I leave in 3 days to go to Atlanta and reunite with my wonderful squad and team to start a process of learning, and worship! We will then leave the country on the morning of the 17th to go to HAITI! It is so exciting!
Many of you know that when God has big plans, the devil starts to use people and situations to get you scared, and possibly even make you rethink your choices. Satan has definitely been at work. It is no secret that I am a large guy, I am much taller than the average height, and considered overweight statistically. I have never had any type of issues with my health growing up, which is a blessing!
Recently, I was dog sitting for a friend of mine at his house while he was gone to his in-laws. It was a Sunday, that morning I was able to share my heart for God and the mission I am about to set out on at church that morning, followed by a fundraiser that brought wonderful support (I am VERY thankful for that!). As I was going to sleep that night at my friends house, I had a pain in my foot. I shook it off as if it was nothing, thinking I may have hit it on something. Around 11 P.M., the pain in my foot had increased tremendously. It became overbearing. I attempted to stand up and failed. I sat there in confusion for another hour and finally got the courage to call my mother to see if she knew anything I could do. After letting her know that I was not able to walk at all, she got up in the middle of the night, and drove out to where I was. We went to the emergency room and I was told I am dealing with Gout, which is pretty much a form of arthritis. If any of you have ever dealt with it, you know that it is AWFUL. I got my medications and went on my way. I did get a little worried about battling this, as my race was coming quick.
I apologize this story is taking so long, I promise it has a good ending!!
As I was suppose to, I followed up with my primary doctor to see if my Uric Acid level went down (Uric Acid causes gout if the number is too high). The number began to decrease, but something else raised attention; my liver enzyme count. The doctor was a little confused and scheduled me to come back to have some more blood work done. As I went back and got it checked, he wanted me to get an ultrasound done to check my liver. Inflamed liver is not good. It could mean Hepatitis, or many other things. I called the doctor to set up the ultrasound and made sure they knew I was leaving in 5 days and would not be back for a year. They didn’t really seem too worried about that.
I finally slowed down with life and noticed that I had not been seeking God through this situation. I had began to let this situation worry me and I began to give satan what he wanted; doubt. I prayed and told God that I was leaving this in His hands.
David Platt has a sermon on the sovereignty of God in all situations. I sat and listened to this sermon with my family and knew that this situation is small in God’s eyes, as He holds it, and me, in the palm of His hand. I told God that I have confidence that this is nothing more than the workings of Satan, and that I will no longer let Him worry me with this, no matter how big it may seem.
I CHOOSE TO BELIEVE THAT GOD IS SOVEREIGN OVER THIS SITUATION.
This situation does not have sovereignty over me.
The ones who think I am crazy do not have sovereignty over me.
Satan does not have sovereignty over me.
GOD IS THE ONLY ONE WHO IS SOVEREIGN OVER ALL.
I have a hard time believing that God would have given me a burning passion to go on this trip, only to strip it from me days before I leave. I have a hard time believing that God would provide the funds for me to go, only to strip it from me days before I leave. And I have a hard time believing that through all my trials and circumstances, God would not be sovereign like I KNOW He is.
So, I don’t really know what is wrong with my liver, and to be honest, I am not going to worry. I have trust in God. There is no pain, or any indication that I should have it checked. God. Is. Sovereign. Over. All.
In Christ,
Preston
