Erica recently turned 17. Her birthday is a yearly reminder of God's faithfulness.
18 years ago we sat in a wobbly boat, hoping it wouldn't tip over.
We'd planned to wait five years before having kids so I could work and save money to put Keith through seminary. God's plan gave us three children in five years and had Keith work three jobs to pay for school and take six years to get a two year degree.
After seminary, Keith wasn't sure what he wanted to do with his life.
He had been an Aviation Ordinance Technician in the Marines and there wasn't a civilian job market for missile loaders. His undergraduate degree in Missions was useful if you're a missionary, which he wasn't. Now he had a seminary degree and our denomination didn't have pastors.
Our boat started to leak. Three months after finishing seminary, Keith developed a hernia. No, no, no - definitely not in the plan. No insurance, no savings. Aagh! We dealt with it right away so Keith could heal, get a job, and get on with life. The surgery went well and the doctor and hospital cut their fees in half and allowed us to make payments. Keith found a job and we held our breath.
Keith's surgery had not come at a good time, but it was God's time.
Two weeks later I discovered I was pregnant. Mayday, Mayday! With no insurance this was not good news. We had already crammed five people into a small two bedroom basement apartment. Was God paying attention? Clearly we weren't in a position to put another child into our crowded boat.
Discouraged and overwhelmed, I attended Ladies Bible Study with a friend. As we discussed Isaac's birth, Romans 4:20-21 jumped off the page. "Yet, with respect to the promise of God, he (Abraham) did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform."
Ah, so mine was not the first problem pregnancy in history. Sarah's problem was old age. Our problem was no money, no insurance, a midlife crisis, and cold deep water under our rocking boat.
I was encouraged that Abraham and Sarah didn't have health insurance and God took care of them. And even though things looked very bleak and scary, I knew God would take care of us. I wanted to grow strong in faith and give glory to God.
Pregnancy may not have come at a good time, but it was God's time.
God helped us through all the uncertainties of the next nine months. He gave us a beautiful healthy baby girl with arresting gray eyes and a full head of hair. He allowed a short calm before the next storm.
Eight weeks after Erica's birth, our boat took on more water. I badly ruptured a disc in my lower back. We finally had health insurance but we also now had four children, ages seven and under. We didn't live near either set of parents. How in the world could I go through back surgery? Who would take care of my kids?
Those verses came back to me. "
He did not waver in unbelief...grew strong in faith...being assured...what God has promised, He will also perform."
Why had God heaped so many things on our plate? I didn't appreciate the crash course in character development. We wanted to serve God and instead I was confined to a mattress on the floor and unable to care for my family. Scared of swamping our boat and trying not to waver in unbelief, we prayed and trusted God.
God loved us through His people. Our wonderful church came alongside and went above and beyond the call of duty to help us through the crisis. With generosity and many kindnesses they patched our leaky boat, emptied the water, bought new provisions, and rowed for awhile until we could do it ourselves. Yes, it hurt. Yes, it was hard, but God held our hand through that difficult time.
Back surgery had not come at a good time, but it was God's time.
Matthew 14:22-33 talks about another unsteady boat. Verse 24 says the boat was battered by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Been there, done that. Peter walked on water until seeing the wind, he became frightened and began to sink. Then Peter cried out and Jesus stretched out His hand to him and said, "
You of little faith, why did you doubt?" Why indeed?
Every April 23rd, I remember God's goodness and think of lessons learned in rough seas and a battered boat.
1. God's time is the right time.
2. God, who knows and loves me best, has a plan for my life.
3. His plan is always better than mine.
4. No matter how scary or overwhelming things seem, I can be assured that what God has promised He can also perform.
4. Nothing is too difficult for God. Not lack of money, lack of insurance, cramped apartments, mid-life crisis, unexpected pregnancies, or surgeries.
5. God says children are a blessing and they are. If we wait until we can afford them, we would never have them. God says He will provide and He did. Had we been more cautious and "sensible" we wouldn't have had seven children. But we're thankful for every single one and wouldn't trade any of them for all the nice cars, nice houses, and fully funded retirement accounts in the world.
When I celebrate Erica's birth, I also celebrate God's faithfulness, and know that while He never promised smooth sailing, He's promised that if we don't waver in unbelief and let Him steer the boat, we'll stay the course.
Happy Birthday, Erica - What a blessing you are.
