God’s Care in the Crisis
Last night after I returned home from church; Debbie met me and told me she had left her computer at her last on-call visit in Greeley. We used the trip back to Greeley to connect with our long time friend, David Holden. David was such a blessing while I was at the Rehab Hospital. He would come on Saturday night and have dinner with me and then “hang out” in my room until I was ready to go to sleep. This allowed Debbie time to go to church and have a break from her long days and week by my bedside.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love.” Psalm 33:18 NLT
The greatest revelation of God in our lives is not so much in what He keeps us from, but how He provides for us in the time of crisis or trial. When difficulties come, it is easy to become so distracted and overwhelmed by the present circumstance that we miss seeing the Lord “watching over us” in those times.
As I reflect on my health crisis now three years ago, we can look back and see the incredible ways the Lord provided through the help, encouragement and prayers of so many. The Lord doesn’t insulate us from life, with all of its trials and hardships, but He is with us in the “midst of the storm.”
The verse above is set in contrast to the ability of natural resources, “The best-equipped army cannot save a king,
nor is great strength enough to save a warrior. Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—for all its strength, it cannot save you.” (Psalm 33:16-17 NLT)
For a king, a well trained army is certainly a source of confidence, but it is not all that is needed. Like that king, we need more than what human efforts can offer; we need a God who “watches over…” One of the more surprising endorsements of my book comes from Dr. Daniel Asadi, Medical Director of Northern Colorado Acute Hospital. He observed, “I witnessed firsthand how many times Ken faced death right in the eye and found a way to conquer it. The only way to explain it all is that his soul was fed by his faith and the Holy Spirit.”
It is obvious that Dr. Asadi, is a doctor with a strong faith. But he didn’t point to the availability of exceptional medical care and the expertise of doctors, but that which is from the Lord Himself, the great physician.
During our visit in Friday with Pastor James and Carolyn Majeske, he shared an unusual accident he was involved in about three years ago. He was officiating at a funeral and was standing at the open door of the hearse, waiting for the casket to be removed. The side door of the car was open as attendants were removing flowers, to prepare for the graveside ceremony.
A car, being driven by a distraught woman, tried to park in front of the hearse and in so doing stepped on the gas, instead of the break while backing into her parking place. The impact made the rear door hit Jim on the hip, spinning him around and “face planted” him on the concrete curb. The back tire of the vehicle grazed by, barely missing his head and the side door just missed hitting him in the back of the head, as he passed out.
There was an older couple who when leaving their home, to go to the service, the husband stopped and said, “I need to go back inside and get a white towel. The Lord just spoke to me that I need to take a towel to the service.” It was that towel that was used as a temporary compression bandage on Jim’s injured head while waiting for paramedics to arrive.
How do you explain that?! Other than, “…the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love.”
Prayer for today… “Lord with David of old we respond to your watchful care by “putting our hope in the Lord” and “trusting in your Holy name.” (Psa. 33:16,17) We are thankful for what you keep us from, but we give praise to you and thanks for what you rescue us from. Help us to rely more and more on Your unfailing love.”