We recently were able to fulfill a big dream from my bucket list: a vacation to Hawaii. The views were spectacular. The waterfalls were plentiful. The flowers extremely vibrant. However, one of the most memorable stops was at the Volcano National Park. The igneous rock that had formed from the volcanic ash covered the ground as far as the eye could see. My husband and I were speechless, knowing the devastation that these eruptions caused at some point in time.
However, something equally amazing struck us also. Every now and then greenery, flowers and even a tree began to poke through the rock and bloom again in this desolate landscape. One guide told us that the ash can even fertilize the ground at some point. How amazing!
Many verses in the Bible speak of perseverance. One of my favorites is in the book of Psalms.
Psalm 18: 2 says, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
Two days after we returned from our incredible vacation my sister called telling me that our dad (88 years of age) had fallen and broken his hip and arm in 3 places. All of a sudden everything changed. It felt like the volcano had erupted and I didn’t know how to escape it. I was looking at the situation all wrong. I took it personally. I was looking at the eruption, not the beauty that might come from it down the road. God doesn’t promise us a life of ease and comfort but He does promise us that He will go through any situation with us. I know the days ahead will be challenging for my family. I understand that life can be difficult when we reach old age. But I do have faith that God is there holding my family up with His strong right hand. Isaiah 41:13 states: “For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.” Not only does God hold us up with HIs right hand but he continues to hold ours gripping tightly just as a parent grabs their child’s hand as they cross a busy street.
So, Dad broke his left hand and God grips his right hand giving him that calm assurance that only He can give. Meanwhile, I’m still waiting for that determined little flower to peek through the rock. And it will….one day.
Adopted Through Grace 