JULY 15, 2011

“Trusting even when it appears you have been forsaken; praying when it seems your words are simply entering a vast expanse where no one hears and no voice answers; believing that God’s love is complete and that He is aware of your circumstances, even when your world seems to grind on as if setting its own direction and not caring for life or moving one inch in response to your petitions; desiring only what God’s hands have planned for you; waiting patiently while seemingly starving to death, with your only fear being that your faith might fail – “this is the victory that has overcome the world”; this is genuine faith indeed.” George MacDonald, from Streams in the Desert, July 15.

In 2009, I encouraged a friend using this quote; I have used these words personally as a reminder, I read it as a long sentence in prayer, hardly taking a breath, relaxing finally at the quote, “this is the victory…”

Last Sunday our sermon was on Psalm 13, “How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?” The day before, I had just spent six hours at Kathie’s bedside, massaging her neck, rubbing her head, looking into her eyes and holding her hand. As I left I kissed her, I was very frustrated, “what was accomplished Lord?” Presumably, no goals were met; I enjoyed my time with her but nothing to measure. Sunday’s sermon has helped me again look outside myself and remember that I am a servant not the Master, I don’t know what was accomplished, but I do know that I served. I have also remembered to pray for Kathie’s fellow patients that I see whenever I visit and the people I have met over the years, their families also ask “How long, LORD?”

My friend that I encouraged in 2009 has since died from the terminal illness she struggled with, leaving her young daughter and husband to miss her. The tenuous hope we can hang onto is found at the end of Psalm 13:5-6: “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the LORD’s praise, for he has been good to me.”

“But I trust…”

Dave

Comments

  1. Sister of TBI GuyJuly 15, 2011 at 11:36 PM

    God love you, Dave, as you walk this journey...
    Your faithfulness to your mostly quiet, but truly present Kathie, is always inspiring to me!

    Thank-you for sharing so much of your heart!
    and for the spiritual and Scriptural sharings that are so edifying to all of us!

    Keep it up!

    I go to visit my brother Jim this weekend.
    For our still ones we love so much, let us pray, but also let us "listen to them" as well!

    God Bless you, Brother!
    In Christ,
    Laura in Philly

    ReplyDelete

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