A few months ago, our world tilted. My husband received a diagnosis that threw off the balance of our lives. Daily, the ground under our feet seemed to shift as we processed what it meant and the ramifications. Despite the uncertainty and chaos, I was amazed by how God impressed Scripture after Scripture upon my heart as I struggled to make sense of this new reality. When the world tilts, He is there.
Since the beginning of this journey, the passage about the Good Shepherd in John 10 has been instrumental in grounding me. John 10:4 says in reference to Jesus as the Good Shepherd, “When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” (Emphasis mine). When our world tilts, He goes before us to lead and prepare the way.
The Good Shepherd has done just that for us. A few years ago, He even had a new specialized unit built at a hospital that is only an hour from our home. Well, they have helped and continue to help many other people, but He had it ready for us! He went ahead. The specialist he sees there has contact with doctors at another hospital who specialize in this rare form of the illness. From the outset, every member of his care team has been phenomenal and a perfect choice for us. He went ahead.
It gets even better. My husband had a surgical procedure scheduled for August 14th, but he asked if they would move it ahead to allow us to attend to an upcoming family event. A cancellation opened an earlier date for him. Due to a strange turn of events, my husband developed an unrelated health issue, which would have precluded the surgery had it been on August 14th. The Good Shepherd went ahead.
Our journey isn’t one anyone would want or choose, but God’s faithfulness has been astounding. My emotional rollercoaster continues occasionally, and I still have some sleepless nights. But I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be at such a time than in God’s care. There are no surprises in His world, even when my world tilts.
Not long after we received the diagnosis, when I didn’t know if my world would ever right itself, I had a dream. In that dream, I was curled in the fetal position, held in the palm of a giant hand. John 10:20 says, “My Father, who has given them [the sheep] to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” I am held in the palm of God’s hand, and whether my world tilts or remains stable, I am safe and loved. It’s a good place to live.
This song has been helpful to me over the last few months. It might also encourage you. This is the Story I’ll Tell.
May you also find that place of security in the palm of our Father’s hand. Thank you for joining me on this journey.
“God is bedrock under my feet,
the castle in which I live,
my rescuing knight.
My God—the high crag
where I run for dear life,
hiding behind the boulders,
safe in the granite hideout.”
Psalm 18:2 (The Message)
Until next time,
Brenda Erb Roberts
Post Script: My husband has given me permission to share this story. Please read the following note under Looking Back. It will give some context to a reflection I shared last year.
Looking Back: After writing The Lingering Place, I didn’t feel the time was right to release it. Many months later, I sensed the Lord nudging me to post it, which I did in September last year. He might have wanted me to be living it, not just talking about it, when I did so. Even if you have read it before, I encourage you to do so again, because you never know when you, too, might find yourself thrust into The Lingering Place.
Last Month’s Inspirational Reflection: As I continued decluttering, a question arose: Can Stuff Affect Our Spiritual Legacy?
My Last Lighter Side Story: Do you need a smile? Check out: Have We Lost Our Collective Memory?