DISTRESS' DRAW

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

It has been a “couple of days”. Whew…!

Wonderful opportunities to travel and share with diverse groups the role of faith and recovery, but the schedule has kept me from the keyboard.

So, it is good to be back today.  And as I sat down this morning, I was reminded of this passage of scripture…

isn't it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You're more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible…2 Corinthians 7:11 (MSG)

For the last 6 to 8 weeks my dad has been dealing with illness.  And that illness has brought significant discomfort, unrest and unfortunately some surgery.  In fact, after having his gall bladder removed about 8 days ago, a bile leak resulting from a faulty clip pushed him back into the hospital and to more intense treatment.  And yesterday was spent hopping from spot to spot within the hospital as at least a dozen people attended to his pain and his “volatile vitals”.

You see my dad, though 83, is not your typical 83-year-old.  In fact, some of the questions yesterday were funny like asking if he used a walker and such. No, he is normally quite active.  He still mows grass and plays golf when the weather permits, serves the church, and keeps house.  To be honest, in my 54 years, I don’t recall him “ever being sick” like this.  He has had his share of “work done”; new knees, laser surgery and the like, but sickness has never darkened his door until this February.

The good news is as I write this, he experienced a successful procedure to close the leak and had his first good night’s sleep in months last night.  So, I want to pause and thank the countless folks for their prayers and thoughts!  They certainly make a difference!!

Yet it has been this bout of illness that much like the scripture I shared, has “goaded”.  Even my uncle who spent the day with us yesterday at the hospital commented that he had seen a renewed focus on the faith with not just dad but all of us.

But isn’t that the way sometimes?  When things are going swimmingly, if not careful we can get complacent.  When things are flowing, we can get a little forgetful.  I think that is why Paul in this letter was reminding those in Corinth and us for that matter that sometimes distress “is a good thing”; sometimes it is a “wake up call”.  And while the distress is never fun, we are to never lose hope.  Because as Peter reminds, “after your brief suffering, the God of all loving grace, who has called you to share in his eternal glory in Christ, will personally and powerfully restore you and make you stronger than ever”. 1 Peter 5:10 (TPT)

That is what we are praying for when it comes to dad for sure!

But I thought this message of distress, grace and restoration might be an encouragement to others too today.  Perhaps it isn’t illness, but maybe financial pressure that is creating the unrest.  Perhaps it isn’t sickness but more social in its construct.  Regardless, remember what Paul and Peter have shared.  Allow the distress to draw you closer to the Father, to goad you, and that the Father has grace and restoration at the ready.

Vaughn said it this way, “In adversity we are saved by hope.” 

We are…

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

Love all of you

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE