it is in these surprises of life - not the birthday party or flowers on the table for no apparent reason - that we realize our need for community, family, and deep friendships that become pillars in a time where all else around seems to crumble.
these surprises - usually smelling strangely familiar to that valley which king david wrote of where darkness and death loom all around threatening and taunting and draining one of all strength - are when the connection to the Lord is tested. do we harden with offense accusing Him - how could You let this happen to me? or do we fall back into His arms realizing in that moment that He is with us comforting us with His perfect leadership?
we often live under the delusion that these surprises of life only happen to someone else. never to the ones i love... never to those i know... never to me.
and when these delusions, the idealism of our own making, are shattered our priorities shift. the mind spins into a blur with all the to do list, that was previously occupying the thoughts, and the what ifs, which start to crowd out everything else.
in this moment we grasp for some sense of control to stop the spinning mind. for me, a sink full of dishes is suddenly feverishly scrubbed and dried, the sink scoured, then the counter tops polished, the floors swept and mopped, as i take out my angst on every speck of dirt that offends my kitchen. the more i cannot control the surprises, the more i reach to control that within my grasp - desperately trying to find stability and not give into the crashing, the falling, and the swirling that threaten to overcome my soul.
then it cracks. it is a soft word of comfort or a touch on the shoulder and the outward facade that everything is in control crumbles and the tears spill out. a mix of anger, grief, and confusion race to the surface and the little that we can control is suddenly put back into perspective - meaningless.
God alone is the Refuge in the surprises of life. we as believers, as friends and family, have the privilege of walking with one another, encouraging each other to look to the Source, the Refuge for our souls. when we realize how very little we can control in life, we also realize how big He is and how much He is in control - He holds us in the very palm of His hand.
photo by myriah grubbs
this past week has been one of these kind of surprises for our house of prayer community. a family in leadership with the watch has been thrown into intense circumstances completely out of the blue and out of their control. their baby girl's life hangs in the balance. the life of one of our own hangs in the balance and we get the opportunity to find out how big our God is, how perfect His leadership, and how much we believe that He can do the impossible.
for what is impossible with man, is possible with God.
i cannot stop hearing this proverb in my thoughts as i pray and try to serve my dear friends whose world has been turned upside down.
a friend loves at all times,this is what we were born for - to love in the way He loves, to stand beside and fight with those we love and pray until they pass through the valley and breakthrough comes.
and a brother is born for adversity. proverbs 17:17
He is our Strength. He is our Refuge. He is our ever present Help in times of trouble.
we will not fear.
we get to be His hands and His feet. we get the privilege of crying His tears of compassion with our dear friends.
we serve.
we fight.
we pray.
we love at all times.
He will win - now and forevermore.
would you like to help our dear friends
will and atasha macivor?
we have a facebook page set up with details of how to pray and how to give if the Holy Spirit leads you to help. God is bigger than all the surprises of life. we believe He can and He will bring complete healing to baby audrey.
thank you for your prayers for our house of prayer community as we fight for the life of one of our own.charis
