Seeing the Hand of God
“A voice of one calling in the desert, prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.”
Luke 2:4b-6 (paraphrase of Isaiah 40:3-5)
My young friend Anna is going through a terrible time in her life right now. Her brother is literally fighting for his life. He is alive, after an experience that most certainly could have and some would say should have, resulted in death. Today the quality of his life is what hangs in the balance. So the good news is that Patrick is still with them. The hard news is to what extent? Anna and her family are surrounded by medical professionals who shake their heads and murmur words of, if not discouragement, then at least what they see as reality. Anna and her family, strong believers and lovers of Christ, nod, take in what they believe they need to hear and toss the rest. They are listening to a much more important voice. They are looking for their direction from the highest guide possible and they are seeing and hearing Him.
As the fight has progressed Anna and I have had several conversations. A few years ago I stood in prayer as my friend Jamie fought a very similar fight with a very similar and even drearier prognosis. Jamie is back on his feet now, in fact is doing better than he was before in some ways. People call him a medical miracle. I call him beloved of his Father and I know Patrick is as well.
The real story here is in how the family is seeing and then sharing the movements and messages of our Father. This morning in prayer for them, in prayer for Patrick’s precious wife to have clarity about her next move as to his care, it all became beautifully clear to me. At least in my life, Patrick’s ministry has already begun.
Every day I make decisions, do my job, and have conversations. Every day there is a chance to hear God, to see His movements, to receive His blessings and today I wonder how often I miss it. Anna’s family has very heightened senses right now as they listen for God’s directions. The stakes are incredibly high. But are they any higher than the decisions Patrick has made and will make about his son’s future? Is it more important to save for college or to take the trip to the mountains? The answer may seem obvious to some but it isn’t. Only God knows his will for us.
In our day to day dealings we think that our basis of faith is good enough to make our choices. We “know” God so we know what He requires or wants from us. How often do our own desires cover that knowledge?
Anna and Patrick’s family have literally received an answer from the sky. They’ve heard messages from the most unlikely of people and they received encouragement from close friends to acquaintances to near strangers. God is speaking to them. He is speaking to us too; we just aren’t listening as intently.
Right now the clearest, strongest voice in Patrick’s head is most likely that of His loving Father. I promise you God is in that room 24/7. The problem is that Patrick can’t communicate that to anyone right now. He is forced to simply listen. I can’t wait to hear what he has to say when he can speak but in the meantime his life reminds me to be more attentive to the voice of God and to His movements all around me. God is not dependent on our abilities as we see them. He does not choose the able, He enables the chosen. One thing I know with absolute certainty, Patrick has been chosen.
Luke 2:4b-6 (paraphrase of Isaiah 40:3-5)
My young friend Anna is going through a terrible time in her life right now. Her brother is literally fighting for his life. He is alive, after an experience that most certainly could have and some would say should have, resulted in death. Today the quality of his life is what hangs in the balance. So the good news is that Patrick is still with them. The hard news is to what extent? Anna and her family are surrounded by medical professionals who shake their heads and murmur words of, if not discouragement, then at least what they see as reality. Anna and her family, strong believers and lovers of Christ, nod, take in what they believe they need to hear and toss the rest. They are listening to a much more important voice. They are looking for their direction from the highest guide possible and they are seeing and hearing Him.
As the fight has progressed Anna and I have had several conversations. A few years ago I stood in prayer as my friend Jamie fought a very similar fight with a very similar and even drearier prognosis. Jamie is back on his feet now, in fact is doing better than he was before in some ways. People call him a medical miracle. I call him beloved of his Father and I know Patrick is as well.
The real story here is in how the family is seeing and then sharing the movements and messages of our Father. This morning in prayer for them, in prayer for Patrick’s precious wife to have clarity about her next move as to his care, it all became beautifully clear to me. At least in my life, Patrick’s ministry has already begun.
Every day I make decisions, do my job, and have conversations. Every day there is a chance to hear God, to see His movements, to receive His blessings and today I wonder how often I miss it. Anna’s family has very heightened senses right now as they listen for God’s directions. The stakes are incredibly high. But are they any higher than the decisions Patrick has made and will make about his son’s future? Is it more important to save for college or to take the trip to the mountains? The answer may seem obvious to some but it isn’t. Only God knows his will for us.
In our day to day dealings we think that our basis of faith is good enough to make our choices. We “know” God so we know what He requires or wants from us. How often do our own desires cover that knowledge?
Anna and Patrick’s family have literally received an answer from the sky. They’ve heard messages from the most unlikely of people and they received encouragement from close friends to acquaintances to near strangers. God is speaking to them. He is speaking to us too; we just aren’t listening as intently.
Right now the clearest, strongest voice in Patrick’s head is most likely that of His loving Father. I promise you God is in that room 24/7. The problem is that Patrick can’t communicate that to anyone right now. He is forced to simply listen. I can’t wait to hear what he has to say when he can speak but in the meantime his life reminds me to be more attentive to the voice of God and to His movements all around me. God is not dependent on our abilities as we see them. He does not choose the able, He enables the chosen. One thing I know with absolute certainty, Patrick has been chosen.
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