... in Sickness ...
Building momentum together, consecrating our lives to God following traditional wedding vows.
Almost 30 years ago I made my vows to God, consecrating my life to follow Jesus come what may. Almost 50 years ago, I made my vows to my husband, agreeing to be united to him come what may. In these defining moments, I had no idea how my promises were going to challenge me and change me. This is the sixth post in a series examining traditional wedding vows and applying them to our heavenly marriage.
In case you missed the previous posts, here are the links:
“ … in sickness …”
How will my faith show up when I’m unwell? That’s an untested place for me, at least in the sense of a terminal diagnosis. There have been countless “sicknesses” but none dire. I’ve been in the throes of mental anguish but as of yet, neither my body nor my mind has disowned me. However, God gave me a front row seat with a few who had terminal diagnoses, and who faithfully insisted on the hope of Christ. So those lessons are what I’ll share today. I need to remember these things and maybe you will too, someday.
Show up with an IV pole, if necessary.
Shari showed up at the women’s bible study with an IV pole and a warm comforter. Her face flushed, she shivered under the comforter as she listened to the teaching leader. I couldn’t help but notice, as unwell as she seemed, her face was radiant.
This was someone I needed to know.
As I spent time with Shari, my faith and encouragement grew. She had a lifetime of being unwell and was told at least once during our friendship that she had only a month to live. Yet she kept showing up, with an IV pole if necessary.
On her better days, when she was well enough to use a portable oxygen tank, she loved going ice skating. She gladly pulled a sled behind her with the tank, smiling through the cannula. Or she would hike with me, carrying that heavy tank in a backpack.
Shari loves people and loves Jesus. Everywhere she goes, there are smiles and lots of encouragement. When I first started meeting with her after bible study, I thought I could encourage her. But I’m sure I was lifted up far more than she was. I’m so grateful to have spent so much time with her, years ago in that bible study. Gotta remember all she taught me!
Sometimes you have to go to bed and cry. And that’s ok.
Karen was a bible study teaching leader, and a personal mentor to me in my early days as a speaker. She had so much wisdom and experience, and I valued our friendship. In 2001 she passed away after a long battle with cancer. But before we lost her, she used every opportunity to teach us how to die well.
Once she remarked that someone asked her, “What do you do when you have a bad day?”
Karen was very forthright, and honest in her response. “I go to bed and cry! What do you do when you have a bad day?”
It still makes me smile when I think of that story. Of course, it’s ok to go to bed and cry, I’ve done that plenty of times. In fact, I felt like going to bed and crying the week after Karen lost her battle with cancer and I was asked to take her place co-teaching her women’s class. How in the world could I fill her shoes? After that first scary day, I realized her mentorship had prepared me for the role. I was so thankful for the lessons Karen taught me.
To read more about this story and how I remembered it during my husband’s 30 days in the ICU, read What Do You Do When You Have a Bad Day?
Thank you for reading Momentum with Deb Potts. This post is public and if it is resonating with you please consider sharing in case it might resonate with someone else who would like more spiritual momentum.
When you can’t pray for yourself, ask for help.
Dorothy, my spiritual mother, is always a prayer warrior and wise counselor and shining example of how to be a great listener. She’s impacted my life with her example and her love. This is how I described her in my book, Making Peace with Prickly People.
At her church, everyone calls her “Granny.” She’s the one who sits in the back of the church, confidently bowing her head and nodding quietly as someone pours out her heart. She always knows the right thing to say when someone is troubled. Her ready smile and empathetic eyes engender trust in everyone who knows her.
For a season, she herself was quite ill, struggling to eat anything at all, and we didn’t know if she was going to make it. She called me one day and humbly asked me to pray for her.
“Pray for me, because I’m so sick I can’t pray for myself.” One of Dorothy’s most endearing traits is her humble heart. Her plea spoke volumes to me about our necessity to be real, open, and humble regardless of how spiritually “mature” we are. We are never not in need of other’s prayer. All it takes is little humility and honesty and willingness to say I need you.
When Despair whispers, respond by shouting Hope!
My new Substack friend, Susan Kuenzi, is someone else that has encouraged me more recently. We live far from each other, and I don’t know if we will ever meet in person, but I’m getting to know her through her poignant writing.
In a recent audio post, Susan shares her current struggles with health. She encourages us to choose and contend for contentment. More than fighting for physical or mental healing, we need contentment first. Contentment is like an oxygen mask dropping in a plane that has lost air pressure. Contentment allows us to breathe. Then we fight for healing.
Listen to this post from my new friend Susan Kuenzi, recorded on a day when she was in the middle of a battle for contentment. It’s precious!
Questions to Consider when Health is Challenged
When you aren’t feeling well, I know it’s hard to get up and get moving. But staying put can lead to depression. What small thing can you do, even if you’re not 100%? One of the phrases I use when I’m not quite there is, “I’m good enough.” What are you good enough to do today?
What do you do when you’re having a bad day? Do you need to give yourself permission to go to bed and cry? Tears are poisonous, let them out.
We often insist, as toddlers do, “I can do it myself!” What one thing are you doing now that someone else could assist you with? Can you bless them by asking for help?
Have you been contending for healing, for miracles? If nothing you’ve done has made a difference, can you switch and contend for contentment? Can you bloom where you are planted?
Scripture to Memorize
This month, write these words on your heart by repeating them at least once a day. Use whatever translation you're comfortable with. This one is from the TPT translation. Reading scripture in various translations is helpful to me. God’s holy word deserves to be savored and slowly digested.
Even in times of trouble we have a joyful confidence, knowing that our pressures will develop in us patient endurance. And patient endurance will refine our character, and proven character leads us back to hope. And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, how lives in us!
Romans 5: 3-5 TPT
Worship Music
Chosen just for you to enjoy and reflect on how your faith shows up when your body (or mind) has disowned you. As I listened to the music, I scrolled down through the comments others had left. Don’t miss reading them.
Next Week
Next week ( or thereabouts :)) will be the “ … in Health …” post. One more month to go as we finish up a deeper dive into the traditional wedding vows and how they can be applied to our marriage in Heaven.
We hope you enjoyed this devotional from my heart to yours. Join the community if you haven’t already, and feel free to share it with a friend.