Healing Hope Newsletter
December 2009
Dear Friends,
First, here’s an update on Theresa’s story (Healing Hope Newsletter October 2009). At this writing she is sightless. Doctors will perform two more procedures soon in an attempt to restore some vision. The fact that she’s had little or no sight for almost two years has caused her to ask God: “How long will this continue?”
She was listening to a sermon in a retirement home where she ministered before her loss of sight when God answered her question. She wasn’t to ask “How long?” Instead, she was to praise God for the opportunities to witness for Him during her darkest valley. After that, “He took my impatience for healing away.” Throughout the process, He has provided her needs through a network of friends who clean her house, drive her where she needs to go, bring food and come and stay overnight with her.
Theresa could have plunged into depression as a result of her experiences, convinced that God had abandoned her. But faith keeps her smile and her spirits bright because she knows that the One in whom she believes loves her and will take care of her now and always.
Jesus believed the same thing—and with good reason. The moment He made His entrance into the world in Bethlehem, God , a proud Father, sent a chorus of angels to make the birth announcement. At Jesus’ baptism, God spoke His affirmation from heaven: “You are my own dear Son. I am pleased with you!”
But there came a time when the Son—beaten, humiliated and nailed to a cross where He suffered wrenching pain—questioned His Father. “My God, my God, why did you abandon me?”
When we go through our own times of suffering, we may feel that way, too. But the resurrection proves that the Father never abandon His Son. Believers in pain throughout the centuries have testified that He never abandoned them, either. Here’s how Paul put it:
“We are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair; there are enemies, but we are never without a friend.” (2 Corinthians 3:8-9a).
Why write about Christ’s death at a time when we celebrate His birth? To remind you at this time of new beginnings that your suffering need never be futile. Jesus’ wasn’t. Theresa’s isn’t. And with His help, neither will yours.
Blessings,
Marion Duckworth
*Theresa is a pseudonym
Websites: http://www.marionduckworthministries.com
http://www.healinghopeonline.com
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