WHAT KEEPS ME STANDING
26 November 2016
Hamad Medical Corporation -- Heart Hospital
Doha Qatar
Doha Qatar
All of us have our own battles: difficult and abusive relationships, broken family, financial issues, being jobless, failing grades, bullying, vices, poor health, terminal and degenerative diseases, miscarriage, infertility, war, natural disasters, death of loved ones, the list continues. Sometimes we feel ours is harder than others. Sometimes we cry and ask so many whys… We dwell so much in our pains up to the point of ruining ourselves, our relationships, and our connection with God. But being our Father, God will never let go of our hands. Even if we stop praying and start blaming Him, He still looks after us lovingly and sends angels to guide us back. He gives us family and friends to support us. He uses other people, sometimes a complete stranger, to show His love and concern to us. During our darkest times, He carries us.
We are in the dark right now. My husband and I are in a foreign land, 4,646 miles away from our two young daughters. I am taking care of him, with mostly foreign nurses and doctors, because he has sustained an anoxic brain injury as a result of cardiac arrest secondary to acute myocardial infraction. It’s been two months, and he is still categorized as unresponsive.
It is hard to be strong but it is harder to STAY strong. Seeing him in pain, every day, and not being able to do anything to ease it is disheartening. Almost all the medical staff tell me not to worry too much because, according to them, most of the time patients like him do not feel the pain, that their reactions are mostly reflexive and that they are unaware of what is happening around them… But I see and feel otherwise. If he can’t feel the pain, then why can’t he sleep? Why does he always flinch at the slightest movement of his muscles? Why does he moan in pain every time contraction creeps in? Why does it not stop? Why can’t the medicines make it stop? To all these they have one answer, “It is because of the brain injury.” It is a fact that they want me to understand. It is a sentence that they expect me to accept. But I wouldn’t. I will not.
No matter how many times they tell me that they know how painful it is for the family, they will never really understand. Only people who have been and are in the same situation as we are now will understand. They say I am in denial. I am not. I am educated and I understand those terms. I even search the internet for answers. What they are missing, is that he is my husband and he is the father of my children. As a wife and a mother, no matter how things seem bleak, I will always hope and pray that he will get better.
I never asked God why did this thing happen to us, but I did ask Him once if He is sure that I can handle this situation. That may be, He has overestimated my capacity… I never doubted Him, but I doubted myself… I doubted my strength.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. -2 Corinthians 12:9
This is a tough battle, but what keeps me standing is my love for my husband, our kids, our families (mine and his), our friends back home, new friends and families here, and of most importantly, the love and grace from God, our Father.
Today, I am sharing these Bible verses in the hope that you too, find strength and comfort in the words of our Lord. Let us all keep the faith and remember that God is in control.
Today, I am sharing these Bible verses in the hope that you too, find strength and comfort in the words of our Lord. Let us all keep the faith and remember that God is in control.
“May your faith rest not in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
21 Encouraging Bible Verses on Tough Times
1. Isaiah 43:2-3a
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
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| Addhttps://www.pinterest.com/pin/376472850085644730/ caption |
2. 2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
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| https://www.pinterest.com/pin/473300242066727216/ |
3. Psalm 46:10
“Be still and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation! I will be honored throughout the world!”
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| http://guidedchristianmeditation.com/181/meditation/be-still-and-know-that-i-am-god-the-meaning-of-be-still-will-surprise-you/ good readl
4. Mark4:39-41
Then He rose and rebuked the wind, and said to the waves, “Peace, be still!” and the wind died down and there was great calm. He said to His disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this man? Even the wind and waves obey Him!”
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| https://www.pinterest.com/pin/498914464945253571/ |
5. Psalm 34:17-18
“The Lord hears His people when they call to Him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
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| https://www.pinterest.com/pin/457256168388805516/ |
6. Mark 11:24-25
“Therefore, whatever you ask for in a prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in Heaven will forgive your sins, too.”
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7. Philippians 4:6
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
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8. Joshua 1:9
“Have I not commanded you? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you will go.”
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| http://www.faithgateway.com/be-strong-and-courageous/#.WC1mhfl97IU |
But those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
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| http://www.dailylifeverse.com/posts/2012/10/isaiah-40-31 |
10. Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; lean not on your own understanding. Seek His way in all that you do, and He will make your paths straight.
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11. Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you, “ says the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future.”
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| https://www.pinterest.com/pin/300544975105576642/ |
12. Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
A Time for Everything
For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build.
A time to weep and a time to laugh.
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build.
A time to weep and a time to laugh.
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
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| https://jvn2k07.wordpress.com/2016/09/06/lifes-seasons-ecclesiastes-31-2/ |
13. Job 5:8-9
“But if I were you, I would appeal to God;
I would lay my cause before him.9 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted.
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| http://www.hippoquotes.com/job-quotes-bible |
14. Psalm 61:1-4
Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.
From the ends of the Earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe.
I long to dwell in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
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| http://bestlifemistake.blogspot.qa/2013/03/verses-of-encouragement.html |
15. Psalm 50:15
“Trust me in your time of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.”
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https://www.askideas.com/trust-me-in-your-times-of-trouble-and-i-will-rescue-you-and-you-will-give-me-glory/ |
16. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. Love is not jealous, or boastful, or proud, or rude. It is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
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| https://www.pinterest.com/pin/55380270392771677/ |
17. Psalm 23:4
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
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“You will forget your misery; it will be like water flowing away.”
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19. Mathew 19:26
“Jesus looked at them and intently said, “Humanly speaking it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
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20. James 5:15
Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.
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21. Joel 2:25-26
"I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame."
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| https://www.pinterest.com/pin/65372632066166130/ |
