By Ash,
After a week off work, time to reflect, and time to recover I feel like I’m starting to understand what about our life is significant and what isn’t. In the scheme of things is anything more significant then the glory of God, no. But how we spend our time on this earth can be very challenging and overwhelming. I for one am learning to cope with the challenges of life and really giving my concerns to God.
It’s no secret that I have had my fair share of health issues in the past year. Ben and I have spent a lot of time, energy and money seeing many Dr’s, doing many tests and praying that whatever is going on in my worldly body will become clear to us.
Monday the 9th of September I was booked for a test we had both been waiting on for quite some time. I’m sure it’s a weird thing to read that two people were excited for a medical test, but we really were. However things don’t always go to plan do they? On that wonderful Monday morning, my body decided to go against my will and crumble. My first ever severe asthma attack took over my whole body. It was the scariest hour and a half of my life. Breathing, something I had taken for granted was quickly taken away from me in what felt like minutes. As I sat there grasping for air and listening to paramedics calling for more back up I couldn’t help but panic. Did I trust that the paramedics would save my life? 100%! But what I didn’t think in that moment is that my life was completely in Gods hands. Yes the paramedics had the tools to bring air back into my lungs, but ultimately God had the power and his plan for my life wasn’t over.
Fast forward to coming home from the hospital and it’s safe to say Ben and I were feeling some real relief. However the following days really tested how much I really trusted God. For a girl who doesn’t like letting anyone down, prides herself in succeeding at work and who really struggles asking for help, she was about to face struggles in all those areas.
Work: All the what if’s came out, what if me being off work affects my job? What if I can’t get my work done? What if I get fired? Now in reality did any of this matter? Not at all! Were my bosses and colleagues supportive, 100%. In reality did they care if their workload increased slightly because I was off recovering? Not in the slightest. All they wanted was for me to rest, recover and return to work happy and healthy. Now this not only provided relief for this week but really gave me a reality check that I do have a supportive network in Melbourne who care and love both Ben and myself. Blessing Number 1.
Husband: We’re here in Melbourne so that Ben can do his PhD. Next week he has a huge presentation that he has been working on for 6 months. I couldn’t help but feel that I had now caused a real interruption in his studies. He couldn’t go to work, had to try and finish his presentation in a Hospital with no reception, spent his time cooking, cleaning, and taking care of me. But did he once complain, show any frustrations at all? no. Because he didn’t feel in any moment that I was letting him down. He constantly reminded me of what was important and showed me more love than I can imagine. Blessing Number 2.
Life: God has a huge plan for all of us, and he WILL guide us, love us, and provide for us. So letting worry rule our time and lives is such a waste. He didn’t die for us so that we could consume our lives with worry about things that don’t glorify him or his kingdom. Blessing Number 3, and might I add, he’s the greatest blessing of all.
So overall yes, this week did show its cracks and the struggles of life. But it was also a good reminder that moments in our life don’t define us. It’s important to reflect on what does impact on our lives as a whole and what doesn’t. And from what I can tell, its how we respond to these events, how we respond to God, and how we go forward in life living for christ.
