3 November 2009
Faith Building Lessons
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We've watched for a few years now as more and more Americans lost their jobs and cut-backs or closings of major corporations took place across the nation. Our hearts are always saddened by such events. It makes us angry at times and frustrated with the government at times. We run the gamut of emotions as we watch those we know and love go through hard economic times, and we hope and hope and hope that it won't be us. We push the very thought to the back of our minds thinking that it won't happen to us. We're fine. Our jobs are secure. We either choose to do nothing to prepare for the possibility, or we aren't able to prepare, so we choose to ignore the possibility altogether knowing that we'll just have to deal with it if it comes our way. I remember feeling the very same way about having a c-section. When we took our child birth classes to prepare for Lukas' delivery, I was so stubborn about not ever having a c-section that I practically ignored the instructor that week. I didn't want to hear about a c-section. I didn't need to hear about a c-section. It was not going to happen to me. But then...it always could happen to us, and, sometimes, it does happen to us, doesn't it? Sometimes, it happens more than once even. I survived having an emergency c-section when Lukas was born. I survived 22 hours of hard labor, shouting in my drug-induced state that I was going to die, and placing fear into the mind of my sweet, pregnant-for-the-first-time friend spending much of the day with us at the hospital. It was a challenging experience, the most physically painful experience of my life; and, yet, I survived. Twice. The second time was easier. It was a planned c-section. There was no emergency, no labor pain, no pain at all until later than night when some of the drugs began to lose effect. There is no pain-free way to birth a baby. Sometimes it seems like there is no pain-free way to accomplish anything in life. I survived financial exhaustion too. I knew that God was trying to teach certain lessons during that time, and I prayed that those lessons would be learned. I also prayed for deliverance from that experience because there was nothing about it that would ever make me want to do it again. I should have thought to pray that God wouldn't deliver us from that situation until He knew we had accomplished the task of learning the life lesson He had for us. God would never cause us to go through such difficult times, but He can use anything to teach us to be more dependent on Him. Now is the time we must learn this kind of faith. Now is the time we must realize what it truly means to trust in the Lord. Now is the time to hold fast to the truths which He has given to us in His word. Now is the time to wait upon the Lord and see what He has for us. This weekend, we sang a song in church which just keeps resonating in my brain. "Giants, you die! The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Giants, they die! Just walk around your Jericho wall. Now we come in your name, and we stand on your word. What is loosed in the heavens will be loosed on earth. Let God arise! Giants, DIE!" I realize I posted those very words in yesterday's blog post as well, but they are going through my head over and over right now helping me to get through to the next moment. I know that I am always battling one giant or another in my life. This time is no exception. This giant can continue to knock on my door, but I will not be defeated. I will not lie down. I will stand on the promises of God's holy word! "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 |
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