Where were you GOD?

I asked the question and God answered:


I WAS THERE ALL THE TIME. . .

I've been there, where this Mother was standing. . .

Oh, it wasn't outside of a surgery unit. . .

No. .

We found ourselves standing outside the PICU. . .

in one of the top rated teaching hospitals in the world. . .

with the lead pediatrician in charge. . .

while our adorable, blonde haired, blue eyed, dimpled,

always smiling little cherub fought for his life. . .

and lost. . .

so yes, I know the agony this mother felt. . .

I was so very, very angry with God. . .oh I held it together in public. . .

everyone commented on how well we were doing. . .

but in the privacy of my own room. . .flinging myself out across my bed. . .

I would scream at God. . .how could you do this to me?. . .

HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?

It's not fair. . .it's not fair God. . .

I don't understand. . .

there is nothing you can say to me that is going to make me understand this. . .

but somehow, we survived. . .

we survived the grief, and the agony. . .

somehow our marriage survived. . .

and we kept what was left of our little family intact. . .

and slowly, slowly, began to rebuild a life for ourselves. . .

and God was faithful. . .and his promises were true. . .

and his blessings were abundant.

So many blessings. . .an adopted son who looks so much like us,

you won't be able to tell the difference. . .he is my joy. . .

sometimes I have to call just to hear his voice. . .

and adorable, precious grandchildren. . .four of them. . .nothing compares to one of their hugs. . 

So yes, God was there. . .

do I understand?. . .

NO. . .

but someday I will,

and until that day. . .I will keep pressing toward the mark of the calling of the Most High. . .

The Other Side of the Storm

The Other Side of the Storm

Once again, My Utmost For His Highest,

has given me much food for thought.

This story, about Jesus walking on the Water,

is one I have told to my Sunday School classes on many occasions. . .

we have all heard the story. . .

Jesus sent his disciples ahead of him. . .

there was a storm. . .

the disciples were afraid. . .

Jesus came walking on the water. . .

but there is so, so much more to the story than that. . .

if you will click on the links and read the commentary,

you begin to understand the political aspects,

the personality aspects, just basic human nature aspects. . .

so many emotions in one little children's tale. . .

I almost feel ashamed to have glossed over

so many lessons that could have been

taught and learned from this one Bible passage. . .

Rev. Oswald Chambers makes the point in his devotional

that Jesus was there with the disciples during the storm. . .

and that the storm itself was the process,

not the beginning of or the ending of. . .

but what happened during. . .

It makes me realize, it is so true. . .

what happens to us

when we are going through the storm

is just as important as the conclusion. . .

How do we conduct ourselves when we face adversity?

Do we realize Jesus is there with us during the storm,

or do we feel so alone,

and scared, unsure of which way to turn?

We are all going to have storms in our lives. . .

the unexpected death of a family member or friend. . .

the betrayal of someone you trusted. . .

hurt feelings, financial difficulties. . .

all the day to day trauma that life brings. . .

This devotion today has made me realize,

how I conduct myself during my storms

is just as important as the miracle of God

delivering me from my storms.

My prayer today

is that we have an assurance

that God is with us in the storm,

and that he is more than able

to bring us out of the storm

to a bright, beautiful future

filled with His promises and blessings. . .