Read Psalm 126

“…we were like those who dream…” 

He alone can sustain the heart from falling into the deep waters the trial brings. There is a strange comfort to it all together. I liken it to the process of hanging a beautiful piece of art on a wall. The level is greatly needed. So with the trial, His children must always be sure to use Him as the level. The trial comes like an enormous wave, it goes over our heads, and when coming up for air, we swallow a mouth full of water just to be washed over with yet another wave. 

What can still the heart? 

What can calm the storm? 

Oh, how easily a child can forget to thank the Lord for the trial; we often thank Him for the blessing alone. When the trial is seen as a beautiful piece of art, and the Savior is used as the level, how wondrous it is to stand in awe of all that He can make straight. 

I so clearly remember the day I found out my husband had cancer. I recall going out to my porch one very early morning, looking up to the sky and saying to my Father, “Wow, so You chose cancer for us. That’s an interesting one.” The statement was very matter-of-fact, very real, very Father-daughter. He alone had purposed this. 

There were two options now, sink or swim, fear or faith. My beautiful family, my greatest fears, my deepest faith were now hanging on the wall sideways. Yet, my heart knew one thing…run Charity, go quickly and get your level out. Give Him the great duty of making this straight. Stop thinking you may know how. 

David faced Goliath. 
Moses approached Pharaoh. 
Abraham surrendered Isaac. 

What do these men have in common? They each chose to let God be in the forefront of their trial. David speaks out, “But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel…” (1 Samuel 17:45). Moses responds, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us” (see Exodus 3). Abraham declares, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering” (Genesis 22:8). 

There is no confusion in the mind of these men. They are not caught up in the trial. They are caught up in Him. What the Lord has allowed to be crooked, they believe, He also can straighten. 

He used a young boy with a stone and a sling. 
He created a flood of plagues. 
He provided the Lamb. 

Do His children believe in His mighty arms? Are His little sheep running under the shadow of His wings? He has asked so many times, “Where are you going? I AM, right here.” He is still the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He promises that He never changes. 

And so He whispered in my ear, “Charity, my child, stay away from the Internet, from the world, from the noise. Come let me embrace you and tell you of all the wisdom I behold. Lean into Me.”

And so He did. He gave us a child, Hosanna. He told us to put Nate on ‘breastmilk’ during chemotherapy. And then He kissed our faces. 

Three days in row He gave us Psalm 103. The first night I had a complete ‘fear’ scare, the waves were too much. Like Peter, I started drowning. He waited to come in and His timing was perfect. We were reading our children a devotional, that night, and the related-verse was Psalm 103:2-3, “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.” Peace shielded our fears. 

The next day in our One Year Bible, our Psalm for the day was 103. 

On the third day, it was Nate’s birthday and he was turning 33. A 93 year old widow sent him a card in the mail. He opened it. Four Psalms she asked him to memorize, the fourth one was…Psalm 103. The next check-up Nate had the doctors could not find the spots that were seen on his liver. Oh how we cried tears of joy! He had spoken to us!

Our 93 year old widow friend

“We were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them”
(Psalm 126:1-2).
 
He made straight all that was crooked. In His way, in His time. He still calms the storm. “Peace be still,” He said again. He knows we are afraid of the dark. Would a dad want his daughter running anywhere but in his arms? How much more your Heavenly Father? He can level all that He allows to be crooked. The greatest time to see your Father be Almighty is when the deepest trial strikes your life. Remember…

“Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing…” (Psalm 126: 5-6).

And never forget…

“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad” (Psalm 126:3).

Standing on His Promises,
Charity

Deep Breaths:

1. Reread Psalm 126. Recount something great that the Lord has done in your life this year. Take a moment to thank Him.

2. What is your present trial? How can we pray for you today? Consider leaving a prayer request so we can join Jesus, our Intercessor, in lifting up this request to the throne. You are not forgotten. He knows your name and He will not waste this difficulty.

3. Consider joining us for #curecancerfast this November as believers around the world pray and fast on behalf of the lost and rally around those with cancer.