I woke up in the middle of the night and the pain gouging from my lower right side was excruciating. It was Labor Day Weekend and we had plans to head for the beach at the break of dawn. Maybe it was a tinge of nervousness. Did I have everything packed?
When the pain no longer would reside, I decided to get up out of bed and grab a glass of water. I knew dehydration could result in abdominal pain. I gulped it down quickly, hoping to find a cure. Glancing at the clock resting by my bedside, it read 3 a.m. I tried laying down again, but unfortunately my insistent tossing and turning awoke my husband. He is an E.R. doctor…maybe he would know what to do.
He suggested I soak in the tub. Possibly some cramping that would come to an end. But to my dismay, the pain was ever increasing.
We had been through so much…I didn’t think I could take anything more.
In the past months, we had endured hurricane devastation, heart issues, a concussion, a brain tumor, a move out and back in, significant financial loss and contractor woes. As I sat in the tub, I recounted all we had been through. I didn’t think I could take another step, and yet
God is More
Although our set-backs and disappointments may vary, one thing remains the same…God is always there.
"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18
We may not have all the answers, but we can rest-assured that…God always knows.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9
Not everything will work out as we expect or plan, nor will it always appear to be good. But…God has a greater plan.
"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved." Psalm 55:22
Despite how long the wait, God is faithful. He will come through. He will prevail.
"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" Psalm 27:14
The Enemy will try to defeat us, robbing us of all joy. This is when we must put up a fight, grab onto God’s goodness, and cling to Him with all of our might. We are on a battlefield. We must not let the Enemy win…because God is the victor.
"You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." 1 John 4:4
You are not powerless or weak because God never grows weary.
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth. Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles,They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary." Isaiah 40:28-31
Although we may not be feeling it, we must come to the realization that our feelings our untrustworthy. They waffle with the wind. We must believe that God will never fail.
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6
It is difficult for us to understand how God will possibly work things together for our good. We cannot always see the how. My pain did not cease. In fact, it worsened by the hour. At 5:00 a.m., we drug our 3 weary children to the car and dropped them off at my brother & sister-in-laws. See, even there, the Lord did provide. God will always provide…even in our weakest hours.
"The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights." Habakkuk 3:19
As soon as I was unloaded into a wheelchair at the entrance of the E.R., I vomited all over myself. The pain was intolerable, to say the least. A cat scan quickly revealed what was the root of my problem. A kidney stone the size of a quarter.
I wanted to die
I was readily admitted to the hospital and administered pain medicines immediately. No surgeons would be available until the following week since it was a holiday weekend. In spite of the constant drip of meds, I could still feel the pain. It ached now from within every fiber.
I reached the end of my rope
And I surrendered. I gave God my everything, right then and there. I was tired of trying to fix it, mend it, repair it, self-help it…because I could not make amends. I was broken. I was sick. I needed God to be my more.
I will never forget those days spent lying in a hospital bed. I talked to God…a lot. I reached a place where I was ready to go meet my Maker. The pain in this world was unbearable. Tears flew down my face. I even told my farewells.
I had never been this far in before…to the deep crevices of my soul…where I was ready to abandon my everything to God. That day, I surrendered my dreams, my aspirations, my will, and my desires entirely.
My ways would never be better because God had become my more.
Even when you don’t believe in yourself, God does. He gives you the strength to endure. In your weakest hours, God will meet you there. Even when you are at the end of your rope…financially, spiritually and emotionally.
" I can do all things through Christ[a] who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
What Bible verses keep you keeping on in your weakest hour?
God is indeed faithful and sees us through it all…