(Seeds of Faith: Lesson 1 Daniel in the Lions’s Den- painting)

Dear Reader:

Yesterday I was reading a chapter in Cheri Fuller’s book…Trading Your Worry for Wonder and one line jumped out at me. ” You can live above your circumstances.”

This particular story happened to be about a woman, named Nancy, with breast cancer who was trying to come to terms with her initial negative prognosis. While driving home, with her mind in turmoil, trying to take in all the doctor’s words…she absentmindedly stopped by her mailbox to pick up the mail.

The top envelope was from some ministry she had never heard of but it had the words “ You can live above your circumstances” on the front of the envelope. When she opened it she first saw a sketch of Daniel in the Lions’ Den. He was looking up and the lions were around and below him.

This caption was attached at the bottom of the drawing: “Fix your eyes on Jesus no matter what your circumstances.” 

Right after the story of Daniel and the Lions’ Den was the story of Jehoshaphat. As she re-read the story…another line jumped out at Nancy: “We were powerless and didn’t know what to do.” (That was exactly how she felt…so she kept reading.

Je·hoshʹa·phat is king of the two-tribe kingdom of Israel. He lives at the same time as King Aʹhab and Jezʹe·bel of the northern 10-tribe kingdom. But Je·hoshʹa·phat is a good king, and his father Aʹsa was a fine king too. So for many years the people of the southern two-tribe kingdom enjoy a good life.

But now something happens to make the people afraid. Messengers report to Je·hoshʹa·phat: ‘A large army from the countries of Moʹab, Amʹmon and Mount Seʹir are coming to attack you.’ Many Israelites gather at Jerusalem to seek God’s help. They go to the temple, and there Je·hoshʹa·phat prays: ‘O  God, we do not know what to do. We are helpless against this large army. We look to you for help.’

God listens, and he has one of his servants tell the people: ‘The battle is not yours, but God’s. You will not have to fight. Just watch, and see how God will save you.’

So the next morning Je·hoshʹa·phat tells the people: ‘Have trust in God!’ He then puts singers out in front of his soldiers, and as they march along they sing praises to God. Do you know what happens when they get near the battle? God causes the enemy soldiers to fight among themselves. And when the Israelites arrive, every enemy soldier is dead!

(My Book of Bible Stories) JW.org

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Nancy remembers feeling the same sense of being completely overwhelmed as Jehoshaphat’s army and crying out ” OK, Lord, I’m powerless against this situation and don’t know what to do, but I’m determined to fix myself on You.”

Immediately my own memory turned back to that night of May 29, 2008 when I realized that my own diagnosis and health situation demanded more than I could give it….my words weren’t “I’m determined to fix myself on you” but they meant the same thing.

“Tell me what to do!” I remember, urgently, begging God that night before the first surgery…”I honestly just don’t know what to do?” and I was answered with “Hold my hand.”

Upon reflection now…putting my focus first on God, above all the other imminent problems associated with the diagnosis…was the key factor, I believe, in starting this ambiguous  journey on the right foot…with God leading me…holding my hand…while I squeezed back and held on for dear life.

And what a dear life it has been and continues to be…challenging me daily to be a stronger child of God.

So until tomorrow…”Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him and expect help from Him, He will never fail you.” -George Mueller

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Eloise’s Japanese Maple is planted, all snug as a bug, and smiling now in the sunshine and warmer temperatures…watered it good today since it finally warmed up.