Faith

I have been through a lot in my life. Marriage, divorce, marriage. Children, miscarriages, children. Loss of a grandchild. Numerous hospital stays, numerous car accidents. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, surgery after surgery. More than 30. Sepsis-twice, house fire-twice.The ER doctor telling me to call in my family. My doctor telling me to get affairs in order. That she’s never had a patient live even 5 years. But, I know God is real. Because He has met me in each of these places. He has carried me through. I have seen Him. I have felt Him work in my life. I have felt Him carry me. And I know God is real. By the way, it’s been more than 5 years. I’ve had 3 instances where I shouldn’t have made it. But God is the one who has numbered my days, not doctors. And I still have more to do for Him.

Why Not Me?

I have had family members ask ” Why would God put you through all this? You follow Him and He does this?” My answer is “why not?” Why do we think believers are supposed to be immune to suffering? Matthew 5:45b says –For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

Blessings from Raindrops

So if I am blessed with the sun, aren’t I also blessed with the rain? Even though I do believe this, I don’t always like it. But, He has been there every step of the way. God has been my comfort and my refuge. He is the One I turn to not only in times of trouble but daily and some days hourly. Somedays I call upon him to help through surgery but more often it’s “Help me reach this child. Give me the energy to deal with this situation. God, what shall I make for dinner? Who do you want me to talk to? What shall I say?”. God is there to help me in all situations.

Mountain Top Experience or Valley Growth

I once heard a speaker at a women’s conference talking about a mountain top experience. “Everyone wants a mountaintop experience but no one wants to be in the valley. But nothing grows in the mountaintop. All the growth is in the valley.” And I want growth. I want to know more. I want to be closer to God. But growth isn’t easy. It makes you question what you think you know. Do I really want to know all of Jesus? Do I want to share in His sufferings? My first thought is NO. But I do want to be closer to Him. What it takes is going through it. It makes you lean into the Son. And that makes it all worth it.

Knowing God is There

Isaiah 43:2 says: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. Notice it doesn’t say if you go through these things, it says when. Everyone goes through something. You might as well plan for it. It will happen. Now, a better thing to plan for is what you will do then. God will be there for you to turn to. But will you? Or will you rail at Him for sending these things? Will you make Him your refuge? Or will Netflix, hobbies, anger or despair be your constant companion? God is the One who will be with you, if you only turn to Him.

Life is Hard

Surgery is hard. Miscarriage is hard. Marriage is hard. Children are hard. Fires are hard, Life is hard. And that’s why we need God. I need God to go through the hard. Because we will go through the hard things in life. Whether it’s just the day to day grind of parenting or house fires, sepsis, and surgeries. God is there to help you with the hard things. He is there to carry you, to bear your pain, to comfort you. I know God is real.

My Help Comes From You Lord

A friend called this the Mommy song. Because as mommys we call on Him many, times a day. Psalms 121.1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains, from whence cometh my help.” I actually found it and have it below. But there have been so many many times. I’ve sung this and called out to God. He is only waiting on you to call upon Him too. And I know God is Real. He is here, waiting…