I woke up a short time ago with this thought in my heart. I thank God for the healing process I am experiencing with my eye.
I reflected on the maze of emotions I maneuvered through that day. I contemplated leaving the office while the abrasive and curt physician assigned to me attempted to evaluate my situation. The person quickly let me know I was being difficult. While I tried to comply with her demands to not blink, I shared how my other physician told me I was a “blinker” and how he had to hold my eye open to perform his evaluation. That didn’t go over well with the current doctor.
I couldn’t imagine this doctor performing the procedure she was set to perform on me. Nothing she said or did eased my apprehension about the upcoming procedure as she angrily probed my eye.
She abruptly ended the evaluation process and suggested I take another route. I quickly agreed as I thought surely anything would be better than what she was doing. She sought counsel from other physicians, and thanks to God, she was directed to offer me a third option that could be done the next day.
I returned the following day. I met my kind, considerate, and attentive new physician. The results of his evaluation revealed there were more issues than initially detected. He performed the third option without a hitch. I was grateful.
There are some trials where we must ride out the storm if we’re going to get delivered. During Paul’s journey to Rome, he found himself on a ship with 276 other prisoners. They were in the midst of a horrific storm, and at one point, the shipmen on board were about to jump ship. Paul told the centurion in charge of the boat that they wouldn’t be saved unless the men stayed on the ship.
Ugh. How easy it is to convince yourself to stay when you’re in a calm, non-threatening space. But during raging storms of life, we must not let our emotions drive us to run when God says otherwise. This is not the time to abandon the process. Ride out the storm. Your deliverance will come, but you have to ride out the storm.
27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;28 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. Acts 27:27-31 (KJV)
In the Master’s Service,
Author/Pastor Michele D Robertson
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Matthew 11:28-29 (KJV)