Remember that one time I got really sick my first week on the World Race? Yep…me too. Great times. However, this is not a story about my gastro-intestinal journey but about how God, in all His humor and goodness uses the most unexpected moments to move our spirit.
I don’t know if it was the milk in our delicious macchiatos or just a divine appointment that I woke up at 3:30 in the morning ready for “Show and Tell: Dinner Addition” between the toilet and I, but God used this lovely opporunity to speak to me. As I was curled up on my bed waiting for my next speedy venture to the bathroom, a soft melody started to drift over my spirit, soothing me..
“When Peace like a river attendeth my way..when sorrows like sea billows roll…”
In that moment I felt my God so near to me. So close, radiating through me.
“…whatever my lot Thou hast taught me to say…It is well, It is well, It is well with my soul“
My body was weak but my spirit was so strong(the strongest since we had arrived in Albania, to be honest). My team prayedand I’d love to say in that moment that a miracluous physical healing took place and I regained my strength in time for our first day of ministry, but I didn’t. It actually got worse and I spent the morning at a local hospital with an IV to get rehydrated. Even amongst all the chaos of the speeding in and out of traffic and unsuccessfully fighting back nausea in our gracious neighbor’s car on the way to the clinic(praise the Lord for plastic bags), I felt peace still resonating in my soul as I quietly sang “It is well, it is well, it is well with my soul“.
I was filled with a steady strength that I didn’t understand, even when my body literally had nothing left. There were even moments of thankfullness. Thank you for a bed to rest in, a real toilet that flushes, an incredible host family that cared and fought for my well being as they would a beloved daughter or relative (even though I’d known them for three days at that point) and so much more. Philippians 4: 6,7 say
“Don’t worry about anything: instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done. Then you will experience His peace which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will gaurd your hearts and mind as you live in Christ Jesus. “
Friends, God is so near. He is so close. His love and gentle comfort is so steady , so constant.
Throughout our month here in Albania, God has constantly brought me back to this place of peace, showing me how easily accessible it is to enter that space with Him.
Our circumstances never limit God’s character and attributes- only our attitudes and willingness to be aware of Him does. He can move in our pain just as well as our victories, we just tag along for the ride and say yes to whatever He has, holding onto His peace in the process.
His peace is readily available. Just dive in.
