Standing Tall

We continue to shout praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary – we can stand – out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.
Romans 5:3-5 (The Message)

We lived with FSHD for over a decade. Facio Scapular Humeral Dystrophy is an adult-onset form of Muscular Dystrophy (MD). My husband, Bill, was diagnosed with FSHD in 1999. When we left the neurologist’s office that day I was picturing all the changes we would more than likely see in our lives – i.e. ramps, handicapped parking, etc. I knew very little about MD other than watching Jerry Lewis’ telethon to raise awareness and money to fight this disease. I soon learned that there are many types of dystrophy – even many that go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.

My husband, Bill, ws an amazing man. He had a pastor’s heart and deeply cared for others. He had struggled for years with ongoing weakness especially in the heat. Yet, he kept going with no complaints and the strong desire to serve others. He finally realized that the physical demands of leading a small church (where you do just about everything from mowing to cleaning the bathrooms to preaching and visiting folks in the hospital) were too much. He retired from full-time ministry but the caring heart kept beating.

The changes were so gradual that it is like the growth of your children. You don’t realize it is happening until others see them or you put the mark on the wall. Bill started experiencing difficulties swallowing and increased shortness of breath. Both of these problems came together and resulted in a 911 call. Since then the problem with swallowing gotworse. A swallowing test revealed that his epiglottis was not doing its job of closing when he swallowed. To make that worse, the fear of choking has made it a full time job just to get liquids down. The automatic coordination of many different body parts that allows you to swallow hundreds of times a day was not working for him.

This new situation with Bill’s ability to swallow felt like a life changer. I could only think of often we ate together. Family gatherings all centered around food.

Hope Tools

Let go

I needed God’s perspective to make it through this difficult situation. I felt so helpless. When I asked for His truth, I instantly had a mental picture of what I was doing. I saw myself trying to carry Bill. I was dragging him as best I could but we were both in so much pain. I let go of Bill and looked up. Suddenly, God became the size of an adult while we were the size of toddlers. He picked Bill up and took me by the hand. We started walking together. I don’t understand it all yet I know that God is good and He has a plan.

Shout praises

Sometimes we come up against a wall and the last thing we want to do is praise. This verse tells us to shout praises while we are still in trouble. It’s so important to recognize that your current situation is temporary. Begin to pull out the promises from the Word and trust God to be faithful to His promises for you. There is something about speaking these promises over yourself as loudly as you can! It begins to release the power of the Word and aligns your Spirit with what the Lord is doing.

Be alert for what God’s doing next

This is a hope stance because we know that God isn’t finished with you yet. He has great plans regardless of what lies you are believing right now. Ask Him to replace those lies with His truth in your life. As you do that, you will be able to enjoy the miracles even before they happen.

Prayer

Praise was not on my priority list this morning when I got up yet You challenge me to shout praises to You even when I feel like the walls are closing in on me. Thank You for developing a level of patience that is supernatural because it does not focus on the present trials but on what you are doing in the midst of it all. I choose to be on high alert as to what you are doing next. I want the grace to live in this level of expectancy no matter what is going on so that I never feel shortchanged. I want to stand out in the wide open spaces of Your grace and glory. I thank You that I can stand tall and continue to shout praises. Romans 5:3-5 (The Message) In Jesus’ Name. Amen.