A few weeks ago, I got an antique typewriter for my office. I love vintage things. I struggle to keep up with the latest technology, and items from an era before computers and the internet fill me with a sense of nostalgia… a time when a power outage did not evoke panic and I could listen to music without a Wi-Fi connection. Made in 1923, this typewriter is solid. I found out just how solid it was when I went to lift it from my car and carry it inside. It must weigh at least thirty pounds. And much to my astonishment, this machine that is over a century old still works. As can be seen in the photo above, I typed the title of one of my novels.
Around the same time that I purchased this typewriter, my mother shared a story with me in one of our phone conversations. She detailed a difficult event in her life that occurred before I was born. Her father (my grandfather) became ill. Local doctors struggled to find the cause, which turned out to be spinal meningitis. I suppose the delay in finding the problem and starting treatment allowed the illness to intensify. My grandfather lay unconscious in a hospital, and the prognosis offered no hope of recovery.
However, as my mother sat in that hospital room dressed from head to toe in protective gear to prevent her from contracting the illness, she prayed… and prayed. All around her… the world shouted that there was no hope. But she continued to pray, and during one of those prayers, my grandfather suddenly called out my mother’s name. The doctors at first did not believe my mother… not until they heard him speak for themselves.
Often, we find ourselves in a situation where our faith is tried. The enemy whispers his lies, attempting to fill our minds with worry and doubt and steal our hope. As we wait for God to answer our prayers, the enemy plots to convince us that God isn’t listening… or maybe when God doesn’t give us the answer we desire, the enemy wants us to believe that God isn’t there. But God’s Word is TRUTH, and His Word says in Hebrews 13:5, “… I will never leave thee nor forsake thee” (KJV). God may say ‘wait’ or He may say ‘no’ to our request. In 1 Corinthians, Paul details how he prayed three times for God to remove the thorn in his flesh (See 2 Corinthians 12:7-8 KJV). But God’s answer was “…My grace is sufficient for thee…” (2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV). God did not take it away, but with God by Paul’s side, he would be able to endure it.
But, how do we block the enemy’s tactics and clear the fog? How do we keep our faith and restore our hope when all of these questions creep in and fog our thinking? In an emotional valley, at a time of despair and heartache, the Psalmist (Asaph) writes in Psalm 77:11-12, “I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember Thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all Thy works, and talk of Thy doings” (KJV).
In times of despair and hardship, we should remember… we should think about… we should talk about all that God has already done.
Remember the cross…
Think about the nails through His hands and feet… the blood He shed…
Talk about how great is His love that He gave His life for you and me.
