The Word Heals | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: The Word Heals | Previous Challenge Entry
By Beckie Stewart
07/13/08
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Sleep. It eluded her all night. Sue Ellen’s thoughts invaded her mind. They threatened to overtake and crush her. She turned her head to read the time on the clock for the millionth time since she dropped into bed at ten last night. It was seven.

“Get your bod up and moving girl,” the voice in her head told her.

“What for?” she argued back. She had no reason to get up anymore.

Sorrow flooded her heart, and the tears gushed down her face like Niagara Falls.

“I wish I could turn my brain off and forget everything about my life. It hurts too much, Jesus,” Sue Ellen cried. “I feel so alone. I’ve no clue how to do today, tomorrow, or any other day.”

She rolled to her other side as pain seared her soul. She buried her face into her pillow. She had no desire to face another day.

“Remember,” the voice gently spoke to her.

“Remember what? I laid my father to rest yesterday. My husband wants nothing to do with me. I can’t parent my children alone. I don’t even want to try. What do you want me to remember? That everything has been taken from me?”

“What was your deal with me, Sue Ellen?”

“My deal?” Sue Ellen asked. “Oh yeah. I would seek to obey you in all things and watch you work.”

“What did you base that on?”

“Psalm 27:4 where you said to delight in you, and you would give me the desires of my heart,” Sue Ellen said.

“So, are you doing it?”

“Doing what?” Sue Ellen asked sarcastically.

“Are you delighting?”

Sue Ellen sat up, grabbed her pillow, and wrapped her arms around her legs while burying her face into her pillow.

“I don’t know how to delight. It hurts so much, Lord. I want my father back. I want my husband to love me more than his schooling and work. I want to be a good mother. How can I be, if I have to do it alone?”

She waited for answers, but none came. It seemed like hours as Sue Ellen grieved in silence. Suddenly, like a radio being turned on, her spirit showered her thoughts with verses. She took a step of faith and started to recite the Lord’s promises.

“I’m where you want me to be Lord. Like Job, I’ll accept adversity along with the blessings. You’re my only hope. I’ll wait for you to rescue me and give me a life that is abundant and full. It’ll be filled with a joy that will be beyond what I could ask or think.”

Sue Ellen kicked off her blankets and slipped out of bed. The promises filled her heart now. “The life I live will be lived according to your Spirit. I know that each moment that I’m weak, that you’re strong. You’ll provide sufficient grace for me. You, Jesus, are my refuge, my love, and my all in all. You’ll lift me up and enable me to walk on hind’s feet.”

Grabbing her Bible and wrapping her arms around it, she smiled and said, “My life has a purpose, and so I choose today to count it a joy to suffer for you. I’ll love even the one who doesn’t seem to love me. I’m compelled by Christ’s love to love those who don’t love me.”

As peace enveloped Sue Ellen she confidently spoke from her heart. “I know that I need healing, and you’re able to heal me. No arm of flesh is able to be there for me, but you haven’t forsaken me, Jesus. I’ll learn to be content in all things and seek your kingdom and righteousness first. I’ll strive to live by the fruit of your Spirit, expressing to others your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control. I know there is no law against walking that way through life.”

With a final resolution, Sue Ellen said, “Your love has not failed me. You’ve filled my hungry and thirsty soul with your Word. I’ll forget what is behind and press forward in my trust and relationship with you.”

Sue Ellen did too. The memories of her journey from brokenness into healing reminded her that God’s Word healed. She opened her eyes and kissed the forehead of the new child she held in her arms. Her husband stood beside her as she whispered to heaven, “Thank you, Jesus for faithfully giving back to me in abundance.”

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*Special note. These promises are found in Job 2:10; Psalm 62:5; 69:14; John10:10; Phil. 2:2; 3:12-14; Eph. 4:1; 2 Cor. 12:9; 5:14; Matt. 5:6,43-48; 6:33; Gal. 5:22; 1 Cor. 13:8; Heb. 13:5

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