Jesus Remains
One of the last times I was able to join The Church of the Holy Spirit for Sunday worship I remember when I went up for Communion Father Michael saying, “Show Amy who she is in you, Lord.” This has stuck in my mind, and the Lord is answering his prayer. One month and two days ago, my husband succumbed to COVID-19 and was placed on a ventilator. He was not expected to live, but the good news is he is now being weaned off the ventilator after almost a month in a coma. Yesterday, we had a family video chat, and he opened his eyes, tried to wave and shook his head yes and no in answer to our many questions and comments.
How does the Lord showing me who I am have anything to do with Mark’s amazing miracle? I learned who I am in Christ in the middle of this “perfect storm.” My strength is made perfect in weakness! (2 Corinthians 12:9) When we have everything stripped from us, Jesus remains! He sent his Word and healed them! (Psalm 107:20) We walk by faith and not by sight! (1 Corinthians 5:7) He gives us the weapons of our warfare, yet the battle belongs to God! (Ephesians 6:10-13) (2 Chronicles 20:17) Proclaiming, “I shall not die but live and tell of the works of the Lord” (Psalm 118:17) for my Maker works! We were counseled to pull the vent just about every day for almost three weeks. I did nothing on my own, but I knew God’s voice, and He never told me that. He told me to read God’s word to Mark as often as I could. I couldn’t always get through to his room, but on those occasions I still read the Word, especially Psalms as prayers, and relied on Hebrews 1:14 to get it to Mark. My voice went hoarse reading the words of life to Mark. When I felt the most hopeless, the most helpless, that’s when Jesus took over, caused Mark to open his eyes and showed me his complete faithfulness and unconditional love. Drawing from Lamentations 3:23, it is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. "They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." Yes, God has made a covenant with us, and He will keep it for his glorious name’s sake! Mark is not out of the woods yet, but I know who is in charge, and He is completely trustworthy!