Words of Comfort

As I am sure most others who have undergone this surgery, I had lots of anxiety in the days and weeks leading up to the surgery.  I knew I was probably going to have the surgery for a year before I actually had it.  It was scheduled for 3 months. That gave me plenty of time to get anxious and freak out.  I have a strong Christian faith and without the support and prayers of my family, friends, local church and others, I don't know if I would have made it through.

I want to share a couple of particular things that I found inspiration from in hopes that they might help someone else facing this surgery or another crisis in their life.

The first is from Sometimes an Unknown Path: 40 Psalm-Prayers in Contemplative Voice by Jerry Webber.  I am on the staff at my local church as the Business Administrator.  During a staff meeting just after I had scheduled my surgery, the pastor shared this devotion.  I have bolded the part that particularly spoke to me.  Then at the last staff meeting before I was leaving town before my surgery, the pastor said she was rereading one of the devotions from this book.  She knew she had read it, but she didn't know when and she didn't remember that it was the one that had spoke to me so much about my surgery, but yes, this was the one she was rereading.  I would say that was a "God Moment".

Day 13 - Psalm 143:5-10 Prayer: A Psalm of Opening to God

God, I call to mind significant times I have experienced Your presence this past year ....
I give thanks for the beauty I have seen in the created world ....
I consider what Your hands have done in the lives of people I know....

I open my hands and lift them wide to You, open and expectant.
Fill my thirsty life with Your love, with Your compassion,
     with Your mercy, with Your justice.

God don't leave me to my own wiles and manipulations.
I see so little of what is really real that if left to myself
     I'd destroy my own life and those around me.

Speak into me Your never-ending love at the dawn of this new day.
Show me the first steps of the path into my future,

     the steps that will draw me deeper into Your heart,
     the steps that will draw out of me my most authentic self,
     the steps that will lead me to lay down my life,
     on behalf of those You love and gave Your own life for.

Deliver me from my fear of taking the next risky step,

Heal my need to control the future.

The only security I need is Your presence.

For my heart's desire is to walk with You into the days ahead.

Walk with me and show me how to do that.

Give me Your Spirit as a Guide along this path

You have invited me to walk.

And when the time comes, give me the grace to soar.

Amen.

The second item that really spoke to me in the weeks leading up to my surgery was a song.  I play in our church's handbell choir and we were doing a concert with all of our church music groups on January 25, 4 weeks before my February 21 surgery.  To close the concert, the congregation and Praise Team sang "Made Me Glad" by Hillsong Worship.  It had been a particularly rough day at work.  I was really anxious about my upcoming surgery.  During this song the tears just flowed.  Again, I'll bold the particular lines that really got to me.

"Made Me Glad"

I will bless the Lord forever
And I will trust Him at all times
He has delivered me from all sin
And He has set my feet upon a rock

And I will not be moved
And I'll say of the Lord

You are my shield, my strength
My portion, Deliverer
My shelter, strong tower
My very present help in time of need

Whom have I in Heaven but You?
There's none I desire beside You
You have made me glad
And I'll say of the Lord

[Chorus:]
You are my shield, my strength
My portion, Deliverer
My shelter, strong tower
My very present help
You are my shield, my strength
My portion, Deliverer
My shelter, strong tower
My very present help in time of need

You have made me glad
And I'll say of the Lord

[repeat chorus]

My very present help in time of need [repeat]

Hope you find inspiration in this devotion and song as I did.  All of life's challenges are easier when God is walking at our side.