This season has been painful and parts have felt dark and unfair but when I took the time to sit back, be quiet and spend time with God I see the beauty He brings. I don't like what my daughter went through or the scare we experienced but I do like whatever God will do with it. Nothing will be wasted! In the morning I will be having a bilateral reconstruction revision. Joshua 1: 9, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." That means, like Sarah, My Heavenly Father will go with me to surgery and at the same time He will be with my family and comfort them. One of my pastor's prayed with me tonight, saying, we do not know what the future holds but we know Who holds the future. And we know how good and how faithful He has been to Jill. Amen!
Our God will bring great things from these tough times. He is refining us! He is using these challenges to transform us to be more and more like Him. Romans 8: 28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Sometimes we have to sit back and then we see God was all over our situations! Isaiah 61: 3, "and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair."
I am thankful that Sarah and I decided to share my journey through her story. I never cease to be amazed at what God can do with our mess! He truly makes a message, His message. I am blown away by the people who have reached out who needed to hear this story. This is all part of God's grace at work in my life. I have to look at my life and my redemption and rejoice in what God has done, is doing and will continue to do! Thanks for letting me share this personal journey and allow us to see God's Light shine through these times. It is still a process but I am ready to move forward, only looking back to see God's faithfulness beyond belief! I am expecting great things to come from this season! And there will be many ripple effects! Ephesians 3: 20, "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us..." Good will come from this time. Thanks be to God!