A Loving Savior

Several days ago I was talking to Kevin at the kitchen sink while we did dishes together. I mentioned to him that I have been having some random sensations in my forearms and hands.  No weakness, just some occasional mild pain or numbness. However, from my understanding, there is not supposed to be sensory changes with ALS. I expressed to him that maybe I don’t have ALS.  “But,” I asked, “if I don’t have ALS, what do I have?” 

He stopped washing the dish in his hand, looked at me and said deliberately and lovingly, “My dear, you have a loving Savior”.

It instantly clicked in my mind and I had to stop still with the profoundness of his statement.  “Kev, Did you hear what you said? I have ALS— A Loving Savior!” I exclaimed excitedly. 

My husband is known to create nicknames for people and make acronyms for things all the time, so I think it’s extra special that he made this new acronym  unintentionally. I totally love my new definition for ALS. That means we all have ALS! 

I am so thankful for my loving Savior.  He seems to get sweeter with each passing day.  Each morning around 5 am He goes through my morning routine with me. I talk to Him and claim promises while I ride my stationary bike and  breath 100% oxygen through a mask (check out “EWOT”).  Then I listen to a chapter from the beautiful book about His life and miracles, “The Desire of Ages”, while I sit in the borrowed portable infrared sauna or lift weights. Next I listen to “Healing Scriptures” or sing praises while I take an intense hot and cold shower (invigorating!). I finish my routine with some journaling, Bible study or more communion with Him.  Those early morning hours with my loving Savior enable me to better face the day.

Sometimes there are bumps in my day.  The devil may try to throw a “curve ball” and tempt me to take my eyes off of my loving Savior.  Random worries or fears about the future may come across my mind. I have to pace myself because sometimes I tend to get emotional and grow “WT”(“weary teary” or “wired tired”) and need a nap around 2 or 3 pm. In those times, I don’t need to try to talk about how I’m feeling or figure things out, I just need to go to sleep.  When I wake up, it’s much easier to refocus and be reminded by my loving Savior to “be anxious for nothing”. 

If we truly believe that we have a loving Savior why do we sometimes dwell on the fears and tears in our lives? Maybe instead of worrying, it’s time to “let go and let God” handle things. (Hash tag for me, #take a nap!) 

My sister-in-law gave me a plaque which says, “Don’t worry about tomorrow, God is already there!” We sometimes try to control the circumstances in our lives and are peaceful only when things are going well in life. But, is our Savior loving only in the good times? Can we trust Him to be sufficient and take care of us even when we loose our job, fail a test, face a disappointment or are diagnosed with a life threatening illness?

Here are a couple sentences a cousin sent me from Timothy Keller’s book, “God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life”. “Trouble can take anything away from you except God. Therefore, if God is to you a greater safety, a deeper security, and a more powerful hope than anything else in the world, you fear no trouble.” 

Wow! To fear no trouble?! That is where the “rubber meets the road” in this fear  of loss versus trust in God. As we surround ourselves with the promises in His word we are reminded that He IS good (no matter what our circumstances may scream at us) and we know that we can trust Him completely— in ALL things.

“In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.” (Psalm 56:11)

Thank you Lord, for teaching me and helping me understand more consistently that I indeed do have ALS, A Loving Savior.