Blessed is She: Part 3
This is Part 3 of the Blessed is She series.
Check out Part 1 "Promises, Promises" and Part 2 "Seen."
Dear Friend,
Have you ever been super sick? How about COVID? Did you manage to skirt that, or did it hit hard?
I made it through 2020, 2021, and most of 2022 before getting COVID, but when I got it, I got it. It probably didn't help that I had just recovered from the seasonal flu one week prior.
I lay flat on my back, feverish and isolated, again. This head-to-toe ache was much like the flu I'd just kicked, but it was more intense. And since my husband hadn't fully recovered from his own bout with COVID, I was worried about the kids largely taking care of themselves. But what could I do? I could barely move.
In my foggy brain state, I remembered that I had recently read a passage about a woman with a fever, just like me:
"Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them." Mark 1:30-31 NIV
I love how simple this story is:
A woman has a fever.
Jesus goes to her.
Jesus takes her hand.
Jesus helps her up.
The fever leaves the woman.
She goes back to normal life.
My fevered brain couldn't do much deep theological thinking the day COVID hit. But I knew I could reach out to Jesus.
So I weakly lifted my hand and prayed, "Please come, Jesus, take my hand, lift me out of this bed, and take this fever."
Nothing miraculous happened. But I knew Jesus heard me and would help me. Over the next week, that's exactly how it unfolded: I had a slow but steady recovery.
Jesus had effectively come, taken my hand, risen me to my feet, and removed my fever. Was it any less of a miracle because my healing was slow? No, God in his wisdom had chosen to heal me according to his timeline. And that is OK.
So, Dear Friend, I've tucked this little experience away for a rainy day. Just like God--thankfully--had tucked this little gem of a story inside me for the moment I needed it.
We can tuck Bible stories or little verses away in our pockets for rainy days, like "So Jesus went to her, took her hand, and helped her up." (Don’t you love that this one is specific to Jesus helping a woman? I’m a “her” and I need Jesus to help me up!)
Then we can try to apply the gem to the real-life situations that inevitably come up. When we're drowning in laundry, or debt, or diapers, or work, or questions, or fear, or anything, we can insert ourselves into the story and pray that he'll do today what he did for Simon's mother-in-law: "Jesus! Please come, take my hand, and lift me up out of this."
God has most certainly been here the whole time. But now you are inviting him into the reality you are experiencing today. You are acknowledging his presence. You are asking for intervention. And you are exercising faith that he is good and kind and is making all things new.
Perhaps you've already tucked a few gems into your pocket for future use. But if not, here's a little sample set to get you started:
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:37-38 NIV
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 NIV
I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 2 Timothy 1:5 NIV
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5 NIV
But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:1-3 NIV
Dear Friend, I often find that the very thing I read in the Bible in the morning comes up later in the day. Like when I read "be patient" in the morning, my patience is sure to be tested by afternoon!
I encourage you to tuck away a precious gem of a story or promise or prayer from the Bible today. These are God's own words. They never return empty but always accomplish the purpose for which He sends them. And that purpose might just be more relationship time with you.
Love,
Your Friend