"Tell me your story," my friend said.
I smiled and warned her that we might be there for a
while, but she said she wanted to hear all of it. And I was excited to tell it, not because it’s my story but because it is, from beginning to end,
God’s story. It becomes obvious to those listening and even more, to myself,
that God's hand of protection has been over all of my life. There were so many
times when disastrous things almost happened; times when I
almost died.
As my husband has said, "You walked into the
fire and right out of it again with hardly a scratch!" Well, the smell of
smoke often lingered, but he's right. I can relate to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
There was that day I should have drowned but was
saved, that night I could have been raped and even murdered but was left alone,
that time I ingested a poison but it left no ill effects, the times I trusted
strangers who could have been demons but turned out to be angels. Over and over
again God protected me.
Oh yes, I have had my share of tragedies and trials,
but even in those circumstances, God was there. There was the moment when I
heard those mind-numbing words, you have cancer, the days when the chemo
treatments were almost too much and others when I almost could not make myself
walk through the doors of the clinic where I would lay on a table and allow
radiation to burn my body. There was that day I was almost overcome when I
realized the child I carried would not be born alive and the day I got the phone
call telling me my father had died. There were those years when the pain of the
circumstances almost drove me to curse God.
In all of those times it was God’s presence, and
above all His love, that kept me sane, kept me going, and kept me in the
shelter of his wings. It was Jesus who kept me from going beyond ‘almost.’
I
love that old song that says, “The Name of the Lord is a strong tower, the
righteous run into it and they are safe.” The words are true. The name Jesus
keeps us safe, even in the midst of the fire or in the midst of a raging
storm – not always safe from pain, but safe from separation from Him. And
that is the only agony we would not survive.
These
words are also true: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that
this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on
every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not
abandoned; struck down but not destroyed” (2Corinthians 4:7-9).
That
is our testimony, our story as believers in Christ Jesus. When we have Him we
will always have that word, almost.
****
Marcia Lee Laycock writes from central Alberta
Canada where she is a pastor's wife and mother of three adult daughters. She
was the winner of The Best New Canadian Christian Author Award for her novel,
One Smooth Stone. Her second novel, A Tumbled Stone was short listed
in the contemporary fiction category of The Word Awards. Marcia also has two
devotional books in print and several ebooks. Her work has been endorsed by Sigmund Brouwer,
Janette Oke, Phil Callaway and Mark Buchanan.
Abundant Rain, an ebook
devotional for writers can be downloaded here. Visit Marcia’s Website
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5 comments:
"Almost" -- what a great title, and what wonderful testimony, Marcia! No wonder your writing has depth and breadth.
Thank you for opening this wider window on your journey and experience, encouraging us to marvel at God's mercy and grace . ~~+~~
Refining and refocus...that is what our trials do to us. Oh that we use that for the glory of our Lord Jesus. Lovely, contemplative post, Marcia. Thanks. And I agree with Peter, about the 'great title.' We are never alone in our fire.
Thanks for your kind comments, Glynis and Peter. :)m
You are truly an inspiration to so many, Marcia. Thank you
Marcia, your testimony is such an inspiration. I can resonate with you when you say, "In all of those times it was God’s presence, and above all His love, that kept me sane, kept me going, and kept me in the shelter of his wings." Amen!
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