Refresh My Soul Weekly Devotional-Hard Times

-God is love
1 John 4:8b

As she lay there on the hospital table, I held her hand. I kept asking God to give her the strength to get through this hard test. More than anything I wanted to take her place. As the tears started to role down her sweet face it was almost all I could take. I knew though in my heart of hearts that this test must be done or it could negatively effect the rest of her life. Though more than anything I wanted to save her from the table and just run away somewhere far far away.

"Be strong, this in not the time for your own tears" I told myself. "You know this has to be done." So I spoke reassuring words and smiled at her. Praying the entire time. I was so proud of how brave she was. She was afraid but we talked about how God is love and His perfect love casts out fear. She clung to that and made it through.

As her mother and her father we were, on her each side of her, holding her hands the entire time of this trial, I could not help but to think of our Heavenly Father. He loves us so much more than I could ever have the capacity to even love my own child. He has to allow us to go through certain trials because if we don't endure those it could negatively effect the rest of our lives.
In His great love He does not want us to have to go through the pain but for doing it we will be better off. He never leaves us through these trials either. He is more attentive than ever but sometimes our attentions are on the trial at hand instead of His love and care for us.

God is so good. We may not understand the trials we have to face but we have to hold tight to the fact that pressing through will make us stronger and more like Him as we turn our face to and put our hope in Him.

Unfortunately I got a call this morning about the test report. Things are not good so we will be seeing our kidney specialist the end of the month to discuss next steps. Please lift us up in your prayers. These past seven years have been hard dealing with these issues but this appointment is the one where we will discuss correcting everything that needs it.

Father, we love You so much. Thank You for every good gift You give to us. You said in this world we will have trouble. So many troubles we do not understand but we do know and trust You are God. Nothing is impossible with You. Nothing is too big for You to handle. Lord, grow us through our trials and help us to see You better. We love You and praise Your holy name.