Walking in His Strength
Basking in the love of Jesus prepared me for walking in His
strength. I did not know how my world
was about to change drastically. Attending
the final team planning meeting in North Carolina for the next Emmaus Walk in
March of 2000 was a delight as we listened to team member’s talks and prayed
for ladies who would be experiencing their own personal “walk to Emmaus.”
When I returned home that night (this was before cell
phones) I had a message on the answering machine that my husband’s sister Peggy
and his mother Virginia had been in a wreck and were taken to local hospitals. My husband John then called and told me that
his mother was taken by ambulance to Blairsville Union General Hospital and for
me to go there to see about her. He was
traveling to Atlanta because Peggy was being airlifted to Shepherd Hospital.
Saturday, March 4, 2000 Peggy and Virginia were traveling to
Marietta, Georgia for a baby shower.
Peggy was looking for something in her purse and she went off the road
on a curve, tried to pull back on road and the car turned over. Virginia had her seat belt on and was bruised
and broke her back and some ribs. Peggy
did not have her seat belt on (just the lap part) – her head hit the top of the
car and she broke her neck and had spinal injury to C5/6 vertebrae.
My heart was breaking when I saw Peggy the next day at
Shepherd Spinal Center in the halo brace to hold her neck and spinal cord
straight. She asked us “who is going to
take care of me?” John and I responded unanimously
– “We will,” not fully comprehending what that would mean.
I quoted her a verse the Lord gave me the night before as I
sought the Lord for something – anything to make sense of this. Rom. 15:3
“May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so
that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
And so we did care for her - and her parents as well. In their eighties they were devastated and
did not fully grasp the situation for several months. In April John and I went for family training
at Shepherd to find out how to care for her.
What a wonderful hospital – from the intake counselor to the physical
therapists and occupational therapists to the doctor and nurses – all wonderful
people – so professional and caring.
Shepherd provided funds for John to remodel his parent’s house with
ramps and a handicapped bedroom and shower.
Peggy came home from the hospital in May of 2000 and we
realized God’s strength as we all became care givers. Looking back now I am in awe at how God gave
us supernatural strength to care for Peggy.
Many would say, “I don’t know how you do it.” And now, I think, “I don’t know how we did it
either.”
God also used this to bring our family closer and helped us
realize the scriptures are so real and not just nice platitudes. “I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me.” “My God shall supply
all your needs according to his riches in Glory by Christ Jesus.” These and many more sustained us.
Walking in God’s strength is possible when you bask in his
presence. Nothing is too hard for
God.
Are you facing
an impossible situation in your life?
You are not alone. God wants to give
you strength.
Philippians 4:13
New
International Version (NIV)
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as
you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy
Spirit.
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches
in glory by Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am
your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
