Yesterday I visited a church member
in the hospital. As usual, I went in hoping to cheer this person up and provide
hope and inspiration in the midst of sickness. Our conversation started
predictably, as we chatted about the weather, the church, and this person’s
illness. But eventually it came time to pray with her before leaving. So I took
her hand, and prayed for healing, for strength, and for peace. I thanked God
for the continued presence of the Holy Spirit, and for giving us that time
together. As I closed, I reminded the church member that Pastor Rod, our prayer
& witness team, and others in the church were keeping her in prayer.
This is where the visit then took an
unexpected turn. The person looked up at me from her hospital bed, and with all
the strength she could muster, she said the following:
“I
don’t know what’s around the bend, but I do know that God is all-knowing,
all-sustaining, and all-loving. God loves us. God loves me. God is love. And
God is in control. I know now just how much God is definitely in control.”
Wow! I had come to the hospital to
encourage and inspire her, and instead, she inspired me. What a tremendous
witness to her faith that from the depths of her illness, she speaks words of
hope and trust in God! I carried this message in my heart the rest of the day, thankful
for that sacred time with her. It was the highlight of my day. No, it was the
highlight of my week, and that is why I have shared her words with you. Won’t
you carry these words with you today, and share them with others who might need
to hear it?
