living loved

. . . I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. – Ephesians 1: 16

I’ve been quiet for two weeks (literally). I haven’t been able to write the written word and haven’t been able to talk the spoken word. This lady has been down with the sickness (my 90s metal kids understand). What started as an infection in my eye (picture Quasimodo) migrated to my throat, the other eye, my voice, and infiltrated my entire upper respiratory system. Three doctor visits, a trip to the ER, and 11 days later, I can at least blog. YUCK. And what did I learn: I am a terrible sick person, horrible with patience, and want what I want when I want it (bring the healing NOW).

When I got up this morning ready to blog, I wasn’t sure what I was going to write about because my brain fog hasn’t allowed me to do much studying, praying, or anything really. And all of my prayers for two weeks have been quite selfish – please, Lord. Heal me, Lord. Take this cough, Lord. Why aren’t you answering, Lord. All of the things, but what I realized this morning was that as I could barely pray for myself, I did wake up this morning feeling better – not coughing quite as much and finally able to write and study and be in His word. And as I titled this blog, I realized that my village in this picture has been persistently praying for two weeks. My bearded beauty hasn’t stopped praying. My kiddos remind me they are praying. My sisters have been quietly praying for two weeks. My 4’11, 100 lb. niece who is a MIGHTY prayer warrior started praying for me last night. Prayer is mighty.

We pray in sickness. We pray in health. We pray for each other. We pray for friends. We pray for strangers. We pray when we don’t know what or who to pray for. We pray. God doesn’t always answer the way we want, but He does answer. His ways are not our ways, and in that truth, do you still trust Him? Do you still know that He is good? Do you still know that He cares for you in sickness and in health? Are you willing to wait and trust in His truth? Even as I am writing this, I am coughing. Cough, cough, coughing. And yet, I still know that He may not have taken my cough away with a snap of His fingers, but He is working all things for good. He uses all things. He has taught me in two weeks how much I need my village and how much we NEED Him. He is showing me persistence. He has forced me to need others, to trust my family to get the job done, and that they don’t need mom (pride alert), but they do need Him – always.

Friends, are you trusting Him in sickness and in health? Do you know that He is working all things for good even when you don’t see it and you can’t feel it? Don’t give up on whatever you’re seeking – stay persistent (even if your snots ablazing and you’re cough, cough, coughing your way to the finish the line). He’s holding the ribbon – and some tissues.

XOXO, Loni