September 25 | 1 Peter 1:8-9

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DAILY READING

I Peter 1:8-9

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REFLECTION

Believing Without Seeing

By David Thompson

I have been going to church almost all of my life and because of that, "I know whom I believe in and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." (2 Timothy 1:12).

Since being sick with a great number of things, I have had time to tell Jesus that I am ready for whatever He has next for my life. I have prayed long and hard for Carla with her Parkinson's Disease and all of the suffering that it has brought to us. It got me a few months ago when she said, "I think I am getting dementia and am seeing beings that are not there." My world came crashing down around me as I know that dementia and hallucinations are two of the last stages of this terrible disease. I cried, I pleaded with God to please take this away from my loving bride. I had nowhere to turn, so I turned to an entity that I have never seen and poured my heart out.

A few days passed when Aaron and Carla called her neurologist and described what was going on. The neurologist thought for a couple of minutes and then announced that one of the medications Carla was taking can cause all of that. She stopped taking the offending med and within two days, the dimension and hallucinations were gone. She now squirms a little more when she is sitting, but that is not terminal only normal.

The Lord may have very well changed this situation by giving the doctor knowledge.

Through all that I have been through, I am sure of one thing, doctors are not gods. It would have been very possible that Carla's neurologist might not have known what to do, but I am sure that even without seeing the Great Physician, He has a plan and perhaps the plan for Carla was to enlighten a doctor to the needed solution. I believe that and that gives me ready assurance to know what I am facing these last number of months are also in God's hands and plan. Thank you, Jesus for your loving us enough to take care of Carla and me even when I have no answers and continue to count on a God I believe in, but can't see.

PRAYER

Lord, God, I thank you for your caring for even the least of your children. Thank you for eternal life at the end of this life's journey. We can see you in your creation, in the friends you provide to help us build a laundry room and install a toilet. You are the great "I Am" and have the plan for each of us. We love you for all you do. Amen.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David Thompson

I am the administrator of the Daily Worship Blog. My wife, Carla, and I have been attending UALC for seven years at the 9 o'clock service at Mill Run. We have two children, Catherine and Aaron. I have been a Christian for 53 years and am thankful that my Savior has given me two spiritual gifts that have carried me both spiritually and vocationally all my life: they are teaching and administration. I look forward to spending many years here at UALC to serve my Lord and Savior.