Her name is Maria. Maria is 16 years old, married, one of eight children in her family, and lives in the mountains of Guatemala. I met Maria last week in the Quiche, Guatemalan Hospital. This hospital serves over 1 million people, and has only 120 beds for their patients. People will travel hours and wait hours in line just to get a chance to see a doctor.
Maria is no exception. Maria was 7 months pregnant when a few days ago she started to feel really sick and was worried for herself and the baby. She traveled over an hour and was admitted to the hospital. While trying to give birth to her baby girl who was only 6 months along, the baby wasn’t strong enough and fully developed and Maria lost her baby.
As Maria is telling me her story, it is understandably not easy for her. But the one thing she said that stuck out to me is, “The Lord knows best, and knows what we need.”
While hanging out beside Maria she noticed my ring that I have worn everyday for the last five years. It’s a simple silver ring and says “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 I translated this verse into Spanish for her and her face lit up, which is something very uncommon to see in a hospital. I knew that my ring that had blessed me on so many occasions needed to now be Maria’s. I slipped the ring on her finger, hugged her, prayed for her and then said goodbye.
God WANTS to give us our desires. He wants the best for His children. If we are truly seeking after Christ with our whole heart he will give us our deepest desires.
The quote, “God will never give you more than you can handle” has always bugged me. It bugs me so much because I think that it’s the exact opposite. God WILL and IS going to give you more than you can handle so that you HAVE to turn to Him. He will give you the strength, the words, the love when you have nothing left of your own.
This world is full of children without parents and food, homelessness, depression, alcoholism, death, so much darkness and bad things and always will until Jesus comes back but The Lord wants to give you your desires. He wants to fulfill you. He wants you to know Him. He wants you to run to Him with abandonment when you have nothing left.
Just like Maria does.
