What Difference Has God Made?

My mother is old, quite ill, incoherent, in pain, and still she lingers partly in life; partly in death. In response I fret, eat too much, worry, remember, and become conflictive to incompetent caregivers. What a time to go through; sick at heart and mind.

But, in the midst of this haze of despair there is opportunity for witness. What difference does my faith have in how I go through this? What difference has God made? It is a time, an opportunity, to prove; to witness, that indeed, He is able: able to keep me from falling though I stumble. And some who have heard me proclaim my faith will be watching to see if faith fails or is lived out, to see what difference God has made? My troubled times could be my best witness; my finest hour for God. Do I "know how to be abased and how to abound?" Or, do I just know how to talk about it? Do "I know how to be hungry and how to be full?" Or is my allegiance just a Christian tattoo that I wear on my skin but not hold in my heart? Can I live it right now, showing not telling that "I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me?" What difference has God made?

My witness to live out during this opportunity is that God has made all the difference. Because of Him I can let go of myself and go forth in faith relying only upon His unwavering love. And though my own strength is far too weak and though there is a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach, and though the ache in my heart cries out for this to be over: yes! I can hold on. Yes, I can hold on to Him until He says again, "It is finished."

What difference has God made? All the difference in this world and the one hereafter. Praise God in the storm.

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