Beyond Common Sense

Yesterday, the Lord MADE my husband “lie down.”  While working on our gym ceiling, the ladder he was standing on slid, and he fell twelve feet to the hard cement floor.  Tonight, he’s in the hospital for the first time in his life with a broken hip and heel.

As I sit here, where I sat nearly twelve hours ago when the cry came, thinking back over the past half a day, I feel as though I’m in a time warp.  What a sickening feeling to see your husband  lying there in pain; however, that could not compare to seeing his face as he returned from getting x-rays, and he tells me that they told him he could scream.  “I didn’t until the last one,” he tells me with a quiver in his voice, his body involuntarily shaking in pain.  And then to hear him cry out in agony as they once again needed to move the leg to splint it…there are no words to describe how I felt as I wept on my daughter’s shoulder.

I probably should have stayed with my mom tonight, but my own bed was calling me up the mountain.  It’s amazing what a few extra hundred feet elevation will do to the roads.  They were clear when I left my mom’s driveway, but I’ve never prayed behind the wheel like I did the last half mile of my journey home: only to find that the electricity was off, crying out once again that my cell phone would have enough juice left to call Mom and let her know that I had made it.

When my head hit the pillow and it all came crashing in, there would be no sleep for a while–not until I starting quoting the Twenty-third Psalm:

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:

thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Have you been there?  My mind kept going to others that I’ve known who have had to deal with difficult situations.  Now I know, I thought!  It really IS true:  His grace IS sufficient!!  As my mind tries to fast forward to what is to follow, I’m overwhelmed until I remember: HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT, and I praise His name!

I rehearse that beautiful psalm once again and see afresh all that is there:

His IS my shepherd; I do not want for anything; even though He has put my husband flat on his back (in green pastures? I’m not sure about that!) He does lead and restores my weary soul.  I do not need to fear. The rod and staff of His Word and His very presence comfort me beyond words.  His banquet table is set before me here and now, and even as Satan tries to pull me down, I am nourished and strengthened by my Lord.  Only HIS goodness and HIS mercy, not only follow me, but surround me  here and now, and I praise HIS name that I am so privileged to dwell in HIS house forever!

There is no greater comfort or peace, and now I see the green pasture: every scorching desert turns into a beautiful meadow of green because HE has led me here and HE stands guard over my soul while I lie still and rest.