May 25
Today’s Truth
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1 NIV).
Friend to Friend
As the basketball game heated up and the man-to-man coverage got up close and personal, he took an elbow to the ear. Seconds later his world went silent on the traumatized side. Stunned, he continued to play and pointed to his ear as he ran down the court telling his coach about the situation.
“I can’t hear in my left ear!”
Wait, what? I read his lips from the stands and wondered if I accurately interpreted what my son had just communicated. (My stomach did the I-hate-when-my-kids-get-hurt twist.)
“I think he just told the coach that he can’t hear out of his left ear!?” I said to the friend beside me.
My guess proved to be accurate. Preston came out of the game and spoke with the athletic trainer. She listened to the recap of what happened, evaluated his ear, and then allowed him to go back in the game since he wasn’t in pain and no bleeding was visible. He finished the game in an oddly muted reality.
We got home late with our tall, tired teen and decided that we would get him in to see a doctor if his hearing didn’t come back or improve by the next day. Morning did not bring the healing we had hoped for, so we headed to the urgent care.
The doctor listened to the accident recap and then looked inside Preston’s ear. He saw through the tympanic membrane and quickly identified the source of the silence: bloody fluid had puddled on the other side of his eardrum due to the blunt force of the trauma.
The bad news? There was no immediate solution for the hearing loss. An invasive procedure could be done by a specialist but wasn’t recommended.
The good news? He said that Preston’s hearing should return, and his ear would eventually heal. His body would absorb the fluids over time. We’d just have to wait. It could take a few days. Possibly even a few months.
The diagnosis was as much sweet as it was bitter, but honestly, we were hoping for a quicker solution. A speedier healing. A faster resolution.
When our hearts are wounded from unexpected relationship traumas, we often want to click a simple prayer button and make everything whole and well.
When questions are many and answers are few, we want vision for a mile but often get just enough sight for the next step.
When our overspending choices slash us like falling prices, we try to throw a little sanitizing scripture on the gash of our debt and get out of it in the microwave minute of extended credit.
But life doesn’t work that way. Freedom doesn’t work that way. Quick faith fixes are not a Biblical guarantee. Healing often takes time… and sometimes it doesn’t look like we want it to look. The way we think it should look.
The writer of Hebrews had this to say, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1).
Yes. God does sometimes rescue and bring us healing immediately, but He’s not obligated to. He’s God, He’s able, and He’s sovereign. Remembering this helps me to trust Him when life gets scary and stressful.
I think about this, and a barrage of questions flood my mind.
Are there lessons to be learned in this lingering?
What if God wants to use the strains, stains, and disappointments we face to refine us – restore us – strengthen us – and draw us to His side in our desperation?
What if God plans to teach us to know Him in new ways as we struggle to hear, to hope, and to heal?
What if instant healing or quick answers would rob me of greater depth?
If these “what if” wonderings are on point, then I’m all for the waiting. Because I really do want to be a woman of depth. Don’t you? Isn’t that what faith is all about?
If I always get what I hope for right away and can always see clearly, then how will my faith grow?
While Preston waited on his healing, I prayed that the lessons we learned would be rich along the way. In the waiting of each trial, you and I will grow in faith as we lean in closely to listen to the whispers of the One who is trustworthy in all things seen and unseen.
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, You are all-knowing and all-powerful. All wisdom, grace, compassion, and strength are Yours. Please, forgive me for the times when I tell You how to fix me. I need You, Lord, and I choose right now to trust the plan of healing You have for me and my loved ones. Thank You, Father.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
What trial has your faith stretched and strained right now?
Meet us in the comments section to share your heart and pray for one another.
More From the Girlfriends
Today’s post is an excerpt from Gwen Smith’s book, I Want It ALL. Ready to narrow the gap between ordinary faith and the not-so-ordinary promises of God found in His Word? Order yours today from Amazon, Gwen’s website or from your favorite retailer.
© 2023 by Gwen Smith. All rights reserved.
Thank you for sharing, todays devotion uplifting to remind faith is muscle that must be incorporated daily . I’m struggling with waiting in uncomfortable living space and be obedient to hear direction and
guide find new home, scripture reminds to remain in faith, knowing Gods hears my prayers. God Bless you
In my waiting, God has been so faithful and I’ve become a better christian by His grace and grown in faith and though I’m still waiting, I have learnt to count my blessing and fully trust Him.
Hi,
I just want to tell you how much your devotionals mean to me. I have been reading them for years. What is so interesting to me is that these seem to align most times with what I am going through in my life.
I know God is using these devotionals to remind me just what today was about. Being assured he is in control and even though I may not get answers to my concerns immediately, He is the one that has the answers and I need to get out of his way.
Your ministry is wonderful and I am sure y’all touch a lot of lives through them.
Best regards,
Gina
Our son turned his back on the Lord after Bible College and mission trips every year. He went from zealous for God to being an unbeliever along with his Christian wife. He left 9 years ago and we haven’t seen him or heard from him in almost 5 years. He’s blocked us on every level. We pray daily, many times a day but the waiting is so hard
New to your site but love your daily devotionals & how you align them with real life scenarios in order to guide us to the path to not step away from. I am in the longest (thus far) most difficult & unexpected chapter in my book this year, and I often let my human head get negative & douce my faith fire. But simple yet powerful shares like yours today IS a “live note” from our Heavenly Father- having us help one another here on earth.
Thank you!
Betsy Kaye
Thank you for allowing God to use you. I have been engagement for 5 years. I have watched many friends get engagement after me and get married before me. It has been difficult, to say the least. But God uses this devoción and other sources to encourage and Guide me slowly.
Waiting for healing for my unborn grandson that doctors say has a heart defect. Praying for a miracle healing and believing that God will heal and he will be born perfect! Waiting is hard.
Thank you for your devotionals. Many times they are just what I needed for a certain situation. Today was right on target. I was in a serious car accident 6 months ago this weekend. It has been a long and hard road to recovery. I expected to be fully recovered by now but I still have a ways to go. I am thankful I can walk again but impatient for full recovery. Please pray that I will trust the Lord until the very end. Thanks.
My husband has been diagnosed with cancer. My struggle is letting God make His plan work in His time. I am a control person. I like to plan, make notes and lists. I’ve prayed for God to tell me what is going to happen in my future then I read in my devotions and my bible that there is no crystal ball that God will handle my future. What? He wants me to not worry and let Him handle the outcome of this situation. I sit here typing and hear my husband’s shallow breathing. I have no clue what the outcome of this illness will be, but what I do know is that while I was praying for God to hold my hand and lead me through whatever comes my way (after I stopped praying to knowing my future) I heard a voice that simply said be prepared. So, I am preparing myself for both a life with my husband and a life without him. I’m taking over most all the indoor and outdoor chores around here and learning what needs to be done. I just don’t know how people do it when they don’t have God. Secretly I still wish I knew the outcome, but honestly, I know God has it all figured out and will do what is best for me. Afterall, he chose me, I am his child.
AMEN 🙏
This week’s readings have been on Point. Monday I had an eye appointment, which was a follow up from May 3rd.
My gut feeling wasn’t good! So many things ran through my mind.
To top it off My BFF Son committed suicide!! What more could my mind take? 💔
I Prayed for Her, Cried for her and Ask for Healing to be given to her.
Going back to my appointment; Dr did his tests and I sat in the room Praying!!
Why Me?? Dr came in an gave Me the Worst News I Didn’t Want to Hear!
“Karen, you have Glaucoma in both eyes.”
Sitting there in dead silence. My heart dropped to my stomach! What? Is this really real?
I was where did I go wrong in My Life? What did I do to have this condition? A condition that isn’t cure able!!
“Take these eye drops at night. I’ll see you in a month and will check your eyes again.”
Walked out of the office to my car. My 22yr old daughter is waiting for Me.
She’s happy to see Me. Asks me if everything alright. I look at her and nod my head yes. “Good Mom, Your a Brave Strong Mom I have.” She tells Me.
My Faith in God Disappeared… lost, gone,why me? I’ve asked the past 3 days.
Prayers for Me, I Need. I’m Lost!!
I am a great grandmother. I’m an old woman. I know better, but in this microwave world, I still want answers, and I want them now. As I said, I know better. I have always struggled with faith, and I know that you cannot have a close relationship with the Lord without faith. Thank you for this much needed devotion today. Asking for prayers for my 2 grown daughters. My prayer is that they reach out to God and to each other. Both are hurting, and as mama, I want to fix that hurt. I constantly pray, “Lord they are Yours…Your ways are better than my ways…Your time is better than my time.” Yet, I find myself thinking, “I wish God would….” “I wish this was over. How much longer?” God IS in control. Whatever happens, it’ll be all right, because He’s got this. Thank Ya’ll.
Hi,
We buried our oldest daughter on the first of this month. My 3rd daughter felt something was wrong because she was always the first one to comment on any pics of our new granddaughter and she hadn’t done so. Nikki decided to go to Larissa’s house and check on her.
When she got there, both cars were there and the dogs were barking like crazy in the garage. Nikki called and said no one is coming to the door and she didn’t know what to do. I told her she had to do a “wellness check”. She was more worried about the police breaking the door than anything else.
Nikki called me back and said it doesn’t look good. The detective told us there are two dead females inside. Murder/Suicide. I’m so heartbroken but I’ve always been taught not to question God. I have to believe his plan is better than my own understanding. Please pray for our family and her many friends.
Thank you for listening.
Dear, dear Karen,
I know what it’s like to get bad news…from hurting friends and from doctors. When it seems to happen all at the same time, I really believe that God is urgently trying to get your attention. Rather than convict Him, please turn to Him for guidance and comfort. He will give you the answers in time. I know it’s REALLY hard to wait though! I will pray for you and your friend. God bless you, dear sister.
Today’s devotional was what I needed to hear!
It hit home and it is exactly what I’m going through. The Lord knew I needed to hear this to bring comfort to what I’m going through!
I’ve been working on my health for the last year and have held on to the Lord through this whole journey. While my health has gotten a lot better, there are areas that I continue to struggle with lowering, including my Blood pressure and my B12 levels. I get so anxious and I know that doesn’t help.
Today’s devotional allowed the calm assurance that I needed to hear that God is in control and works at his timing, not mine. I have to trust in God and the process he is making me go through and I know that my faith will grow as I learn to just take his hand and embrace his calmness…with God by my side, I know I can get through anything. Prayers for me today as I have a doctors appointment this afternoon.
Thank you for this devotional, I know God sent this to me today and loves each and every one of us, Amen!
-Karina
Ephesians 3:18-19. I sing this verse back to the Lord begging him for healing. He tells me His grace is sufficient for my needs.
Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.
Hi
I was already struggling with so much health,kids,finances now we just had a call my oldest brother has days to live. Please pray for me and my family during this time.