In 2018 I watched as a miracle unfolded. God showed up in an impossible situation. My oldest sister, who had significant lung and heart problems was in the hospital. Her lungs had stopped working. She was on a ventilator. The hospital staff was trying to prepare the family for the inevitable. The family had accepted the fact that our sister was not leaving the hospital alive this time. While I was talking with my sister she wrote on a pad of paper, "I may go to heaven today" She was ready.
In 1976, as a brand spanking new Christian, I had led my sister to the Lord. In preparation for her death, I had reminded her of that, of whose she was, a child of the King. That her hope was in Heaven. That God knew her name, she was not forgotten. I had put the call out for prayer to the Saints. Her children and husband had asked me to pray for her, multiple times over the previous few days. They had a look of desperation in their eyes. They were helpless and perhaps, hopeless. And then, God showed up. The unimaginable happened. The doctor removed the ventilator tube and she started breathing on her own. The previous day she was making her peace with God. Saying her last goodbyes. Family was flying in from out of town, expecting the worst. That afternoon, she was sitting in a chair, eating and talking.
I was talking to her daughter after the miracle about faith and confidence in God. So very often when we pray, we pray without real hope. We are really not expecting God to intervene. Oh, we would love it if He did, but we don't have the confidence that He will. Perhaps He is not really listening. I reminded her of Jesus responding to Peter on the water and the disciples in the boat … Jesus asked "Why did you doubt?' "Where is your faith?" or perhaps the father when he asked Jesus to help his son saying he believed Jesus could heal him, but the father needed help with his unbelief.
As I looked around the waiting room in CICU that day, I saw relief on the faces of those who loved my sister. But I was amazed to see that they missed the fact that Jesus had just showed up in their midst. He reached out His hand and pulled Sherrie up from the water. He had stretched out His hand and said, "Peace, be still." to the storm that was raging in the CICU that day. No glory to God. No recognition of God's answered prayer. They focused on what happened - Sherrie was not going to die - and not why she was not going to die.
That has given me pause to reflect. Proverbs 3:5-6 are verses that are part of the scriptural foundation in my life. That day, I was reminded that, for the most part, people don't trust in God but see the world in the light of their own understanding. The lost, blind to spiritual things, are incapable of seeing God at work, although they do see the result of His working. They just don't know why something happened. But the Saints should have been shouting Hallelujah in the halls, instead they were quietly thankful.
I want to encourage you to be watchful and aware. This faith of ours is not a vain faith. The Bible does not just represent some nice thoughts that help us get through life. God is real. He still intervenes in the affairs of man. He hears the prayers of the Saints. And from time to time, He shows up and does something miraculous. This time, it was for my sister's good and for His glory. And I praise Him for it. Hallelujah! Sherrie went to be with the Lord on September 29th in 2021.
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
No comments:
Post a Comment