There are times in our lives when we have nothing to trust in, nothing to depend upon except for God and God only.
As humans, we tend to naturally be uncomfortable when we reach these times in our lives. Times when we are not in control. Times when we are at a loss of words. Times when we are mentally, physically, emotionally and sometimes spiritually exhausted and weak.
I personally have not been to that extreme (thankfully) but I have some dear friends who have been there on multiple occasions. This weekend was one of them.
I know I have mentioned Charlie before but just to bring you up to speed, he just turned 3 a month ago and less than 2 weeks ago he went through his 4th major heart surgery. As you can imagine, a 3 year old boy who has gone through 4 major heart surgeries in his life, there have been plenty of opportunities and moments that God has worked and moved in his life. I have been fortunate enough to witness some of these miracles God has done through Charlie and through his parents.
Friday night Charlie had a rough night. I was just getting ready to go to bed when I got a text from his mom. I'll spare all the details but if you'd like more information on Charlie and follow his progress, please feel free to visit his Caring Bridge website : http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/charliesmith
His blood pressure had dropped along with some other issues and his doctors couldn't figure out why. It had already been a rough day and his mother just wanted to see her boy get some rest and some relief from his constant pain. It was late at night but we can't always control when prayer is needed. So as soon as I got her text, I forwarded it - along with an apology for the late hour. But many people texted back and within 10 minutes, I knew there was a group lifting up Charlie before God's Throne of Grace.
A few minutes later, Charlie's aunt called me to give me an update and few more details. I wish I could have found good, comforting words to give to her but all I could think to do was pray.
So that's what I did.
I thought of that night as I read though the story of Gideon. In Judges 7, God is preparing Gideon and his army for a battle. I noticed verse 2,
"And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me saying, Mine own hand hath saved me."That statement led to Gideon's army being reduced down from 32,000 to just 10,000. But verse 4, God tells Gideon it's still too much.
"And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be that of whom I say unto thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go."Guess how many ended up going with Gideon to fight in the battle.
300.
From 32,000 to 300.
Wow.
I know the old saying goes 'there is safety in numbers' but the Bible says "safety is of the Lord."
God didn't want Israel to take credit for what He was going to do. I think He still does that. He will strip us of everything sometimes and leave us with Him as our only option. He likes it that way and honestly, that's the way it should be. It isn't always easy and it isn't always comfortable to be there but....but there is a reason He does that. He puts us in those predicaments and situations where we have nothing and no one but Him and it is at those moments where He can get the greatest glory.
I have seen God do amazing, unthinkable things for Charlie and through Charlie. The moments that stick out the most for me are those very moments when the only option, the only comfort, the only focus is prayer to Him.
Another nugget I got from this little example of Gideon was from verse 4 where God said He will try them by the water. Before Charlie was born God had already been preparing his parents to be the kind of people, the kind of believers, the kind of Christians, the kind of parents that Charlie would need. God knew that and that
is why He gave Charlie the parents and family that He did. They have definitely been tried in ways that many Christians will never even imagine being challenged and through it all, they have grown closer together, drawn closer to God and continually have given Him the glory - through the good and the bad.
If you think of it, please pray for Charlie and visit his site. He is such a little champ and he is one of God's special little workers. If you pray for him, I can guarantee you that you will witness a miracle of God.
It's not always easy to be in the type of situations like Gideon and these 300 men were in, going up against the Midiantites and their vast army and it's not easy for Charlie and his parents being in their situation, trying to handle each challenge as it arises and the constant worry of the unknown but what a comfort it is to know that God is there. God was there with Gideon and they won the battle
because of God. God is there in that hospital room with Charlie right now, feeling the pain Charlie feels, comforting Charlie's family as they stay by his side, trusting that Charlie will win his battle, too
because of God.
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed: for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee: yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10
