Finding strength in difficult times

As we roll into week 5 of being in hospital I thought I would take some time to blog about getting through hard times as a family. For context we are a family of 3 with no immediate family in the country. We are very grateful for the Christadelphian community we belong to as we receive letters, cards, emails and messages of support and prayers.

We are also very grateful to our heavenly Father for looking after us and for His loving care. One constant we have in life is that God cares for us and is there for us 24/7. Bible verses swirl through my head regularly and these help to keep me focused and bring some calm and reassurance. One such verse is:

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” (Isaiah 41:10)

We live mindfully which is also helpful – living in the moment and not worrying about what happened or what may happen; remaining focused. There is huge reassurance in having faith in God. We know that regardless of whatever situation we are in He is there for us:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

We are reminded various times in the Bible , that God was there even in the midst of war, famine, flood, and even storms. God is with us always and promises to never leave us nor forsake us:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

When I ground myself on the truth that God loves me, I view my situation through a new lens. Rather than questioning His love, I seek to align my thoughts and actions with His, knowing everything in my life is a result of His love and His presence. Many hours a day I sit and watch my husband sleep – the hours can seem long and lonely, yet I feel the peace of God around me and this provides great comfort. Faith in the Lord means having confidence that God is good, that He’s on our side, and that He’s always working, even when we can’t see it. Such comfort!

The Bible tells us that God is all-powerful. It also tells us that God is good and wise and full of love; therefore, when you blend the omnipotence and goodness and wisdom and love of God, you end up with a God who is worthy of trust and praise and adoration:

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)

Journeys to and from the hospital can be times when my mind goes to the worst-case scenarios in what we are dealing with, yet I need to focus as it’s winter and the roads are icy and snow is falling. I allow myself to go there and acknowledge that feeling rather than try to bury it. Once that has happened, I bolster myself up with a prayer and when I get home I journal my thoughts to clear then from my head. Prayer is such great armour to wear and it’s a comfort to know that God’s ear is available 24/7 and wherever I am:

“I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers or height or depth, or any other thing that is created.” (Romans 8:38-39)

This prayer is one that runs through my mind during stressful car journeys:

God, you are my strength! You are my righteousness. You lift me up when fear feels so overwhelming. In the midst of the storm I listen for your voice, constantly reminding me that you are with me. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Being in the hospital at a time when the health service is in a crisis, nurses are in short supply and their world is tumbling down is not the best timing. Yet we accept that it is God’s timing. When we feel we feel alone we think of this verse:

“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger because you are with me. Your rod and your staff — they protect me.” (Psalm 23:4)

When we choose to praise God amid our difficulties, we reaffirm our faith in Him who will work it all out for our good and His glory. I will blog again and will talk about how we turned this trying time into a positive experience using our faith in a practical way. I pray that these verses will be of some strength and help for you in whatever circumstance you are in at this time. You are never alone, please remember that.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Article and photo by Sair.