Tag: Jacqui Stoner

AWKWARD CONVERSATIONS

I shared with her briefly about the pulmonary embolism.  Her eyes kind of glazed over and she changed the subject

Recently I was talking with someone I had not seen for quite a while.  In the course of the conversation, she asked me how I was doing.  I shared with her briefly about the pulmonary embolism.  Her eyes kind of glazed over and she changed the subject.

WHY DOES PAIN FRIGHTEN PEOPLE?

Why does pain frighten people?  Are they afraid of asking an awkward question? Are they fearful of not being able to come up with the right words? If the person is a believer, are they nervous regarding a God Who will permit a great deal of pain in another believer’s life?

THREE GROUPS OF PEOPLE

I have come across at least three groups of people. There are those who back away quickly from pain being experienced by others. Then there are those who are like the disciple Peter. When Peter witnessed the transfiguration of Christ, he kind of flew into a panic and decided to build little houses for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.  That was kind of weird, but Peter thought he had to fill in air time and be busy.  Then there are those who enter the pain of the other person and encourage.  These are the warriors.  They have chosen to obey Galatians 6: 2: Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 

YOU ARE NOT THAT IMPORTANT!

Don’t forget the zinger written in verse 3:  If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. Do I consider my schedule so important that I can’t talk to someone who is in pain?  Am I willing to go beyond my comfort level when I feel at a loss to help the other person feel whole? My God is big enough to handle my fears regarding situations filled with pain.

THE GOLDEN TICKET

For a believer entering into such conversations in which the other believer is in pain, we have the “Golden Ticket” from Jesus as promised in John 14: 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful. 

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE AFRAID

If you truly are a believer in the words of Jesus Christ and consider them totally true, then you don’t have to be afraid of those awkward conversations.  It isn’t just you and the other person. It is you, the other person, and the Holy Spirit.  What a lovely set-up for what could be a life-changing encounter!

FEELINGS OF DREAD BUT CHOOSING TO BELIEVE

He immediately scheduled Bill for an emergency deep tissue brain MRI. Feelings of dread filled out hearts.

It was 2004 when we visited the eye specialist. Earlier that week, Bill admitted that when driving, the single car approaching him on the right now appeared as two separate vehicles.  Not good.  The doctor talked to him for about twenty minutes and immediately scheduled Bill for an emergency deep tissue brain MRI. Feelings of dread filled out hearts.

THE BRAIN TUMOR

Bill is claustrophobic and it took 3 tries before they were able to get him into the narrow tube for the 45-minute-deep tissue MRI.  The technician told us Bill had a brain tumor.  It was Friday, which meant a very long weekend until the appointment with the neurologist Monday morning.  The irony of the situation was that just a few weeks before, Bill had decided to take a huge step of faith and resign from his ministry position.  He wanted to be open to wherever God wanted him. This was an unexpected development. 

WHERE WAS THIS HEADED?

Monday came.  The tumor was a benign pituitary tumor pressing on the optic nerve which was causing the double vision.  It was inoperable.  Hence, the doctor prescribed drug therapy to shrink the tumor. Where was this all headed?

STILL CHOOSING TO OBEY

My husband is not one to jump into decisions (whereas, I often just want to know which particular cliff to jump off of) ……So, in the car, I told Bill I was okay if he wanted to reconsider his previous decision to step out on faith regarding his ministry career.  I still remember the certainty and strength in his voice when he replied, “No, I’m still going to obey.”  That my dear friends is faith.  Stepping into the what may be unknown, but taking God at His Word. 

JESUS WALKED WITH THEM THROUGH THE FLAMES

Psalm 91 kept going through my head.  “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.”  When Daniel’s friends were in the fiery furnace, it wasn’t like God said “Oh, my goodness!  How in the world did that one happen?!” Jesus walked with them through the flames. 

WE COULD TRUST GOD, REGARDLESS

God was not walking Bill and me around the fire, God was accompanying us through the fire.  We could trust God, regardless of the diagnosis because “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” 

WE KNEW WHO WAS TRAVELING WITH US

We chose to get our focus off the fire and look up to see the face of our Traveling Companion, Jesus. We chose to obey. “The person who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”  The future was unknown, but we knew Who was traveling with us.