through

When Kathy was in critical condition, and we were waiting at the hospitals, I truly believed that, with the power of prayer and medicine, she would open her eyes and be with us again. There were many people who fervently believed this.

I have heard that there were incredible prayer services at our church, and that the people who were there, believed, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that my sister would be healed. They felt God’s spirit with them. We felt God’s spirit with us, too.
But it didn’t turn out exactly as we thought… prayed…hoped it would.

This week, I’ve been listening to a song that Debbi gave me years before this sadness befell us. It goes like this:

“When I saw what lay before me,
I cried, Lord, how can it be?
I thought he would just remove it,
But he gently led me through.
Without fire, there’s no refining.
Without testing, no belief.
Without flood, there’s no rescue.
Without suffering, no relief.

I look back over the past months, and I truly can say that the only way I have made it through is because of the grace of God. He has gently led me through it. I love these scriptures:

“Trust in me always, I am the eternal Rock, you Shepherd, the Guardian of your soul. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. So, don’t worry. I never tire or sleep. I stand beside you. The angel of the Lord encamps around you. I hide you in the shelter of my presence. I will go ahead of you, directing your steps and delighting in every detail of your life. If you stumble, you will not fall, for I hold you by the hand. I will guide you along the best pathway for your life..”

(Isa. 26:4; I Peter 2:25; Isa. 43:2; Matt. 6:34; Ps. 121:4-5; Ps. 34:7; Ps. 31:20; Deut. 31:6; Ps. 37:23-24; Ps. 32:8)

He is taking us through.