Best Friends
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A long time friend who worked with us in Holland visited this past week. We had a lovely visit together, and then we went to see Floyd. He was so attentive to everything she shared. He seemed to just soak in all the news and testimonies that she told him. It was very sweet, very tender. Both of us thanked and affirmed him for his ministry those many years ago in Holland that is still bearing fruit, and we prayed together for him.
Some have asked what the prognosis is for Floyd as we enter this new year. Basically, there isn't one. The doctors never thought Floyd would live this long. They have no idea what will or will not happen going forward. More than ever before, Floyd is in God's wonderful, sovereign hands......which is a good place to be.
Sometimes I feel like I could easily get whiplash just from my daily life! I don't even need a car accident! I'm "hit" one way - and then life swings and I'm "hit" another way. The different impacts can be quite jarring. When circumstances come our way, problems, needs.....even good things - we can be swung in different directions. Our emotions can range from joy to sadness, from happiness to depression, from relief to despair. It can happen in a week, in a day, even in an hour! On the unexpected journey that I've been on, I find that I often have several of these whiplash moments in just one day. They come a lot more frequently than I want! Emotional whiplash is very possible in our everyday lives.
I've found that my only protection from this, the only "treatment" that I know to apply, is to constantly turn my focus back to the Lord. If it's joy I'm impacted with - I worship. If it's sadness I'm impacted with - I take my sorrow to the cross. Whatever feeling and emotion I'm being bombarded with because of the circumstances I'm faced with - I have found that I need to immediately turn it to the Lord - or else it can easily spin out of control. The "whiplash" of emotions can control me and throw me off balance if I don't bring them into the Lord's grace and presence.
The fast changing impact of world events can bring whiplash too. Something happens - and within minutes it is transmitted around the world and we know about it. There are frequently several "big" events happening each day. I think it's easy to underestimate how much these impact us - how they can bring "whiplash" into our lives.
The Word tells us that God is always with us - holding our hand, never leaving us or forsaking us, staying as close as a whisper away. When we are swung in different directions, He is there to steady us and help us stay firmly close to Him. If we feel distant from Him, we can know for certain that He hasn't moved! We need to quickly turn back to Him if we feel any distance.
As long as we live on this earth, we will face whiplash moments. I've had an unusually large amount of them in recent years, but all of us face them. Our wonderful heavenly Father knew that would happen and already provided instruction, comfort, and promises in the Word.
"I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go." Genesis 28:15
"Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38
"If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31
"When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and rescues them from all their troubles." Psalm 34:17
Sometimes my heart gets sore from all the whiplash moments in the day.....but as I turn to Him, He pours His soothing, healing, loving balm into each one. As ALWAYS, He is so faithful!
This week I had a big medical test. Depending on the results, I may need more tests. I don't know if I'll ever get "used to" facing these big tests on the cancer journey. Every time I have one, I find myself facing insecurity and feeling very vulnerable. I always have to actively pursue God's peace - to choose not to fear. It's not the test - it's the results that weigh heavily. I have to battle my mind going to all the "what ifs" of the future. I, like Floyd, am also in God's wonderful, sovereign hands.
I was listening to a song that a friend sent me. "God is the waymaker, the miracle worker - He's at work even when we don't see it or feel it."
I found that very profound and reassuring. I have such a limited perspective of what God is doing. I know that I know that I know that He is at work......but I only see and understand snippets of what He is doing. This is why it's so important for me to choose not to fear and to pursue His peace......while He's at work on my behalf.
As I wait for my test results..... I TRUST in Him. I love these verses from Psalm 23:1-6 in The Passion Translation:
"The Lord is my best friend and my shepherd. I always have more than enough.
He offers a resting place for me in His luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis of peace, the quiet brook of bliss.
That's where He restores and revives my life. He opens before me pathways to God's pleasure and leads me along in His footsteps of righteousness so that I can bring honor to His name.
Lord, even when your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer me, for you already have! You remain close to me and lead me through it all the way. Your authority is my strength and my peace. The comfort of your love takes away my fear. I'll never be lonely, for you are near.
You become my delicious feast even when my enemies dare to fight. You anoint me with the fragrance of you Holy Spirit; you give me all I can drink of you until my heart overflows.
So why would I fear the future? For your goodness and love pursue me all the days of my life. Then afterward, when my life is through, I'll return to your glorious presence to be forever with you!"
Every verse ministers deeply to my heart in my current situation! I choose not to fear and to rest in His peace.