Hello my dear readers! I appreciate you understanding my absence as I was very sick for two and a half months. My medicine had to be straighten out. I can say during the time I was away, my faith was tested again and again. It’s been almost two months since then; it’s beautiful to look back and see how the Lord used me with all the people I came into contact with each day. He used my suffering and sorrow to bring me closer to His heart.

The Lord never left me, He is my strong support and my steady hand. Don’t let my words fool you, it was VERY difficult being away from home so long in a hospital. I felt very alone, but Jesus was my Rock and strong fortress. I know that the Lord WAS with me and He helped me each day to make it to the end of the day.

I wanted to share with you a prayer that I wrote shortly after arriving at a hospital in Orlando. I hope you enjoy it.

Your Love. It encompasses every part of me. Truly a miracle to see: Your hand at work in my life. You go before me and hem me in from behind. You really always have a plan, though many times it is so hard to see through this rain coming down.

Why do you choose to let me suffer so? You leave me here with nothing! I have nothing to offer You.

Calm my mind, Lord. In this time of loneliness and abandon, help me find You in Your essence. I am so weak,Lord. I need You. Won’t You draw near to me? I wait endlessly for all this suffering and waiting to end. Will You fight for me because I am so weary Lord, without Your touch. I am so thirsty for some hope here. Help me to wait for You. I need Your refreshment. God, be my HOPE in this dry and weary time.

Well, Lord, it’s me and You. Like always, right Lord? You ARE my strength. My hope and my VERY Breath. “My grace is sufficient for you for MY power is made perfect in weakness.” For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9) (At this point) I didn’t even know what those verses meant. With each passing day of not being with any of my family, it was O so hard to keep my face pointed toward the cross. Sometimes it’s enough to hang on for dear life!

But I know, I KNOW! He was right there with me: helping me and shielding me. He is my Great Defense and my Strong Tower. Somehow, I had to keep believing that. My suffering was so great that many times I couldn’t carry on. But my Lord helped me through it with His dear presence reminding me that He would never leave me or forsake me.

I got home November 18, right in time for the holidays and to celebrate my Savior’s birth. It is so awesome to see how He uses suffering to make Himself known in my life, and in the lives of those I come into contact with. Be blessed today!