An incomprehensible medical event occurred on Easter morning to one of our long-time-best friends . . . who was preparing to lead worship at his church.
A few years ago the same event had occurred to another long-time-best friend . . . his wife.
She died . . . he became a single father of their three children.
He met and married a beautiful woman . . . her husband had died of a devastating cancer.
Several years ago, his father experienced the tragic death of his wife, our friend's mother. A drunk driver came up an entrance on a highway the wrong way and had smashed into their car.
The pain for his wife,
children,
and father,
as well as for him,
overwhelmed us.
We did not know
what to
think . . .
say . . .
do . . .
imagine . . .
or
even
pray.
What do we do when situations are beyond our comprehension?
Ask others to intercede in prayer . . . the power of God moves through intercessory prayer.
Be still.
Know the presence of God.
Listen.
Listen to the Spirit of God.
God speaks.
A song began to echo within me:
Savior
He can move the mountains
My God is Mighty to save
He is Mighty to save
Forever
Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave
~Michael W. Smith
And then a word seemed to be highlighted in the Life Workbook for humanity in the book of Isaiah chapter 43:
16The LORD says,
Who makes a way through the sea
And a path through the mighty waters,
17Who brings forth the chariot and the horse,
The army and the mighty man
(They will lie down together and not rise again;
They have been quenched and extinguished like a wick):
18"Do not call to mind the former things,
Or ponder things of the past.
19 Behold, I will do something new,
Now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43, NASB)
And . . . Matthew 19:26 which several of us have prayed for forty days ending on Easter morning:
"With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."
So, we are praying:
God You are mighty to save.Yesterday morning, the doctors determined that an emergency procedure was needed . . . it was intense . . . and incredible.
You move mountains
and part the deep waters of the sea
providing a pathway that we can't see with our eyes but with our heart.
Would you move the mountain of all the medical problems?
Make a way through the sea of impossibilities
and a pathway through the deep waters of pain.
Quench and extinguish the obstacles to health.
All things are possible with You.
Do a new thing.
We will be aware of it.
Give us a new song and a new day.
Savior . . .
You are mighty to save.
With You all things are possible.
Countless people prayed and continue to pray.
The procedure was successful . . . but more than that . . .
he began to respond . . . and we celebrated the work of God . . . it was a party in the ICU waiting room . . . with old and new friends that are united by the presence, power, and peace of God.
Pray.
Celebrate the work of God.
Party!
Learning with you to pray and party,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)
