When It Rains It Pours

Well, it seems that old saying is right sometimes. It always seem that a lot of "stuff" happens all at once, and it can become overwhelming.

I've been worried sick about my sister recently. She has had a progressive form of Multiple Schlerosis for about ten years, and struggles with her disease on a daily basis. Unfortunately, MS causes certain things not to work correctly within the body, as it damages nerve tissues around the organs. My sweet little sister, Christie, had to have intestinal surgery two weeks ago, and things are not healing up as planned. Even though she spent part of the weekend in the emergency room, she had to be rushed back to the hospital today for fear of a serious infection, and was admitted again. Her doctor has scheduled lots of test, and we should know something more tomorrow about the next course of action.

My sister has two children, ages 8 and 9, and my mom and I have been helping take care of them, in addition to helping care for Christie. But my sweet, selfless, giving mother, has now come down with a terrible cold - in June no less! She is still going full speed ahead as care giver and best grandmommy in the world, but bless her heart, she is worn out - physically and emotionally, because it is so hard to see someone you love suffer. She also has the weight of the world on her shoulders, as she continues to look for a job to support herself. She is single, and lost her job last week.

In addition, we had another hospital incident this morning. My husband incurred an injury at work, a serious laceration on his left hand, which sliced open a large gash across the top of his hand and severed some tendons. The doctors temporarily stitched up the wound pending surgery, and as of today he is scheduled for hand surgery on Wednesday to repair his hand. It will take at least six weeks for him to gain use of his hand again.

To make matters worse, Michael was scheduled to go on a week long mission trip, called World Changers, with Morgan, scheduled to leave this weekend. It is a very labor intensive trip, repairing homes, roofing, painting, etc., for people in need. He won't be doing much labor as a result of this, but he still wants to go and supervise a work crew of kids, if the pain is not too bad, especially since the youth minister unexpectedly can't go either, because his wife is having emergency surgery this week, leaving only a handful of chaperones to take 35 youth to Virginia for an extensive work trip for seven days.

Whew. The enemy is at work.

I caught myself questioning God's plans today. I don't understand why my husband would get hurt like this, right before he was going to serve needy people and share God's love with them. I don't understand why my mom lost her job, when she works so hard and endlessly gives all she can give to those she loves. I don't understand why my sister has to suffer. I want God to heal her disease, to ease her suffering, to minimize her pain. I want Him to make her well. I want her to be able to the mommy and wife that she so longs to be. I want her to be happy again.

This past weekend I had a wonderful weekend in the mountains of Virginia, speaking to a Godly group of sweet women. As God would have it, I spoke about the stressors of life and how He desires that we handle them with faith. I spoke about how God uses our painful experiences, challenges in life, daily struggles, and even sickness, to draw us closer to Him. I spoke about how important it is to see God at work, and believe with all our heart that He has a plan and purpose for everything. What was the name of my first topic? From Panic To Prayer. But despite that, I got panicked today, about my sister, my husband, my mom. I got sucked into the problems, and forgot to focus on the promises. I asked for God's forgiveness, for my lack of faith, and for my doubts about what He had planned. I know it is not my place to understand His ways, but it is my job to remember how much He loves my sister, my mom, my husband, and me. His ways are not our ways.

Jeremiah 29:11 has been my life's theme verse for years,"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you; plans for a future and a hope." I have seen God work miracles in my life. I have seen Him use tragedies to His glory. I do trust Him and believe the promise in this verse. I just needed to remind myself of that today. I had to stop panicking, and start praying.

God's Word reminded me today to focus on His promises; to focus on Jeremiah 29:11; to live out His truths that I shared to my sisters in Christ over the weekend, even when they are easier to say than do. I believe that He sees my loved ones. I believe He sheds a tear for their suffering. I believe that He can use it for good, somehow, someday. It is still hard. But I do believe.