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(Due to Ester's hospitalization no message was written 8/28/06)

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

"Our Own Understanding"

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths" (Proverbs 3:5,6).

Yesterday Ester underwent a battery of tests in preparation for her pacemaker surgery. One of the lighter and more memorable moments of our long day took place in a waiting room as Ester was awaiting a blood test. We were waiting our turn when we overheard a conversation between a mother and her daughter.

The little girl, three or four years old, was dressed up in a denim jumper with red gingham ruffles and her hair was pulled back into two little pigtails. As she sat on her mother's lap she began to ask questions. "What are they going to do to me, Mommy?" Mom explained, "They're going to take blood from your arm." "How are they going to do that, Mommy?" She proceeded in describing the procedure in very simple terms.

The little girl began to cry so her mother asked, "Why are you crying when they haven't even done anything?" With a perplexed look she stared into her mother's eyes and asked, "Are they going to take my skin off?" The mother lovingly reassured her daughter that this was not going to happen. There were several of us in the room listening to this loving exchange and we broke into quiet laughter. The child was very entertaining in the barrage of questions she articulated at a very young age.

From the little girl's perspective it seemed reasonable that to get to her blood you would need to take the skin off! As God is working on us we also have similar incomplete understanding and we try to lean on that! That's disastrous and leads to anxiety and fear. Her line of questioning is much like the conversation we have with God, whether we articulate it or just simply entertain these kinds of questions in our minds. We want to know what's going to happen to us, how it's going to happen, when it will take place, who will be involved and what the outcome will be. We really want to understand.

A wonderful Biblical principle is expressed in our daily text. Many of you have memorized it and perhaps, like myself, have often drawn strength from it. In fact I am doing so again as I prepare this message! "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths" (Proverbs 3:5,6).

Perhaps the hardest application of this verse, particularly in the time of trial, is not depending upon our own understanding. Certainly God gave us understanding and I believe we should develop it and use it. Seeking to better understand what is being planned for Ester, Brooksyne and I went online and researched information about the kind of pacemaker Ester will receive in her medical procedure. Certainly this kind of action helps us to be more knowledgeable and better equips us to deal with the continuous challenges we face.

But trusting in God is much like the little girl trusting in her mother's care. As a child she is very limited in her knowledge, understanding and experience. She'd be in serious trouble if she leaned or depended on her own understanding! We must trust our heavenly Father whose infinite knowledge and unlimited understanding will see us through the most perplexing and discouraging situations. We've experienced His grace time and time again, but oh for grace to trust Him more.

Be encouraged today,

Stephen and Brooksyne Weber

Daily Prayer: Father, I want to trust You completely for everything that concerns me. Too many times I've doubted Your ability to intervene in my life or questioned whether You were genuinely interested in me. But over the years enduring life's trials has given me spiritual perspective that shows me I'm not a victim but a conqueror through Jesus Christ my Lord who makes me triumph over my enemy! I welcome Your sovereign work in every area of my life so that I will come into compliance with Your will and trust You even more.

'Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus
O for grace to trust Him more

Brooksyne's note: Regarding our opening illustration, Ester was touched by the little girl's innocent questions and witnessed her observable fear of what was going to take place when it was her turn. Ester's name was called and she was seated in a room within view of this small child. As her blood was being drawn she rolled up her sleeve, took it like a brave soldier, and even waved at the little girl so she could see that it wasn't all that bad. On the way out Ester reassured her that she would be OK and learned that her name was Sarah Rose; a beautiful name for such a lovely child. (I did remind Ester that when she frequently had her blood drawn at Sarah Rose's age it required me, along with the help of two other lab workers, to restrain her. She'd often go under the needle screaming for all to hear, "Jesus, help me!" It certainly caught the attention of the medical staff.)

Update on Ester: Ester underwent 6½ hours of tests in preparation for her surgery tentatively scheduled for 10:30 A.M. Tuesday morning. The doctor is very optimistic that this pacemaker is going to serve Ester's physical challenges more so than the one she's had for nearly four years. It's called an in rhythm pacemaker DDD and has two leads rather than just one. The dual leads will be connected to the upper and lower chambers of her heart. It will help maintain the proper rhythm of her heart and has the capability of stimulating her heart into proper rhythm when she experiences atrial flutter. Ester is on some very strong medications and the doctor is hopeful that, once this pacemaker is implanted, she'll be able to decrease the dosage of one med that has some potentially serious side affects. Thank you so much for your prayers for our family during this critical time. Many readers have emailed and that has been a real storehouse of encouragement!

This last weekend Ester saw a lot of her friends from when we lived in New England and will see more who will come to see her in the hospital as she recovers. Pictured with Ester are Joey and Mike, both Teen Challenge graduates and now Bible College students preparing for ministry.

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