Sunday Sentiments: The Words He Gave

 

The last month has been filled with the unexpected. I’ve not talked about it in detail in this space, but today I want to share a little bit about the road we’ve walked and more specifically, the words God gave.

            The story started on July 10^th – right at one month ago. My day didn’t start well. Ryan had to be at work extra extra early that day, and it was a gross, rainy day. I sat with my journal in those early-morning hours after he left, praying and wrestling with all the things weighing on my heart.

            Every Bible study and book I opened had the most timely words for me – reminders of how to wait well (which I do not do naturally) and how to trust in the Lord when things don’t make sense. I underlined, made notes, and resolved to apply what I was learning.

            And then the phone rang.

            It was my sister, telling me she had gotten a phone call from the nurse where Mom and Dad live, and Mom wasn’t doing well. They were calling an ambulance. I knew Mom had been dealing with some pain, so I assumed it had gotten worse. Ryan wasn’t at work, my sister was out of state on vacation, and I needed to try to get there quickly.

            I didn’t pack a bag – or snacks. Thankfully I’d already gotten ready, so I gave Lexi a snack and got in the car to head for Mom and Dad’s apartment.

            Ryan called as soon as I got in the car and said he wanted me to know it seemed to be her heart.

            Her heart?? She never had heart issues before. I tried to comprehend it as I made my way to their apartment. I arrived shortly after the ambulance and scurried down the hall.

            There’s so much more to this story that I’ll share another day, but this particular day was laced with two emergency rooms, transporting my dad from hospital to hospital, asking lots of questions, trying to send messages on multiple phones, and waiting for test results.

            And just a couple of days later, my Bible reading fell in Psalm 18.

            I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.

            And it’s true. In all those hours of sitting and waiting, in all the days and appointments and procedures that have followed, God has been my strength and rock and fortress and deliverer. I marked the verses in my Bible, because I never want to forget this season and How He has walked beside and sustained and carried when I’m weak. (And I’m weak often.)

            Maybe your day isn’t full of medical tests and questions, but I would imagine your day is filled with something. So I wanted to share my psalm in case it can bring comfort to your heart too!