Through Sickness and in Health

Through Sickness and in Health

September 7th, 2012

While parts of my life have been interspersed with times that can be quite trying, I have never wished that any of them had not occurred. 

God never promised that my life would be easy and I would never suffer.  His own son suffered while here.  He did promise that He would never leave me nor forsake me, and that is a promise He has faithfully kept for 36 years.

This past week saw the very sudden and unexpected passing of a dear friend of my husband’s, and a serious illness that put my mother in hospital once again.

But it has also been filled with the blessing of spending time with my children, and grandchildren, the ability to talk to a lovely young lady about the Lord, and a chat with a dear nurse who had helped me during my hysterectomy many years ago.

In the bed next to my mother, lay a woman in her 70’s who had been married for 49 years.  She proceeded to tell us about the joys and sorrows of her life.  She was once a nun, but had left to pursue a life filled with a husband and children.  

There is no doubt that her life had been a series of struggles and trials.  And my heart truly broke for all that she had encountered over the years.  The pain and sorrow had built up a wall separating her from the Lord she once worshipped.

There but for the grace of God, go I.

In dealing with all the issues this week, God has shown me how the world views these events and events that have caused others great pain.  I was so very grateful for the ability to see my life through His eyes.  I am grateful that He has shown me His faithfulness.

There have been many moments lately where I have struggled, felt sad, stressed, frustrated.  Yet one thing I have come to realize after many years of following Him, is that my relationship with God is not based on emotion.  I long for the joy that once filled my heart when I first accepted Him. 

But His plan was never to leave me in that moment, forever.  I have come to realize that His promises are not based on my faith, how good I’ve been, how unselfish I was that week, or how much joy I felt.  The promises He made were ones that He made to everyone.  They were made since the beginning of time.  They are not affected by my state of mind, or my actions. 

Even though I may not have had the overwhelming joy in my heart that I have had recently, I have never doubted that He was still at work in my life, and that He remained with me, always.

He has shown me He can use me, even if I’m not my “perky” self, because it is not my work that I am doing, but HIS!  He has answered my prayers, and in His graciousness, has continued His work, and allowed me to still be a part of it.

So while I have moments of stress and stuggle, I am assured by my Creator, that He is still there, faithful and true, faithfully completing the work He began in me 36 years ago. 

2 Samuel 22:3
My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my Savior.