"May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion" (Psalm 20:1-2).
I have always appreciated that the Bible confronts the fact that we WILL go through times of trial in our lives. Jesus told his disciples, "In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
As my family has recently been going through a trial of health problems, I haven't felt like writing much. I've written in my journal sporadically, but my mind has been mush and my energy has been low. As we have had some good doctor's reports this week and see the hope of crawling out of this trial soon, I have had renewed mental energy. Besides the desire to be active and creative, I have an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
When I read this morning's verse about God sending help from the sanctuary, I thought, "That's it! That's what we have been experiencing in the past three weeks!" As we've navigated eight different doctors and seemingly endless medical tests, not to mention battling symptoms and getting ready for school to start, we have felt carried along. Even as we've been confused and wondered why and how and what, we have felt carried along.
Our sanctuary of help has been our family, who has traveled from out of town, cooked meals, folded laundry, taken care of children, sat by our side in waiting rooms and doctors' offices, prayed for us, cried with us, kept us laughing. Our sanctuary of help has been our friends, who have brought us meals and flowers, visited us, entertained our children, called and emailed constantly, prayed for us, cried with us, kept us laughing. Our sanctuary of help has been our church family, who came to pray with us, brought us food, reached out, cried with us, kept us laughing. Our sanctuary of help has been my husband's work colleagues, who brought us meals, helped with transportation of our children, supported my husband at work, sent notes and emails. Our sanctuary of help has been our children's school teachers and school families, who have helped with transportation and helping our children have a smooth start to school. Our sanctuary of help has been our team of doctors, who have been accessible and concerned and seeking truth and healing.
Yes, we have felt distress, but yes, the Lord has sent us help from the sanctuary and has granted us support from Zion. Thank you, Lord.
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