Flawless: His Word holds true

As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him

Psalm 18:30 NIV

The trial of the new/old medication had sent my heart to quivering.

How could it be that God would ask me to reconsider the very first RA medication I had taken, nine years ago when this trial began?

As I left my rheumatologist’s office that morning last November, my thoughts clouded over and a haze settled in, while the process for medication approval began. After 3 months of calling and submitting forms, approval and coupons were granted for my re-trial of Methotrexate, this time in the autoinjector pen form.

These current injections have proven to be the easiest injections I have ever taken.  I actually had to check the vial to make sure there was no medication left!

The after effects, however, were where my memories of the former trial, in 2015, came to the surface. The nausea, the headaches, and then the body pains traveling and settling in every joint, reminded me of that awful day when I had called my Doctor. I cried as I told him I couldn’t take the medicine that was the most common first-line-defense given for RA.

I remembered the weight of shame I felt when the Doctor couldn’t understand why I was unable to take it. I remembered the questions I had about this disease and the way that no one in his office could explain to me how the disease would progress. I remembered how well-meaning questions by others made me feel that surely I should be starting to feel better. I was overwhelmed and confused.

Maybe you have been in that place where the trial is just beginning, and the ominous storm clouds look to break upon you?

I remembered that feeling this past month, as I asked God why. And He did not fail to bring His flawless Word to my attention.

Son of man,” He said to me, “stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.” And as He spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and I heard Him speaking to me.

Ezekiel 2:1-2 ESV

Day after day the verses went on in my morning Scripture readings:

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

Ps 143:10 ESV

He fed me with His pure and tested Word:

but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
    they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31 RSV

Until finally my eyes could not hold back the tears, as the weight of  fighting this battle fell square upon me:

Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, “LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. LORD, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.”

2 Chronicles 14:11 RV

And I felt His face shining upon me, lifting away years of feeling that it was my responsibility to carry it all; lifting away years of feeling misunderstood for every surrender I had laid at His feet:

In the light of a king’s face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.

Proverbs 16:15 RSV

He sent me one of my favorite poems then, and His grace washed over every weighted and shame-filled place:

"When thou passest through the waters"
Deep the waves may be and cold,
But Jehovah is our refuge,
And His promise is our hold;
For the Lord Himself hath said it,
He, the faithful God and true:
"When thou comest to the waters
Thou shalt not go down, BUT THROUGH."

Seas of sorrow, seas of trial,
Bitterest anguish, fiercest pain,
Rolling surges of temptation
Sweeping over heart and brain
They shall never overflow us
For we know His word is true;
All His waves and all His billows
He will lead us safely through.

Threatening breakers of destruction,
Doubt's insidious undertow,
Shall not sink us, shall not drag us
Out to ocean depths of woe;
For His promise shall sustain us,
Praise the Lord, whose Word is true!
We shall not go down, or under,
For He saith, "Thou passest THROUGH."
--Annie Johnson Flint

His Word became my lifeline as I allowed Him to uncover the holiness of His carrying me through the last nine years

“Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies— make your way straight before me.”

Psalms 5:8 NIV

Where I had only felt the confusion of a new disease and new medications set before me, He saw the path of righteousness that He would work in my heart.

From a place of minimizing my own body and illness, from a place of taking the shame of a chronic illness upon myself, and even from the war-front of striving for myself, Christ began to lift my eyes to the beauty of mercy and grace. Christ began the process of taking me through the struggle to find that in every weak place His sufficiency was my only strength.

On the contrary, it is much truer that the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;”

1 Corinthians 12:22 NIV

Oh, the conviction of looking back thru the last nine years to see what He has won in my heart–when my heart had been so resistant to being weak, He has been purifying my heart, cleansing my thoughts to see the beauty of being weak so that He is strong.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me

2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

Are you facing a trial that seems hazy and confusing? Are the mountains before you too high to climb?

I would love to pray with you my friend. He has a flawless Word for you today also.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for being our Good, Good Shepherd. We confess that the way before us often seems too hard to face. And yet we sense Your presence here with us, calling us to see the step just in front of us. Thank You for Your grace that promises to carry us. Thank You for Your every Word that has proven to be tested and purified for us. Will You lift our hearts and open our eyes to see Your grace gifts in this place? Show us how Your purposes will always stand firm and never fail. Help us to let You carry us when the weakness overwhelms. And may we learn to boast in You alone, our great victor, for You have transformed our hearts! 

In your name we pray,

Amen

I am so thankful that in this place of waiting yet again, truly He has already gone before me. I am in His care, standing on His Holy ground.

And now, Lord, for what do I expectantly wait? My hope [my confident expectation] is in You.

Psalm 39:7 ESV

As promised, we are so excited to announce that the winner of the giveaway for our new book “Tree & Boy” is Maryleigh Bucher! Congratulations dear friend! We will mail that to you soon!