When you least expect, a crisis drives into your blind spot, catching you off guard with no time for a lane change.
Like a tornado touching ground, most will never hear the crisis warning in time before the freight train barrels through the path of their life.
This past December, 2021 our world turned a page and the narrative set for us a scene we never imagined or prepared for, although it was comforting to know what we believed in God before the crisis ever hit.
During these four weeks of uncertainty battling a health crisis which waged war against my husband, we found ourselves free-falling into God’s arms to sustain us, wrapping up in the security blanket of what we believed about Him.
God is good.
No matter how bleak or unwelcoming these cold winter weeks in the hospital presented, David and I found strength in our Father’s enduring love and goodness, His faithfulness promised to the generations.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:5 NIV
We rejoiced in the moment; we were glad for today.
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24 ESV
As difficult for us during this unforeseen storm, we tried our best not to worry about tomorrow, remembering tomorrow was never promised to any.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:34 NIV
God is near to the brokenhearted.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18 ESV
In the lonely midnight hours apart from each other, nothing sustained us more than our belief in the power of prayer.
God was ever present and in the midst of those gathering and petitioning in prayer on David’s behalf, speaking the promises of God’s Word for our encouragement.
(One of the numerous prayers I received via a text message during these four weeks from the intercessory team…)
We praise you Lord for David’s “steps forward!”
There is power in the prayer of agreement. There is power as we decree and declare God’s word, in faith believing.
There is power in the name of Jesus!
“For I will do whatever you ask me to do when you ask me in my name. And that is how the Son will show what the Father is really like and bring glory to him. Ask me anything in my name, and I will do it for you!”
John 14:13-14 TPT
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Matthew 18:20 NIV
God is our provider.
While knowing God my entire life and receiving Him as Savior at an early age of thirteen, I’ve trusted God as my provider, demonstrating my dependence on him through “returning my tithe” and witnessing the multiplication of seed in my giving, beginning as a young teenager earning my own money.
My husband David has a similar testimony.
Tithing and giving is an act of our worship no matter the valley or mountain top we travel.
But our act of worship would stand and be tried when an earthly provision ceased during the challenges of a four week crisis.
Would our trust remain in our God as Provider?
Would we return the tithe and still give though the well of an earthly provision was temporarily dry?
Or would we hoard what little we had?
It is written about such a faith in God’s provision through a widow in the following…
God directed Elijah to a widow’s house to serve him a drink of water and feed a piece of bread, a woman who only had a handful of flour and little olive oil in a jug to make a last meal for her and her son.
Elijah asked her in faith to make a small loaf for him first; then make a portion from what remained for herself and her son. This widow woman trusted in God and didn’t hold tight the last of her earthly provision.
The Lord said, “The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land; and so it happened as the Lord said.
(1 Kings 17:7-16 NIV)
From his hospital bed to me over the phone, David led in bold prayer albeit weak in physical strength, re-affirming our trust in God, our Provider.
Groceries were soon delivered to our doorstep.
Gift cards were given.
A few bills had been paid.
Unexpected visits to our door with soup, chili, and other provisions.
Our household increased.
Of all of our increase, we worshiped in giving and tithes.
These “showers of blessings” overwhelmed a grown man to tears.
God was faithful to the generations.
The page of our life has since been turned once again.
David and I reunited after a four week stay apart from each other.
While there are now new challenges facing David, we rest in what we know, in what we believe…
The Lord is still good…
The Lord is ever near…
The Lord remains our faithful provider.