The steadfast love of the Lord is true and real and mighty. I have experienced this in a very real way just the past 48 hours or so. The way He tenderly comforts me in my dashed hopes or expectations. He picks me up in my discouragement and lifts my head. He turns my eyes back to Him, and restores my hope and joy and expectation that He is working and He is indeed in control.
A few days ago we officially began our last week of this part of our journey to Kenya. And while we hope to return to Tenwek in the not too far future, we still have all the feelings and expectations of a transition and good-bye to what we have come to know. People, places, even things that are familiar will soon be distant. Ministry we have poured our hearts and efforts into will change. Well, as soon as we hit that one week point, my idealistic view of how this last week might go was shattered by sickness. Tom got sick first, then 3 of our kids have followed this weekend. And this is not some quick recovery thing. Tom has been in bed for almost 3 days, literally so weak he cannot pick up our toddler. Not to worry, we did have one of the docs here check him out and run labs, and it doesn’t look like anything too serious. They will recover. But still, it has been debilitating. And disappointing. Today we had to miss our last worship service here at our “home church.” Plans we hoped for in connecting with people this week have had to change.
In all this, my emotions have been up and down, but mostly down. Like most other things we go through in life, though, it’s been a journey. And God is showing himself faithful. He is so faithful. He reminded me this morning in Psalm 34 that those who fear him have no lack. We lack nothing. Though many are our afflictions, the LORD delivers us out of them all. He hears our every cry. He is near, He saves, He redeems.
So, we appreciate your prayers for healing, and for this week as we continue to say good bye, pack up our things, and to embark on another kind of journey (24 hours on planes with 6 kids!). But more than that, we ask for your prayers that we would stay strong in the Lord, that we would not give in to any kind of discouragement, and that we would stay faithful to all He has called us to do. As I type this, I pray for you in these things as well!
“Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!” ~Psalm 31:24
