I am humbled by sharing this reflection after
learning this morning that my brother-in-law Michael has been taken into
palliative care. His wonderful wife Irma has stood vigil over her “beloved” for
the past two months after his third brain surgery to remove a growth that has
entwined itself around his brain stem.
Michael has suffered since January battling
chronic dizziness and nausea. Still, family and friends were praying and
hopeful that God would bring this man comfort and heal him of his
complications.
I wonder how many of you have felt disappointed
by God or worse downright disgusted that the Creator did not rescue you from
some serious medical condition or save you from a fall in life. It takes a”
humble” person to pray “Your will be done, Lord.” But the God who failed to
answer our prayers has us on our knees as we pray for those miracles or simply
save us from another trauma that has overwhelmed us in life.
Are you simply being too needy? Do you think God
has a purpose behind all our suffering and pain? The saints had their struggles
with human weakness. Yet, their holiness had nothing to do with stuffing their
tears, or putting aside their neediness to complain or get angry at God,
rather, it came from their perseverance not to abandon the invitation to keep
on praying for healing, understanding or a sense of peace. God sees every tear,
hears every plea for mercy, and comes to be at our side when we are exhausted
and empty.
The miracle comes in the form of family and friends
and even medical providers who hear about our concerns and stand by us in a
hospital room, or hospice or home to reassure us that we are not alone. God
does not bring this any kind sorrow to make us stronger. That’s pure nonsense.
Jesus was aware that the human condition has its share of suffering from
chemical warfare, to downsizing, to watching family members slip into eternity.
The message for us “needy” people is to listen
within our hearts to the voice of a confident, loving God who taught this message.
Be at peace little one for you have nothing to fear. You will survive this
journey with all its perils. God’s plan may break our heart because we need to
surrender our beloved friends who have been a wonderful gift to us in this
lifetime. God has power over death or why bother setting foot on this harsh
planet to teach us that His love will prevail and not death.
What we humbly need is a heart and soul that
believes this message of love and lots of loving hands to hold us up when we
are falling apart.
Never fear for God is true to His promise and
will raise us all up from our fears, our doubts, and our selfish desire to hand
on to this life. In return, we will experience the surprise that brings comfort
to our tears and peace to our troubled souls.
God watches over us as we
pray: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own
insight.” (Proverbs 3:5).
Lord, I pray for Michael and Irma and all my dear
Sonshine Friends who are experiencing a gut check moment. We pray for strength
and the humility to place all our trust into your loving hands.
