God’s Grace and Protection

Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt.  James 1:2-6

It’s easy to doubt God when your daughter has 3 surgeries within 10 days.  My daughter, Amanda, age 20, was home on a weekend for my birthday recently when her shunt in her brain (she has had fluid on the brain since age 13) malfunctioned.  After one surgery, we went home for 4 days, then it malfunctioned again.  She went back in surgery and it still wasn’t completely right.  Finally, the last surgery got it right.  A sophomore at college, she missed two weeks of school and was stressed not just about her health but about all the class time missed.  However, her strong faith never wavered, but she did question God’s timing and what he wanted her to get out of this experience.  “To give Him all the glory” was all I could tell her and to show others that you don’t just praise Him in the good times, but in the trials, as James says; because that builds you up as a Christian and as a witness to others.  God is good…ALL the time….and ALL the time…God is GOOD!

Amanda is back at college.  She is feeling well and is completely caught up on the work she missed from two weeks at home and in the hospital.  Praise God!!  He continues to protect and uplift her!

In His Service,
Donna Rypel