It was a Tuesday in 1987 when a doctor informed me that I did not have the flu. Instead I had a baby on the way that would be arriving in February. It was Friday of that same week a doctor informed us that my mom had cancer of a progressive nature and life expectancy is about 6 months…which would be February.

I watched my mom lose her battle with a wretched disease and yet watched, at the same time, the miracle of life growing inside me. My mom had a relationship with the Lord that I honestly did not understand. She talked to him like He was right there.  She had overcome tremendous difficulties in life, and I guess that is what made those two so close. The Lord called her home five weeks after our son, Jarrad, her first grandchild was born. I was grief stricken to a degree I had never experienced. And to be honest, somewhat mad at the Lord. He was the ONLY ONE who could have prevented this. He was the only one that could have done something…but He did not.

So, what do you do when the Lord chooses not to do what you have begged him to do?

You do what Habakkuk did: “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength!” (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

You do your best every day to accept what God has withheld from your life.

You do whatever it takes to hide yourself in the shadow of the Almighty!

You take refuge and you take courage!

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not know if the Lord would deliver them however, they knew He could. Our faith grows and our lives bring glory to God when we believe, speak, and live in full confidence that He is able to…even if He chooses not to.

Debbie Stuart