As I sit here writing a set of devotions on The Emotional Strain of Chronic Pain, I’m listening to piano music. Chopin.
One particular song brought back tender memories. Greg used to rest on the sofa while I played it for him. Special times. Times that are to be no more.
I miss Greg so much. I miss sharing my life with him. I miss his touch. And I miss praying with Him.
But I am definitely not alone. God is with me. I feel His presence at all times. We write together. I ask Him what He wants to say. We talk and laugh together. He gives me ideas and constantly reminds me of things and helps me find things. Sounds crazy, but it’s real.
Anyway . . . I was writing about change when the familiar piano song came on and I thought you might be blessed by the miracle I was writing about. God did this for me back in 1996 just before I headed into a huge surgery.
* * *
Early in the morning, the anesthetist came to discuss my surgery. After I signed the necessary paperwork, he prepared to take me to the operating room. Startled, I argued that I was not scheduled until ten o’clock.
“You weren’t notified that your surgery time was changed?”
I shook my head.
“The surgery unit decided that since you will be having several operations done at the same time, they should schedule you first. They prepared the operating room last night. I’m sorry you weren’t told, but we cannot change the schedule at this point.”
No one was with me. My family hadn’t even gotten out of bed yet. Nevertheless, after a phone call to my husband, the orderlies wheeled me to surgery.
Waiting in the surgical unit, I overheard my doctor scolding the staff. “Now there’s no one here for her,” he argued.
But I was doing fine. Fine, that is, until a nurse wheeled the bed ahead of me into an operating room. I realized I was next, and I panicked. Just as suddenly, though, I felt the presence of God and sensed Him saying, “Don’t worry. I will not leave you nor forsake you. I am right here on this table with you. I am inside of you.” A warm flowing sensation started at my head and crept down my body to my feet, literally bathing me in peace.
Deep in my heart, though, I longed for someone to hold my hand.
God heard my plea. Earlier, when my doctor was discussing the mix-up, a friend of mine—another doctor—stood nearby and overheard the conversation. He told me later that when he heard my name, he thought, “I know her. I can be here for her.”
My eyes were shut, so I didn’t see him coming. But at the exact moment that I cried out to God in my heart, wishing for someone to hold my hand, this friend took my hand from under the blankets and whispered, “I’m here for you, Barb. I’ll be praying.”
I was never alone. God was there, just as He promised, ready to meet my needs—even before I asked.
* * *
Change. Hard to accept. We have to adjust. Face tough challenges. Give up comfortable routines.
We can press on in God’s strength or allow debilitating chains of bitterness and anger defeat us and steal our joy and peace.
Perhaps we, like the Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land, become stuck in our distorted memories of how good life used to be. Or perhaps we don’t really trust God to protect and guide us into new territory, despite His promise never to leave us nor forsake us. Too many giants ahead. So we refuse and lose out on God’s greatest blessings.
Or we move forward, trusting God’s promise in Isaiah 42 to “lead the blind by ways they have not known.” He continues, “I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.”
God still works miracles today. In what areas of your life do you need God’s touch? He is only a prayer away, and He promises in James 4:8 that as you come near to Him, He will come near to you.
“These are the things I will do.” I love that part. He doesn’t say these are the things He’s able to do or that He wants to do. No. These are the things He will do.
God-Moments
6/8/2019 11:46:00 PM by: Barbara E. Haley
When Life Happens!
1/23/2019 9:31:00 PM by: Barbara Haley
Great Deals for Christmas!
11/24/2018 3:18:00 PM by: Barb Haley
Guardian Angel to the Rescue
9/16/2018 3:52:00 PM by: Barbara E. Haley
Biz On the Go Now Available!
6/10/2018 10:35:00 PM by: Barb Haley
Nothing Compares!
4/5/2018 2:26:00 AM by: Barb Haley
STUCK in your Comfort Zone?
2/5/2018 10:04:00 PM by: Barb Haley
There's a Song in the Air!
12/15/2017 8:20:00 PM by: Barbara E. Haley
When you think you're finished, and then . . . God!
8/6/2017 8:18:00 PM by: Barb Haley
Those Branches HAD to Go!
5/30/2017 12:25:00 PM by: Barb
Eight Years Later ...
1/9/2017 1:00:00 AM by: Barb
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
12/16/2016 11:58:00 PM by: Barb
O Holy Night
12/15/2016 11:49:00 PM by: Barb
A White Christmas
12/13/2016 11:54:00 PM by: Barb
We Wish You a Merry Christmas!
12/12/2016 12:04:00 AM by: Barb
We Three Kings
12/11/2016 1:00:00 AM by: Barb
Birthday of a King
12/10/2016 12:54:00 AM by: Barb
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
12/9/2016 12:46:00 AM by: Barb
Hallelujah Chorus
12/8/2016 12:49:00 AM by: Barb
Joy to the World
12/7/2016 10:16:00 PM by: Barb
Do You Hear What I Hear?
12/6/2016 8:05:00 PM by: Barb
O Little Town of Bethlehem
12/5/2016 8:02:00 PM by: Barb
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
12/4/2016 7:59:00 PM by: Barb
Angels From the Realms of Glory
12/3/2016 7:55:00 PM by: Barb
Silent Night
12/2/2016 7:51:00 PM by: Barb
A Closer Look at the Christmas Carols
12/1/2016 7:47:00 PM by: Barb
When Prayers Take a LONG TIME to be Answered
10/19/2016 10:27:00 PM by: Barb Haley
Anybody Up for a Bit of Transformation?
9/24/2016 12:32:00 AM by: Barb Haley
Diving in the Wind
8/16/2016 by: Barb
Because I Can!
7/12/2016 by: Barb
Baby Steps
6/30/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
No Help From Me
6/12/2016 by: Barb
Day One: Do I Need a Blindfold, Lord?
6/10/2016 by: Barb
Depression? I'd Kick It if I Could
6/9/2016 by: Barb
God Has Our Backs
2/8/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
The Winner Is...
11/30/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Sample sections from A Second Wind
11/28/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Has Anyone Heard From the Lord Lately?
9/13/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
The Emotional Strain of Chronic Pain
9/8/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Why does God test us?
1/29/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Inciting Incident-What?s That?
9/1/2014 by: Barb
Act One?the Ordinary World
8/24/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Tell Me the Story of Jesus
8/14/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Story or Plot?
8/8/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
True Light
4/15/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Words of Love Last Forever!
7/19/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Alzheimer's-Not the Only Way to Let Go
7/9/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
The Hunger Games
6/26/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
What Would God Say?
6/13/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Keeping It All Inside
6/3/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
The Rest of the Story
5/29/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Trust and Obey
5/25/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Hidden Dirt
5/22/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
One Layer at a Time
5/17/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Welcome!
5/15/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb