Friends guest post week- "Adversity" Melissa

Melissa and I met through my blog. She clicked over from one site to mine, from one comment to a lunch date, we immediately became friends. Im honored to know a gal like her and she pushes me to go deeper in my walk with Jesus! Today she is blogging on adversity.



An eternity passed and I was still standing at the door waiting to be buzzed in. In that stark room, with nose pressed against the wood and hand on the cold metal handle, I waited. My heart raced as flashbacks blurred in and out of my mind’s eye.

“He can fight this. He’s a fighter. Always has been.”

Like the time his business took a turn down uncertainty’s road.

Like the time he had to deal with his oldest daughter having brain surgery – twice.

Like the time he was betrayed by someone close to him.

Like the time his kidneys shut down had to be put on dialysis.

Like the time his heart refused the work the right way until he had surgery.

Like the time – the many times – we had been here. In a waiting room. Knowing all would be well because he’s a fighter.

My dad’s life was a vibrant Technicolor picture show of handling difficulties with strength and confidence. His example subtly made its way into the fibers of my being. When life’s challenges happened upon me and misfortune crept in, I emulated his survival skills - drive, ambition and determination.

The buzzer sounded and my fragmented thoughts focused back into reality. Adrenaline kicked in as I turned the door handle and ran past the white coats giving orders, past the huddles of strangers pensive in thought as decisions weighed heavy, past the woman with the clipboard jotting abbreviated notes that seemingly held the key to life, past a husband who held me up and tried to ease the heavy burden that settled like the Titanic on the floor of my heart.

And there was my fighter. Holding on. Holding to a rope that was unraveling thread by thread.

I rushed in, nestling my head in his neck. I wanted to scream from the rooftops – “FIGHT! YOU ARE A FIGHTER! YOU CAN BEAT THIS! YOU ARE STRONG!” – but all I could do was whisper.

Whisper the only Way to overcome all life’s struggles and mishaps and misfortunes.

Whisper the intense Truth, he never wanted to hear.

Whisper the Life right back into his soul so he could for once live abundantly.

“Cry out to Abba, Daddy! Cry out to Abba!”

Thirty years of knowing Jesus, studying scripture, memorizing the Word, exhorting others and this was the only answer that took over every thought and rolled off my lips.

“Jesus said when we call upon Him, he will in no way cast us out. Cry out to Abba, Dad!”

All along I thought the way through adversity and overcoming life’s challenges was to be strong. To take it one steady step at a time, keeping my head held high. To forge ahead focused and driven.

But the true way – the only way to overcome adversity is to surrender.

To cry out to Abba because He will in no way cast us out. He is the Way through every valley. He is the Truth in every situation. He is the Life when it seems we are all tapped out.

“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." Exodus 14:14

For the first time in my entire life, I saw the strength of my dad as he lay quiet and still, unable to speak, unable to move. The doctors had to push me away from praying in my father’s ear, but something unexpected happened. As the doctors checked his vitals, they were astounded.

“It’s a miracle. Come see.” The head doctor called in two more witnesses to be certain it was a reality.

“Before there were no signs of brain activity. He was gone. But now, look. He is showing brain activity.”

I stood by in amazement as I watched the miracle unfold before me. From death to life. From sickness to healing. From fighting to surrender. While physical signs showed promise, it was really the promise of life everlasting that I rejoiced in. When the doctors saw eyes responsive to light, I saw eyes responded to the Light of Truth.

A year and a half later after my father passed away, God reminds me of this {hard} truth as I face my own struggles as a wife, as a mother, as a sister, as a friend.

To win the battle, we must give up the fight. We must stop trying to do things in our own strength, in our own wisdom, in our own time because God has something amazing in store for us.

“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10

The next time we face adversity, whether it’s having your bikes stolen, looking in your refrigerator only to find empty shelves, cleaning up the emotional wounds of a daughter hurt by a friend, being wrongly accused by a family member, finding a negative balance in your bank account, or losing your dad to cancer, we must bow in a posture of humility and pray. Pray to Abba who has given us every spiritual blessing and provides every need.

And then we must wait. Wait for God to calm our fears, wait to be renewed, wait for wisdom. Wait with the hope that He will provide the Way, speak the Truth and breathe Life into your situation.

The last day I saw my father alive, he was holding onto the cord of life. But he was really holding onto the cord of hope. In Hebrew, one of the words for hope is “ticvah” and it comes from the word cord or rope. When it seems like we are just holding on, we hold onto a cord that never breaks or unravels. It is the cord of Hope. “…and hope doesn't disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:5

A sweet picture I stole from Melissa's blog of her and her dad! Cira 1979


You can follow Melissa's blog http://madabella.typepad.com/blog/ Here!