Saturday of Week Two
Strength in God’s Presence
“Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength
of my heart and my portion forever.” —Psalm 73:23-26
Thirty years ago, I was overcome with anxiety and to put it mildly, I was just scared. I was scheduled to have open heart surgery at the age of 42. It was necessary, I understood, but I was not at peace with the idea of going through surgery, a stay in the ICU, and undertaking the whole recovery process. I asked myself, “how could I feel more confident and calmer about the entire situation.” I decided to talk with my family and friends. They made me feel a little better and I knew they would be there for me throughout the whole ordeal. The support that they gave me was awesome, but I still felt as though I was missing something to make me feel completely at peace with the surgery.
When it came time to go into surgery, I remember saying a prayer and I asked God to watch over me and the skilled hands of the surgeon for a complete recovery. I knew in my heart that I was now mentally prepared as I had been given “peace” through His presence. At that moment, I felt that he had wrapped his arms around me, and that he would be my strength through this difficult time. In my heart, I knew he would not let me down. Because of this peace that I received through prayer and his word, I would be able to conquer anything. I am made much stronger in God’s eyes and mind. God was at my side through surgery and recovery. What an awesome God we have to lean on at any time.
He taught me to use this experience to let others in the same situation know the peace that they could be afforded by taking their concerns to the Lord. I would ultimately be trained as a lay minister and then later as a hospital lay chaplain.
Author: Cece Snyder
Personal Reflection:
Think about a time when you felt weak, but God sustained you. What did you learn from that experience? How did His presence strengthen you?
Daily Action:
Research organizations that you may be able to serve in some capacity in helping others that may be burdened with fear. Pray about getting involved. If you are already involved in volunteering in your community, take time to pray over the people you served recently.
