Aches and Praise Five Hundred & Ninety Five

February 3, 2023

 
Dear friends,  
 

Some of you may have prayed for me this week and I am grateful for that. Yesterday I went to the Neurological Institute in Montreal for an EEG. Although the result was not what I would have liked, I am trusting the Lord to guide me in the days and weeks ahead, should He tarry. After the procedure was finished, Karen and I saw Dr. Dubeau, who reviewed the results of the EEG. He would like me to have a lengthier EEG (hopefully within a month) in order to get a better understanding of what is happening in my brain.

One of the books that I received at Christmas is “A Small Book for the Anxious Heart” by Edward T. Welch.  He writes: “Our lives are full of uncertainties. We never know what the day will bring. Worries, fears, and stress are part of daily life … The Lord responds to our fears with words and comfort, which He is pleased to repeat again and again.

His words to us cluster around two themes: your God is very near, and He gives the grace and power you need for today.” Looking back at the past year, I realize that Karen and I have gone through many stressful times, including the hospitalization and death of my mother. In his booklet “Life After Loss,” Tim Jackson writes: “Our relationship with God influences our ability to navigate through what feels like insurmountable pain. Grief is a journey that sooner or later we all must take. It’s how we take the journey that makes all the difference.

The Good Shepherd reliably guides us through the valley of tears. He quiets our fears, comforts our hearts, and reassures us that we will make it through; though at times we may not be so sure.”

How are you handling your fears and tears? Are you looking to the Lord to help you and comfort you or are you trying to handle things by yourself? The Word of God is clear that we need to repent of our sin, trust the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, and look to Him to guide us in everything.   

Scripture for the weekend: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” Psalm 32:8 (NKJV)

Thought for the weekend: “Life often feels like standing in waves. Sometimes our lives are calm, and the waves undetectable as they roll in. Other times, life sends waves of change, anxiety, or problems that knock us down. The firm footing we thought we had in calm waters betrays us as our feet sink into the unsettled sand or get pulled out from under us with the current.

Unlike the ocean sand, however, there’s a strong foundation available to us – a firm place to stand when life’s waves are more than we can bear … How can we stand strong in a world full of powerful waves? By standing on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ.” – Daniel Ryan Day (from “Stand Strong: 365 Devotions for Men by Men” published by Discovery House)

 

By His grace,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
Steve

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