He Saved Them in Their Distress

What a week! As I sit here typing, my head is nearly spinning. This was our reflection verse this week at our Online Bible Study. Earlier in the week, we were given the assignment to write out Psalm 107:19-21 in our journals and personalize it. I am a Bible study nerd, but this was a FIRST for me. Let me tell you, it spoke such volumes into my heart that day that I am amazed still today. Once again, our gracious Lord knew what Tuesday would hold in store for me, and I am so thankful that I was able to spend much needed and precious time with Him-preparing me even though I wouldn't know it yet.

When I journaled and personalized these verses, the part, "He sent forth His word and healed her" really spoke to me. You see, four years ago we faced some mighty tough battles (story starts here). The prayer that I desperately prayed to the Lord during that time was, "Lord, you can heal my son. With just a Word. All it takes is your Word." Fast forward, as you will see in the series, the Lord in fact did heal my son. The lesion on his brain disappeared. So, for me, His Word holds power. It's why I hold it close to me in the form of the Bible. It's why I quote it often, buy items with it on them, and write verses ALL over the place. Literally. His Word is food to my soul.

However, ONE day later, those verses hold NEW meaning to me. 

Verse 19~ Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. (NIV)

I was awakened at 3:30 Tuesday morning with a phone call. My aunt, whom I wrote about here, finally went home to be with her Lord Jesus. Still reeling over the sudden death of my grandmother a couple weeks ago (Easter), now I was to face this. But not alone. Not only had I read these verses, but the others in the back of Chapter 2 as well. Not just read--studied, prayed and personalized. We were about to get hit from EVERY side on this day.

Verses like:

Proverbs 4:20-22

Matthew 6:31-34~where Jesus tells us not to worry about the things we need. He knows we need them. AND---get this!! "Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own." TOMORROW (3:30 am to be exact), would be when I would get the call that my aunt had passed away. I refuse to say that she 'lost her battle with cancer'. Rather, because she accepted the Lord Jesus into her heart, I prefer to look at it as a victory. Her life was fraught with trials, addictions, and more pain inflicted than I have ever seen. Today, Tuesday, death has lost it's sting because JESUS overcame the world. He overcame death. Before her passing, He gave her the GIFT of eternal life through faith in Him.

1 Corinthians 15:54~ When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."

Then, John 14:27 and John 16:33. He was giving me His peace. I was not to be troubled or afraid. To take heart, (take courage; be confident; undaunted), because He had overcome the world!

As I went about my day, it was discovered that my aunt was without life insurance. Oh, wow. I started to worry. We haven't even had time to mourn her passing. Time to adjust to life without her. Time to be thankful that she was finally without pain. We were being hard pressed and answers were needed NOW. 

 I remembered the verses about Jesus multiplying the fish and loaves, and the story about the widow's mite. I told the kids to look for whatever money they could find. We came up with seven dollars and some change. I reminded them of those verses. My two sons and I placed our hands on the prayer jar that we had placed the money in. We prayed for God to multiply it just as He had in the past. We were asking Jehovah Jireh to provide our needs. We also asked Him to soften the heart of the funeral directors because they wouldn't do a payment plan with us even though my family has used them for many years. We were CRYING OUT TO THE LORD IN OUR TROUBLE.....

After praying, we suddenly found change and cash everywhere around the house. Even the little girls got into it! Soon, the jar was filling. I called three other members of my family and told them to do the same thing. Knowing it wasn't quite enough yet, I received yet another phone call about a decision that needed to be made. Now. A decision that once started, would require finishing and that we would HAVE to have the money needed ASAP. Knowing how God had provided for us in the past, and the many miracles I have witnessed, I stepped out in faith and told them to go ahead. We would trust God to provide. 

Later that day, I got yet another phone call. The funeral home WOULD accept a payment plan- with cash down and if my grandma would 'stand in the gap' so to speak. She would be responsible for ensuring payment was made as they knew her the best. ANOTHER answered prayer. I am hesitant to put my grandma on the line for anything. That woman means the world to me. We were praying for a certain amount down, half of what they required the last time we had to do this.

Another phone call......wait--I have been on the phone ALL day! It was discovered that almost the EXACT amount needed could possibly be obtained. It would require a large sacrifice on the part of someone so dear to my aunt. Someone who stayed by her side the WHOLE time she was sick and even when she was dying. Would he do it? Would the funeral home let us pay a smaller down payment than what we did for the last funeral MANY years ago?

Here I sit on Wednesday, a day after writing the above, amazed at the goodness of our God. The EXACT amount we prayed for as down payment, was accepted!! We can now rest assured that my beloved aunt will have a proper rest for her earthly body. We rest assured that she is already in a place of peace....now WE can rest. We can take the time needed to mourn our loss and celebrate her homecoming. We are trusting God to provide the rest....

Psalm 107:19~ Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. (NIV)