How easily we could fall into the trap of throwing ourselves a “pity party” during this time. It seems only right to have one. We ARE going through a very difficult season right now. We’ve earned a nice little pity party, wouldn’t you think?
At two separate times last week when Jarrod and I were having our personal time with God, He laid on our hearts the same thing: OTHERS. It’s so bazaar to have the same things placed on our hearts when we’re not even together. It only confirms that it wasn’t just your own thoughts putting it together. Anyways, we both noticed in our own private time with God that when we were praying we were praying about US, OUR situation, OUR feelings, OUR struggles, OUR weaknesses. It hit us as to how self-centered we were being. It was a very ugly feeling. Yes, this is a very difficult situation we are going through. There are so many things that can go wrong. Our world seems as though it’s been turned upside down and a bomb has been thrown at our sweet and perfect little life. Even though that is so, Jesus Christ is our ROCK. He is our refuge. He is sovereign and STILL has us in His mighty hands. He PROMISES to never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He PROMISES us peace (Psalm 29:11). He PROMISES to cause things to work together for good (Romans 8:28). He PROMISES that NOTHING can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). He PROMISES us he will strengthen us and hold us in His hand (Isaiah 41:10). He PROMISES to be faithful even when we are faithless (2 Timothy 2:13). If all these things are true and all these things are PROMISED then what is the need for a pity party? We are taken care of, PRAISE JESUS!!! We can REST in knowing that we are safely in God’s hands. He keeps “showing off” as our Pastor Lin was saying. He has been coming through for us day after day in AMAZING ways since the day we found out about Jarrod’s tumor. The fundraiser was a huge success. Over a hundred people came out to support us and encourage us. There was even SUNSHINE when there was supposed to be rain! A raffle that was held for us had a shocking response. Our living room is filled with boxes of diapers and wipes. Jarrod’s MRI of his brain came back normal when we were absolutely sure something would be there. We haven’t had to cook dinner in a week and a half so far. There are so many other blessings that have been placed in our laps that this blog would go on for days if I mentioned every single one. These blessings have been God’s way of saying “I love you. I’m taking care of you.” With that promise being 100% true (and proven) there is no need for a pity party. There is no need to sing a sad song. We are being taken care of and our hearts are leaping with joy. Since we can rest in that we don’t need to worry about ourselves. We should now be praying for and thinking about OTHERS. The world does not revolve around us. We could totally make it all about us but it’s not. Even though our hands may be tied as to HOW we can go about helping others during this time we can still do what we can. The first thing would be to start praying. The second thing is just being a comfort to the ones around us and to the people we come across. Being in the hospital, we will meet so many new faces, so many new people who have a variety of problems that they’re struggling with. We can show them the hope we have in Jesus Christ.
This is a shakey and scary time right now, especially being at just a few hours before surgery. Don’t get me wrong, we are nervous and I might have some tears as I wait for the surgeon to come out and speak to me BUT we KNOW for certain that we are in the best hands which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, our Protector, our Provider, our Strength, Our Help, our Savior. No matter the outcome, we have HOPE and peace. We can rest in that and are able to turn around and be a light to someone who is stumbling in the dark.
Jarrod’s surgery is in just a few hours. I may not write tonight but keep checking back in the next few days. J
God strengthens us though our weaknesses!!!
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