Still Waters Run Deep
Psalm 71:20
Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.
Romans 8:39
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ephesians 3:18
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Spent all of last night awake in prayer. Found some AAA batteries, and managed to get my little ‘GO Bible’ plugged in, so that I could listen to audio Bible all night, getting refilled in the deep places of my soul.
I remember when my dad passed. I so wanted him to live. I was just learning about divine healing back then, and I fasted and prayed for 10 days, just water, aggressively in the face of God, seeking Him for a miracle. Dad was only 60, and my mom had passed only two years before, at the ripe old age of 63. Heartbreaking.
During this time, two of my aunts, who were RN’s moved into our house, and looked after dad went they sent him home from palliative care. My strong, 225lb military officer dad, wasted away to 85 lbs with the cancer, and was on 24 hour morphine, with a little electric morphine pump. I was determined to get him healed, but his heart was broken over the loss of mom, and he had given up, he wanted to go to heaven.
During this time, the local priest, and my aunt, sister Emily Walsh, were sitting together in the kitchen, and seemed to be at peace, as they quietly talked to one another. I was working through my relationship with the Catholic church back then, and I blurted out:
‘Don’t you even care, that my father is dying in there!’
Sister Emily smiled, and gently said: ‘Chris, you are familiar with the ocean. The storms may trouble the surface waters, and produce great waves, but the depths remain untouched. Still waters run deep.’
At the time, I was such an emotional basket case, that I didn’t want to hear that. I wanted them to agree with me for my father’s healing. Yet, as I walk out some difficult circumstances these days, I find there is wisdom in their counsel.
In later years, I learned that in the case of divine healing, God will respect the decisions, the free will of the one that is sick. It is not what I am believing that is as important, as what they are willing to believe God for. There is much wisdom in Jesus words to the man at the pool of Bathesda: ‘Do you want to be healed?’
Sometimes, there are cases, where heaven looks better than earth, and honestly, in their hearts, people do not want to get healed.
It seems that in large Catholic families, it is expected that at least one child would serve God in the ministry. Both Karen and I come from Roman Catholic backgrounds, and seems the tradition is bearing fruit yet, as both her and I have been called of God into the ministry, though not in the Catholic church. Though it took several years to sort through the differences between what I was taught as a Catholic growing up, and what I believe now, as a spirit-filled, Bible believing Christian, I am not throwing any rocks at the upbringing. As Christians, we are called to love one another, and though I cannot agree with some of the traditions of the Roman Catholic church, the foundational doctrines of the trinity, the apostles creed, the Word of God, and the Lordship of Jesus are clearly taught there, and on these things, we agree. To dishonor these would dishonor not only the Word of God, but also my parents and all the wonderful heritage I am so grateful for…
This is not written to discuss differences between the Roman Catholic church, and the evangelical spirit filled life I currently live, rather to remind us, that no matter what we are facing, in our day to day world, there is a peace that passes understanding, available to us..
There are depths in Jesus, deeper than the storms you are facing. He is the prince of Peace! His love, goes deeper than our deepest pain, and there can be peace in the midst of the storms of life.
Let’s Pray:
‘Father, I am so glad that Jesus never leaves us, nor forsakes us. That faith always obtains a good report. That Jesus is always the way, and the waymaker in our lives, and that that there is a peace, that passes understanding available to us. We ask for this, today, in your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen.