Providential Perseverance

We weren’t ready.  After 10 months in Louisiana, we were called back to Virginia.  Although we wanted to stay, looked forward to continuing our bayou adventures, circumstances did not make sense for us to remain.

“Movers move”, as I learned in my “Moving On” group, I just had no idea we would fall into that category so soon.  The move back would bring us closer to family, closer than we had been since leaving for college.  We just weren’t ready.

God really didn’t give us any other options.  All of our resources, networking, and contacts created only one job offer that made any sense.  With four children that needed to eat, we packed up our belongings, for the second time in 10 months, and headed north.

In time, I knew it would all make sense.  In time, I knew God would make it known why we were moving back, why we were leaving our new friends, our new home, our new life where we were quite content.  I just had to be ready for “The Next Thing” where God was ready to use us.

Except, God never moves in a predictable way.  “The Next Thing” wouldn’t look like our time helping during the Louisiana Flood.  It wouldn’t look like stepping out of our comfort zone and experiencing a new culture.  I wouldn’t be long before our “Next Thing” was made pretty evident.  It would be a new trial in uncharted territory.

Nagging back pain for my daughter over the years exacerbated to excruciating.  Multiple doctors and specialists revealed layers of health conditions behind her chronic pain.  We now have a long road ahead, not to recovery, but to a level of management.  While I have no doubt she can be healed by the God who carefully crafted her broken body, I know God has much more work to do.

”We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s Love has been poured out into our hearts, through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5

Watching your child suffer in pain is pure anguish.   The worst part of it all is that no one can help her.  No medicine and no therapy can help her unless she perseveres to help herself.

A year and a half ago,  taking my girl out of her comfort bubble was the best thing that had ever happened to her.  I proudly watched my daughter break through barriers, stand up to bullies, and pray with troubled peers.  She faced more challenges than she had ever had to in her life.  She persevered through her suffering, producing character and abundant hope, knowing God would see her through.

Now, with new suffering, suffering I would take from her if I could, she must again produce more perseverance, character, and hope.  Because she has done it before, I know she can do it again.

Do I rejoice as she suffers?  Of course not, but knowing the girl of character she will become as a result, I’m cheering her on.

While this move was unexpected and undesirable, God’s providence was completely unexpected.  We are surrounded by family, all 30-90 minutes away.  Our neighbors have been a wealth of knowledge guiding us to find doctors, ask questions, and persevere as we fight for our girl.

I’m hoping we stay put, but no matter where we move, God will provide us with the right support, people, and friends to persevere through that next thing.  In the meantime, I’ll be watching my girl, walking through this trial with more hope than she ever knew possible.