As we face the trials of this life we often find ourselves fighting fear and doubt. God says clearly, in Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” God does not call us to be afraid, He calls us to trust in Him always.

I know a lot about trials and life storms, this last year has been filled with them. Our son was deployed in Kuwait and his wife decided to serve him divorce papers the day he returned home, my husband had lung cancer and was facing a right lung removal surgery and as if all that wasn’t enough. I was diagnosed with a failing aortic valve and heart problems. WOW… they say that God draws us close to him in every trial…well, I felt like I was sitting on his lap.

But God was faithful, even as my son continues to struggle through the divorce and custody matters of his young children. I pray every day that God will guide their path , that God will cover them all with his protection and His ways will prevail. I fight the fear that every mom has; we worry about our children, our grandchildren. We don’t want them to hurt or suffer but I stand on my TRUST IN GOD and I WILL NOT FEAR. As the word tells us Isaiah 41:10 ” So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

As we approached my husband’s surgery, they were going to try to remove only a part of the right lung but they might have to take it all. I would catch myself thinking what if I lose him, what if there is more cancer. God doesn’t do what if’s, He calls us to TRUST IN HIM. As I set in the waiting room surrounded by family and friends. I prayed silently Lord, guide the hand of the surgeon and let you presence fill the room. I Trust In Your Will, for I know You love Brad. Every time the fear creep in…I would say I TRUST IN YOU, JESUS and there was plenty of fear trying to creep in, thought about him possibly dying, thoughts that they would find more cancer, lots of thoughts of fear and doubt, but I TRUST IN YOU JESUS… The hours seems to creep by, then finally 3 hours later the doctor came in. He said the surgery went well but they had removed the entire right lung and 11 lymph nodes in the chest area. They did not see any additional signs of cancer. He said they would be moving him to ICU and that I would be able to see him in about an hour. Thank you Jesus. I was so grateful that he was alive and that the doctor was very optimistic that he would be fully recovered in 6 month and probably would not need oxygen once he was recovered. God is so good. I knew he loved Brad and I knew that WE STOOD IN FAITH, TRUSTING IN JESUS… Five days later we are on our way home, and the recovery was started and within 30 days, he was walking with oxygen, sitting for long periods without oxygen, even getting in the pool. The doctors were amazed at how fast he was recovering.

Through all this, I had put everything with my heart on hold while I was caring for Brad and getting him on the road to complete recovery. Then came the TEE heart test they had scheduled before Brad’s surgery. Did I cancel or have the test? That was definitely a question for prayer…Once again I TRUST IN GOD. We decided to continue with the testing, so we did, each test there was a sense of fear that crept in, partial because I didn’t know what they were doing or what to expect. After the TEE, they said they needed a CTA which turned into a complete nightmare, but God was so good through all this. After 5 hours, and one confusion after another, two failed attempts to start a large line I V..I felt God was telling me, not today for this test. I said,to the tech when he starts talking about putting a surgical mid line in, STOP…I AM NOT DOING ANYTHING ELSE. I told him I thought this was all a sign. I was upset, I didn’t even know this doctor and had never met with anyone on the team. Long and short, I did not have the test and even the doctor who came to speak with me agreed…things were handled badly. I remember getting dress and say Lord, I pray that this is Your plan and that You will protect my heart and that not doing this test is Your will. As we walked to the car, the sun was shining and bouncing off a rectangle no parking sign; I stepped on the curb, my daughter and I both saw this perfectly shaped cross reflecting on the ground at our feet. I smiled and we both said at the same time…it is a sign from GOD. I thought immediately Thank you Jesus…I trust in You. When we got to the car, Brad said, as he was loading his cart with Diane’s help, they found a time, with “IN GOD WE TRUST” shining brightly in the sun. Oh God is so good. His faithfulness never fails us. So several weeks later, with another cardiologist, I got the CTA which showed that the aortic aneurism was unchanged and stable….another Thank You Jesus.

We still know that we have more tests and a surgery ahead, but I am trusting in God’s timing and his plan. I know that God is in complete control and I know that he has been guiding and watching over me every step so I say I WILL NOT FEAR.

Why I am sharing this with each of you because God doesn’t want us to have fear and doubt. He wants us to bring our struggles to HIM. TO TRUST IN HIM. “Cast your burden on the Lord, And He will sustain you;
He will never let the righteous be shaken.” Psalm 55:22 (NIV)

Billy Graham said in 1965, Historians will probably call our era “the age of anxiety.” Anxiety is the natural result when our hopes are centered in anything short of God and His will for us.

The Lord gave us His Word which clearly reminds us that He does not want us to have fear, anxiety, or doubts. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:6-7. Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” Matthew 6:34. “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4.

So no matter what you face and we all face life storms and trials…Trust in God, He is all we need. Stay in the Word, and read His word; it will give you guidance, strength, courage, comfort and peace. God loves us and His plan is perfectly designed for You and for me. “The Will of God will never take you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.” God loves us so much that he gave his only begotten son to die for us so that we might live eternally with Him….That is our Father, Our God so why would we not TRUST IN HIM...

Abba Father,

I will not fear that is my prayer for all of us today. Let there be for fear, no doubts. Let us Trust in Your Perfect Plan. As your word reminds us over and over “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” and ” Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” We TRUST IN YOU LORD. We stand strong on Our Faith, knowing that You have a perfect plan, a purpose for each of us. May that purpose, that plan be laid out before us, may we serve You in all that we do. Lord, You move mountains, You parted the seas….and Nothing is impossible for You. May we hold tight to those words. May Your words be our armor against fear and doubt. Thank You Lord, so watching over us, holding us in Your hand and forever loving us in all circumstances. Thank You for being Our Father, Our God, Our Everything. In the name of Jesus…AMEN