Mid-Week Message - A New Story

 "For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."  Isaiah 41:13 (NIV) 

I have a new story to tell of God's protection and faithfulness.  And, while I really prefer for my messages not to be about me, He works personally which means the lessons that I have to share are personal.  

I thought I had the flu.  I had been ill for over two weeks.  Fever, no appetite, so very tired, massive headache that I thought was a migraine.  But one evening I found myself unable to catch my breath.  The ambulance drivers tried to dissuade me from going to the hospital with the explanation that they had no rooms and would most likely send me home.  I chose to go anyway.  

The doctor was very apologetic.  She told me I had Covid pneumonia in both lungs.  Then she warned me that there was no way to predict what would happen.  I wasn't afraid.  I told her Jesus was with me.  He made me and He knew what would happen.  

After all the news and fear mongering that has gone on since the pandemic began, the assurance I found was in the faithfulness of the presence of the Lord.  

Lying in my room later, alone, I began thinking about the possibility that things could get worse.  And as I allowed my mind to accept the different possibilities, I realized that I could be meeting Jesus, face to face, soon.  Then the most incredible thing happened.  I had butterflies in my stomach.  Butterflies of excitement.  The realization that my life on earth could end was not one of fear but of anticipation.  

So much is happening around us during each moment of our lives.  It is easy to shift our focus from our relationship with the Lord.  But, His focus never shifts away from us.  So personal is His love for us that He misses nothing.  And while the enemy works to keep our attention away from Jesus, there is our Savior, waiting and watching.  

I've learned a lot over the last couple of weeks, and it has changed me.  When I was truly faced with the possibility that life as I know it could end, I was not worried about whether I would go to Heaven or not.  I knew.  And while others may not be particularly interested in my story, it is one I need to tell.