Lord,
lead us quickly
through this dark passageway
into Life.

I’m just asking
for a little heaven,
here on earth.

Be with us now –
our resurrection,
our abundant life –
You promised.

John 10 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Jesus healed people, while He walked the earth, and He still does – and I think we need reminders of that sometimes.

Yes, on earth – we suffer and die too, of course.

But I think it’s helpful to live in joyful expectancy of miracles, knowing that even in the worst-case scenario – God is with us, working miracles on our behalf.

Recently, my son had a medical emergency, which caused me to fear he might die. He went from being in relatively good spirits chatting about his night of not feeling the best to throwing up so much he suddenly became disoriented, incoherent, babbling and then unresponsive – I thought he might have brain damage and never be himself again, even if he lived. It was so scary to see him that way.

Four hours later – thanks to iv fluids and medical professionals ruling out more serious issues, he started coming back to himself. They didn’t find any underlying serious health issue – it was just dehydration from a stomach bug getting the best of him. Thank God he was able to receive quality medical care, and we were able to take him to the hospital right away!

Dylan is my son who experienced a miracle that completely changed my life, when he was a baby. At 13, he’s an ordinary teenager with his own unique irreplicable spirit – witty, strong willed, gentle, clever, earnest – did I mention strong willed? Strong minded, quirky, smart and sweet. He loves to give treats to his little sister and is the most engaged babysitter in our family. He is a chef extraordinaire, laid back, twinkle-in-his-eye, always ready with a wisecrack Dylan – a beloved member of our family.

It’s amazing to think how quickly he could be taken from us.

“He gives and takes away.”

“The Lord comes like a thief in the night.”

In those hours of waiting on cat scans and labs, wondering what on earth was happening to him – I felt in a way like my “miracle” was being stolen. With that terrifying prospect, I took great comfort in realizing Jesus heavenly promise of eternal life. I could imagine feeling Dylan’s spirit around me no matter what, even while I prayed and hoped for his healing. My miracle could never be taken from me. His soul will always be with me because of what Jesus did for us on the cross.

He conquered sin and death.

He rose from the grave.

He is the Prince of Peace.

I don’t have power over death – if Jesus called Dylan home, he would have been healed in heaven, and Jesus would have been with us through every step of the grieving process.

I do – with my whole heart – believe in the power of prayer. Beneath the anxiety, I could feel the Holy Spirit’s familiar presence reassuring my heart – especially once we got a prayer chain going – that everything was going to be okay, and it was. The Lord was with us through the storm, holding us close and giving us the grace to stay focused on the most hopeful outcome, which turned out to be accurate.

Who by worrying has ever gained an hour of his life?

I am so grateful Dylan is safe and humbled to realize that even as his mother, I had no control in keeping him safe under those circumstances.

Lately, so many aspects of my life have been out of my control. Things that I have worked so hard for and made huge sacrifices for have been scattered to the winds. Life has thrown me curveball after curveball, some of them taking my breath away.

In this world you will have trouble but take heart I have overcome the world.

I don’t know what is going to happen next, but I know I will continue the journey of reconciliation with God, repenting my many failings, and offering him my doubts, fears, insecurities and struggles in exchange for his gifts and graces. I will fight for my loved ones in prayer, follow Spirit promptings to the best of my abilities no matter what and open myself up to receive the infinite miraculous mercy He so freely pours out for us – and I will be okay because I have Him in my life.

Lord, when the darkness catches us off guard and surrounds us and it feels like our worst nightmares are coming true, bless us with a deep and abiding trust in You and Your faithfulness. You are our Healer, our Light, our Fortress, our Stronghold and our Salvation. Help us to know you better that we will have the grace to believe in you always – in good times and in bad. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

written by Nicky Gant 8/20/2022