; they were married in 1989.
The Nolywaikas live in a little off-grid log house somewhere south of Fairbanks and have enjoyed most of the usual Alaska pastimes at one time or another: hunting, fishing, gardening, water hauling, wood-cutting, fixing stuff (again), and spending time together.
Before her marriage, Kim worked as a counselor for abused children at a therapeutic wilderness camp in the Florida Everglades, then as a teachers’ assistant at a private school for troubled children in San Diego. She also did her time at a fish cannery on the Alaska Peninsula.
The Nolywaikas have four grown children, one of whom currently lives in Heaven.
Kim, great to hear from you again. It’s been a long time since we visited each others blog sites!
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Good to connect again, Mitch!
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I lost my son too. He was killed in a motorcycle accident last year. It is so hard to believe that there is a God that would do this to anyone, but I do believe He has a purpose for everything. I think you almost have to believe just to survive.
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Yes. Doing child loss without the Lord would be unimaginable. I am sorry about your son. I pray our Father in Heaven would comfort you and be your strength on this very difficult road.
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Thank you. I will take all the prayers I can to help get through this!
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I’ve read through all the comments and I am speechless as to what I could add or say to give you comfort. I am deeply sorry for your loss. Just know people are seeing Jesus in you, and your example of trusting Him is powerful. You are pointing others to the only true source of comfort and hope. Thank you for sharing your story, Kim. Keep looking to Jesus as you have been. We all grieve in different ways. Grief is the price for loving, and you love well. Keep writing. Blessings to you.
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Thank you, Debra. Blessings to you, too. ❤
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Kim, I am so sorry for your loss. Our children are precious gifts from God, so when we lose one of them it is horrible. But, I am so glad that your trust is in Almighty God and in Jesus Christ, God the Son. For, only in Him can we find purpose and meaning through it all in order to keep going on. Thank you for your testimony here. I pray God continues to heal your broken hearts and to use you mightily for his kingdom in sharing the gospel of our salvation to a lost and dying world. God bless you! Sue
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Thank you, Sue for your very kind and encouraging words. God’s richest blessings to you!
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Dear Kim, I’m so sorry to read this heartbreaking news. But I thank God for using you and your family to be a comfort to others who are hurting, especially other parents who have lost a child. May the Lord Jesus remain ever close to each one of you.
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Thank you, Melissa.
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Kim, I cannot even imagine a loss so great. My heart hurts with your family. God is so faithful to bring comfort in our desperate times and I can see by your site that He is so very near to you. I pray His continual blessings to you as you pass on His faithfulness to others. Dee
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Thank you for your kind words, Dee. Our God is truly faithful.
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My heart goes out to you! I am praying for your family. I know the Lord will comfort and sustain you. God’s comfort and peace be with you.
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I am very sorry for your loss; I hurt for you.
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Thank you.
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Thank “you:
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Hi Kim, I am sorry for your loss. It must have been so hard for you to face the reality of having your beloved son snatched so cruelly from you like that. I am comforted by the fact that you have a personal relationship with Jesus and I am looking forward to reading more of your post. God bless.
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Thank you, Sharon.
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I’m so sorry for your loss, but inspired by your faith! God bless you big time!!
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Thank you, Lynn.
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What a tremendous faith you have, Kim. My only child, my son Aaron, is 33. I can’t imagine how I would react if I lost him. I only hope that I can hold true to my faith as you have. God’s richest graces upon you.
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God’s grace is more than sufficient for every trial. Faith is a gift He gives us. Without Him there is nothing.
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God is our greatest source of strength in times of need.
The just shall live by his faith. And your faith and testimony are encouraging.
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Thank you, Victor. It is all by His grace.
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Bless you Kim. My wife and I lost our only child many years ago. He WS never born but we named him Joseph.
On a number of occasions Daddy has allowed us to see him. He I now a part of the great cloud of witnesses and is cheering us on in Jesus. In expect the same is true for your Hans.
May the peace of Daddy rule in our hearts and minds in everything we endure through out this life until we see Jesus face to face. 😊
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Thank you for your kind comments. I am sorry for the loss of your son Joseph.
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I am so sorry for your loss! I can’t even imagine. I’m glad you are using your experience to help others and minister to them.
Thank you for sharing your pain and hope!
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Thank you, Julie.
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Kim I feel so much for you, I’m crying as I write this, I never got to hold my 7 Babies, 3 were Stillborn and the others died at almost 5 mths gestation, I know as it will be for you and Son, we will all be reunited in Heaven but my grieve I feel at the time was different to yours now, although heartbreaking as I was not a Christian and I had no Hope, it must be so much greater to have known and Loved your Son in all of his Childhood and Teenage years up to 21, so many cherished memories.
Yes when our Loved ones who have departed are in our Hearts we are not really far apart but we do miss sharing our lives together with them and it takes time to let go but I know Kim from what you have shared that you have no doubt that The Lord understands and is very close to you and your Family and it is confirmed in the Scriptures below, others care too and will be there for you when needed, God will send them.
Isaiah 43:1-3 – Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression you will not be burned up the flames will not consume you. For I am The LORD, your God, The Holy One of Israel your Saviour.”
Jeremiah 29 :11-12 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you says the LORD, thoughts of Peace and not of evil, to give you a Future and a Hope.
Lamentations 3: 33 For God doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the Children of Men.
Christian Love Always – Anne.
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Anne, thank you for sharing your story with us and for these scriptures to encourage me. You have endured much sorrow, but you have much treasure waiting for you in Heaven. How wonderful to have the Sure Hope of seeing these precious ones someday. May the Lord hold you close until we see our dear ones again.
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Hello Kim! God just put you on my heart right now. In searching for a particular word He wants conveyed, it is really knowing Jesus Christ, Himself, in His entirety, living in you – along with the Holy Spirit and our Father (e.g. John 14:23). (It is so astounding! We can only apprehend that by His Spirit, e.g. 1 Cor ch 2).
My only further encouragement is just BE who He has already made you: the woman with the alabaster jar at His feet, pouring herself out on Him.
God bless you, sister!
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Thank you Deanna for thinking of me and for your encouraging heart.
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Kim, you are on my heart, in my thoughts and prayers…all of your family, especially today and tomorrow…loving, comforting hugs being sent to you in spirit…<3 other than that, there simply are no.words.
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Thank you so much for your prayers and for your sweet words.
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Kim, I pray the Lord’s blessings for you in this new year.
I pray that you will be renewed in your heart and spirit, that the Lord will fill the void. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
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Thank you for this beautiful prayer for me, Frances. The Lord bless and keep you through the coming year.
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I, too, have found my Christian faith to be a great source of help, comfort and strength. I know my daughter remains with me, within my body, within my heart and within my mind.
We also share our sorrow of being bereaved parents with Jesus’ mother Mary. We often forget that Mary was human, like us, and so we can turn to her for comfort. Perhaps, she is our first Compassionate Friend or can be if we so wish it.
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I have thought quite a bit about Mary watching her son suffer. Thank you for the reminder and for taking the time to comment.
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I to have thought a lot about her. I posted on FB after my son passed April 20, 2016
For now I know how Mary felt
When Jesus died on the Cross
For only those who’ve lost a child
Knows this pain of loss.
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Your writing is beautiful, Kim, and your faith is gorgeous. Thank you for testifying well of an trustworthy God and an unfailing Lover of our souls. You are walking through the dark valley, but your faith is blazing a powerful victory, accomplishing something in the spiritual realm that will dazzle you when you see it someday. Thank you for strengthening the Body and for advancing the Kingdom.
God is giving to you “the treasures hidden in the darkness–secret riches” (Is. 45:3.)
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Thank you, Tami, for saying just what I need to hear. He is faithful.
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