Reminders

I was sitting in the doctor' s office last night, hoping that the doctor would have pity on me and give me an antibiotic. My head felt like it could fall off at any time, and I was feeling rather sorry for myself. Of course, if I had gone to the doctor a week ago, I probably would not have found myself in such a predicament-but there I was in the convenient care office on a Friday night.

The last couple of weeks have been pretty insane for me. I'm super busy with work, and there are lots of things going through my mind about the current state of my life. Just last week I was having dinner with a friend and we were talking about some issues that I have been concerned about. As we parted, I said something about knowing that God is in control, but not really praying as much as I should about it. When I got home, I picked up a book I had been reading (The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges) and read these words about depending on Christ: "Prayer is the tangible expression of our dependence. We may assent to the fact that we are dependent on Christ, but if our prayer life is meager or perfunctory, we thereby deny it.........God will work in us what is pleasing to Him, for He knows far better than we what really needs to happen in our lives at any given time."
Obviously I needed to read that that night. I knew that I needed to pray more earnestly and more often. Unfortunately, being the sinner that I am, I fell asleep while praying just a few minutes later. Well, I did better this week, but continually felt my body beginning to slow down- which leads me to the doctor's office on Friday night.

The nurse led me into an office and wrote down my symptoms, then left me alone to wait for the doctor. I sat hoping for some relief.........then I glanced at the wall and noticed something that you don't normally see in a doctor's office. Romans 8:38-39 was hanging in a frame on the wall. That kind of blew me away, but it was refreshing to read about nothing separating me from the love of Christ while sitting in that little room. Then I noticed the frame next to it. It contained the following words:

This I know
E. Margaret Clarkson
I do not know what next may come
Across my pilgrim way;
I do not know tomorrow's road,
Nor see beyond today.
But this I know --my SAVIOUR knows
The path I cannot see;
And I can trust His wounded hand
To guide and care for me.

I do not know what may befall,
Of sunshine or of rain;
I do not know what may be mine,
Of pleasure and of pain;
But this I know -- my SAVIOUR knows
And whatsoe'er it be
Still I can trust his love to give
What will be best for me.

I do not know what may await,
Or what the morrow brings;
But with the glad salute of faith,
I hail its opening wings;
For this I know -- that in my LORD
Shall all my needs be met;
And I can trust the heart of Him,
Who has not failed me yet.

The doctor came in then, and after a few questions, he gave me some free samples and a prescription and sent me on my way. I was, of course, greatly relieved to have some medicine, but the things I had read stayed in my mind all the way home. I am so thankful that the Lord throws little things in my path to remind me of His love and His sovereignty.