I have a friend whose wife has been in poor health for some time. Recent events and the resulting stress landed her in the ICU. With nothing to do but watch and wait, his mind searched for someone to blame for the pain, hers and his.
There is another whose husband needed a heart procedure. Thankfully, it was fairly routine, but there are some underlying problems and he is just tired.
I did what I could to lift them up and prayed for strength and healing. One is showing improvement, the other? Still waiting.
Simply saying, “I know what you’re going through, and God has this under control” seem like empty platitudes, but I have been there, alone in a cold hospital room, listening to beeps and buzzers and watching to make sure they’re still breathing. I have felt the same frustrations and cried, “God, why did this happen and why haven’t You healed it yet?”
In exhaustion, I finally closed my eyes.
Then, He whispered things that had no words, only that He is God, Creator of all things, Gracious Healer, lover of our souls. And I slept, if only for a moment.
In the deepest corners of my mind, my imagination can take me to wondrous places or if left unchecked, down a rabbit-hole. Today was one of those days.
I considered avoiding one friend, afraid she would not be at her appointed post, and things had not turned out as we had prayed for. Thankfully, she was there, but I could see the weight in her eyes.
I shuddered at each phone call dreading bad news and the “what-if” monster came out to play. What if this or that and I dragged myself into a dark place.
Then God caught my heart and said:
This is not your battle to fight.
It’s Mine.
And I’ve already won.
Trust Me.
As I began to climb out of the rabbit-hole, I could hear the Queen of Hearts and the Mad Hatter laughing as if I were the fool. However,
… the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18
The Power of God.
If you have an extra moment today, please pray for my friends and family. God knows who and why.
Blessed are You, Lord God, King of Creation. I know You can and I know You will. I just don’t know when or where. Grant us peace, the patience to wait, and the strength to endure until then.
May You be glorified.
Amen …
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