Waiting on the Lord

The drugs must have taken hold and completely masked all pain my poor little dog was in because when I opened the door to go for a walk, she sprinted to my side and leaped over the doorstep. The hard part will be keeping her walks short till her inflammation is down and the doc gives the ok for longer stretches.

A miracle! Just two days ago, she had not been able to even stand up. For three days, she lay in a panting, miserable heap, crying with pain if we tried to help her stand. It was so hard to watch her like that, and to wait, wait, wait for the medicine to begin to work. Then yesterday, she bounced about with joy and vigor, eager to dash outside. What a difference a day (and strong drugs) make! God is roaring to me on this one: do not crumble when life seems sour. His mercies abound and are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness. The darkness always gives way eventually to the light.

One of the women ("L") I have mentored for months since helping counsel her to choose not to abort her baby texted me early yesterday. She was dilated 6 cm, and now hanging out at the hospital awaiting her precious daughter. She texted me periodically throughout the day. Baby's heart beat was slowing with contractions - and they feared the cord was around her neck. I kept waiting to hear a c-section was needed, but she continued texting, upbeat, and surrounded by her family. As of dinner time, no c-section, and no baby. Meanwhile, my fellow counselors Lisa and Mary were praying along with me and their prayer teams. I sat with my phone by my side all day waiting for updates. It was very hard to wait. Please Lord, let that little baby girl be strong and healthy, and born soon!

It is hard to wait. David, in Psalm 27, wrote beautiful verses about waiting on the Lord till He sends His light in the darkness. I love this verse: I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! 

I know it is hard to take courage when all seems to be disintegrating around you, when worry and fear begin to gnaw at your resolve. When you picture cords weaving around tender necks, choking... It is so hard to wait. So hard to wait. 

I texted L again and again as the evening wore on. Any news? Is there a baby here yet? No word as bedtime approached. I lay in bed, reading, and praying. And then the text came in, " I had her. She is the most beautiful baby the doctor delivered today she said."
I have no doubt of that at all! I am sure the angels applauding in heaven agree.

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Psalm 27 

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
    of whom shall I be afraid?

² When evildoers assail me
    to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
    it is they who stumble and fall.

³ Though an army encamp against me,
    my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
    yet I will be confident.

⁴ One thing have I asked of the Lord,
    that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
    and to inquire in his temple.

⁵ For he will hide me in his shelter
    in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
    he will lift me high upon a rock.

⁶ And now my head shall be lifted up
    above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
    sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

⁷ Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
    be gracious to me and answer me!
⁸ You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
    “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
⁹     Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
    O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
    O God of my salvation!
¹⁰ For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
    but the Lord will take me in.

¹¹ Teach me your way, O Lord,
    and lead me on a level path
    because of my enemies.
¹² Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
    for false witnesses have risen against me,
    and they breathe out violence.

¹³ I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living!
¹⁴ Wait for the Lord;
    be strong, and let your heart take courage;
    wait for the Lord!