One of the greatest gifts ever given to me was learning to live by faith. One might ask, just how does that work? Growing up in my home, my mom modeled it daily. She often encouraged us to pray, listen, and wait. Many times when even the most impossible thing was suggested, she did not waiver. I honestly cannot remember one time when we waited patiently in faith and did not see the glory of God's grace and mercy.
In this century we too often dismiss miracles. We think they cannot happen or laugh at those who so patiently wait for their miracle. Today's post is a miracle experienced by our family. I assure you that Pastor Joyce did not act expecting a miracle. She simply walked by faith. In addition, I want to assure you that I remember the day she and my sister returned from Africa. I remember those questioning her parenting and remember her angst as my father accused her of being foolish and placing my sister's life in danger. But more, I remember her being questioned by him and her adamant answer, "God told me to only get the shots required and I did what he said." Today's piece came from a sermon she gave on walking in Faith.
Enjoy !
The Just Shall Live
by Faith
That was my precise instruction
to the nurse administering the vaccines.
She seemed puzzled by my request and inquired, “Are you sure.”
Of course I was sure,
shouldn’t I be? I posed the question,
“Why do you ask?”
She said, “Well, it’s not
required by law, but we highly recommend that when traveling to that part of
the world you take all precautions against malaria.” Then she began to explain
how dangerous it was to enter the area without total immunization. I didn’t hear all of her explanation because
I had another conversation going on in my head. It started with, “What do I do
now?”
The answer was firm,
“Just what’s required by law.”
“But, you heard what she
said”, I feebly argued.
Silence was all I heard
but I knew what had been said previously and decided if I was going to walk by
faith I better listen and obey. We left
the clinic and a low level of anxiety shook me inside but I resolved to fear
nothing and continue with the trip to a remote area of Africa.
One month after our
arrival and a busy ministry schedule, my daughter became very ill. The natives told me she had “the fever” and I
needed to get her to the hospital immediately.
I didn’t receive any instruction from the voice in my head but I was
adamant about keeping my baby from having a needle stuck in her arm where AIDS
was a prevalent threat. I decided to get
her home to the United States as soon as possible.
It is impossible to
relate the bazillion questions swarming in my head and the doubts that
threatened to topple my faith. But I
persevered, made arrangements, and proceed with the longest trip in the world as
I attempted to nurse my child and tend to the many obstacles of travel.
Upon admission to the
hospital in the United States the medical staff was anything but pleasant when
they learned that I had taken a child into Africa without proper prevention
against an obviously threatening disease.
When I thought things
couldn’t get any worse, authorities were called in to question me about my
parental competency. In the midst of the nightmare I cried out to God asking
why all this was happening to me. He remained
silent and in desperate determination I vowed to trust Him. After several
sessions and many tears I was asked to visit with a medical professional whose
specialty is the study and prevention of parasitic diseases.
I had no idea his
nationality but he spoke to me with a thick accent asking, “Now can you tell me
why you chose not to vaccinate your child against malaria?”
I assumed he was siding with the child
protective services trying to prove something and felt every defensive nerve in
my body rise up to strike. Instead I
simply decided to give them all the ammunition they sought. With complete
resignation I spoke, “Because God told me to get only what was required by
law.” Then I waited for them to come and take me away.
The doctor smiled and
said, “Well, your God saved your child’s life! The strain of malaria that she
contracted is very rare and found only in two parts of the world. If she had taken the recommended prevention
medication it would have counteracted the anecdote and she would not be alive
today!” He described what he was saying with disease charts and medical terms
but I had heard all that I needed.
This was a pivotal moment
in believing that the just shall walk by faith. God had saved my child’s life
and instilled in me an assurance that our steps are ordered by Him. That was enough to convince me that every struggle
from beginning to end was worth it!
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