Fear
So do not fear, for I am with you; do
not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will
uphold you with my righteous right hand.
– Isaiah 41:10
The Bible says “Do not fear” 365 times. That’s what
the scholars tell us though I’ve never counted for myself. God knew we would
need reassurance on a daily basis.
As I write this, a dear friend is fighting for her
life. You know how it sometimes goes. A minor procedure leads to major surgery.
All is good until, well, it isn’t. She was rushed back to the hospital and all
we can do is wait and pray.
Fear dwells deep inside and mostly it is covered in
faith. God is good, no matter the outcome of whatever is going on. We forget
that sometimes. We’re quick to sound loud praises when the answer is what we
want. We aren’t so quick to praise God when we’re afraid of what His answer
might be.
But God is still good even when He says no. God is good
when it hurts and seems unfair. God is good all the time. I am holding on to
that right now.
I know about those terrifying ambulance rides. I
understand the urgency in the emergency room, the frantic pace as doctors rush
to figure it all out and save a life. I’ve kept vigil through the night,
watching monitors, and praying for a healing that doesn’t always come.
And still there is hope. Because God is the Great
Physician anything is possible. We don’t have to be afraid. He’s in control.
Whatever happens, He’s with us.
There have been so many times I have sat silently
alone, leaning on God for strength, comfort and peace. He never left me alone.
He was there when the clock moved slowly through the night. He was there when
the fatigue was so great I wasn’t sure I could make it through another moment.
But I did – because God carried me when I couldn’t take another step.
My friends are there right now. My heart aches for
them. I know they are surrounded by family and pastors. I know they rest in God’s
embrace, she for healing and he for strength. I understand the fear even as you
cling to hope in the storm.
So, I pray. Again and again I pray. Because while
Satan is the author of fear, God is the author of peace and strength, of
healing and hope.
The sweet truth is that my friend faces a win-win
situation. If God chooses to heal her on this earth, she’ll have years more
with her husband, children, friends. We’ll all be blessed by her presence with
us.
If God chooses to heal her by calling her home, then
she’ll wake up with Jesus. Can you even imagine the joy in that? We’ll be
devastated, of course, but it won’t be goodbye forever. I am so thankful and grateful
for that.
Fear wars with hope. God knew it would be that way. So
He told us not to be afraid because He is with us. Hope. Yes. Let us cling to
that.
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