Promises That Are True

A promise can be defined as a verbal agreement by one person agreeing to do or not do something in the future.  We all make promises at some time or another.  Many times we are able to keep those promises and sometimes unfortunately we aren't.  Sadly, some make promises that they never intended to keep.  The bible is full of promises that God has made to us.  He is one who never breaks His promise.  I was reminded of just that this week. 

My daughter, Kennedy, had surgery on Monday to remove her tonsils and adenoids.  Having the surgery was the best thing for her, but as the time approached I started to become very anxious.  The thought of my baby being put to sleep scared me to death.  I hated that I could only go back so far with her and then had to place her and my trust in the doctor's hands.  I tried to hide my fears from Kennedy.  She too had become anxious and was asking a lot of questions.  I assured her there were a lot of people praying for her and that God would take care of her.  I told her she needed to claim Psalm 56:3.  She repeated the verse over and over and I could tell God gave her peace about her surgery.  

We arrived at the hospital at 9:00am and headed to registration.  After all the necessary paperwork work was signed, the registration employee asked Kennedy if she minded if she prayed with her.  I was blown away.  I worked for that hospital for many years, had several procedures done there, and not once have I ever had an employee ask if they could pray with me.  Kennedy said, "Please, I'm a little nervous but I know He will be with me."  She held Kennedy's hands and prayed one of the sweetest prayers I think I've ever heard.  We then headed upstairs for her to be prepped for surgery. 

An hour or more was spent prepping Kennedy for surgery.  There were several nurses in and out of the room asking a thousand questions, starting her IV, and explaining what would be done in the OR.  I started to get nervous.  Psalm 56:3 started rolling over and over in my heart.  "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee."  "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee."  "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee."  Soon, a surgical tech came to take her to surgery.  Her dad and I followed as they wheeled her to the OR doors.  Fighting back tears, I kissed her, told her I loved her, and that everything was going to be fine.  I watched as the OR doors closed and I couldn't see her anymore.  Walking to the waiting room, I again started quoting, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee." 

I went to the waiting room and sat down next to my mother, step-dad, and sister.  I told them she was now in surgery, I posted on Facebook she was now in surgery, and then my heart sank.  I felt helpless.  It was the same feeling I had when she almost died when she was two weeks old.  God quickly reminded me that He gave me a promise then that she would live.  He kept his promise then and He would keep it now.  I felt an amazing peace come over me.  I knew my baby would be fine. 

To fill you in on the promise He gave me when she was two weeks old is a long story.  I will give you the condensed version.  In an earlier post I talked about how history repeats itself.  Just like me, Kennedy almost died when she was two weeks old.

We were at church on a Wednesday night and she got choked on baby formula.  We didn't know it at the time but she had gastroesphageal reflux.   When she choked, her larynz started producing mucus and it formed a seal in the back of her throat.  She started turning blue.  She was not breathing.  My friend, Darla...who is a nurse, was standing nearby became very concerned.  I literally threw Kennedy to her and she immediately started CPR.  EMS arrived and started suctioning her throat.  The seal was popped; she gasped for air, and started crying.  It was music to my ears.  We spent three more days in the hospital while a battery of tests was done.  We were sent home with an apnea monitor, medicine for reflux, and were told it would most likely happen again.  I was a nervous wreck.  Susan Smith had just confessed to killing her little boys (who were close to my boys ages) and all I could think about was I couldn't imagine burying one of my kids.  I was so scared she was going to die. 

Sitting in Sunday school the next week, I was holding her and thinking how protective I was being of her but I had to trust God to take care of her.  I started flipping through my bible.  I wasn't looking for anything in particular.  I didn't stop long enough on a page to really read anything but a couple of verses jumped out at me in Exodus, chapter 1  The story was being told of how the new king of Egypt ordered the midwives to kill all the newborn males but that the daughters would be saved alive.   Every verse that had "the daughter shall live" popped off the page at me.  I began to cry.  I knew God was telling me my daughter would live.  I rested in His promise! 

You see, I've lived long enough to know that God's word never fails.  He doesn't go back on His promises.  I can recall numerous times in my life where He fulfilled promises He made to me. He is the one person I can always count on.  I've been told before it was just coincidence that things worked out, it was meant to be, and the power of positive thinking made whatever I was hoping for or needed to come true.  I strongly disagree.  I serve a living, breathing, powerful, and awesome God who cannot lie.  I choose to trust in Him than to gamble on coincidence and the power of positive thinking.  

It Is Well

The past few days I have been on an emotional roller coaster.  I have family who needs God to perform a miracle for them, friends who are in a troubled relationships, and it seems everywhere I turned I was reminded of bad choices I have made.  On the other hand, I have also been encouraged and God answered several prayers this week.  I woke up this morning though with a heavy heart.  I tried to pray but felt like my prayers were just hitting the ceiling and not reaching Heaven like I so desperately need them to.  I paced around the house for a little bit and even went for a drive.  I had not gone far when I felt God nudging at my heart to turn around, go back home, and get on my knees.  I did just that.  I fell on my knees, buried my head in the sofa, and started to pray.  Again, I felt like what I was praying was just bouncing off the ceiling.  Then the words to the old hymn written by Annie Hawks in 1872, "I Need Thee Every Hour" came to mind and start pouring out of my heart and mouth, first through tears and a broken voice and then with strength and surety.



"I Need Thee Every Hour"

I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

Refrain:
I need Thee, oh I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now my Savior;
I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow'r when Thou art nigh.

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.

I need Thee every hour, teach me Thy will;
Any Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son. 

Once I had finished with the words of the song, I immediately felt like God said to me, "I've heard you now I want you to listen."  I'm not exactly sure how long but I stayed on my knees in silence just listening.  I wish I could tell you He gave me direct answers to my questions, deliverance, and complete healing while I was listening.  What He did give me though was peace that He wasn't going to leave me or those that I have been so burdened for to fend for ourselves.  He told me to trust Him with all of my heart and to acknowledge Him.  He told me to give my past to Him, trust Him with my future, and to honor Him for He is my Lord.
Peace of God is an amazing thing.  Words can't truly describe what it feels like.  I got up from my knees with the words of another old hymn in my heart written by Horatio Spafford in 1873, "It Is Well with My Soul"

"It is Well with My Soul"

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well; it is well, with my soul.


It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.


This hymn has brought me through some of the darkest days of my life.  I've known the story behind this hymn for a long time and would often think I don't know how I could have gone through what Horatio Spafford did and be able to pen down those words and mean them.  Many times I would sit at our piano and play this over and over and cry.  My heart would be breaking for things that my family and I were going through but then I would start to think about Spafford.  My difficult times were/are very real but nothing compared to what he went through so how can I not say it is well with my soul?  I can say and I must say...... Even so, it is well with my soul!!!