Quite a few years ago, my little girl fell and deeply cut her chin. It obviously needed stitches. I tend to be very calm in crisis situations, and this occasion was no different. I arranged for friends to care for my son as my daughter and I went to the doctor‘s office. I walked into a special room and noticed a large padded chair. The chair was so out-of-place in this sterile room. I leaned over my daughter as they begin to care for her. All of a sudden I felt weak. My face started sweating and evidently lost its color. It wasn’t long before I felt as if I would pass out. The doctor whispered to me, “That‘s what the chair is for.” My daughter remained remarkably calm, asking every moment or so if I were still in the room.
I had never before felt queasy at the sight of blood. I had never had a problem with one of the boys getting stitches or IVs. And I was not even watching the doctor. I was only talking with my daughter. But I could not stand the thought of this happening to my little girl. It actually continued to trouble me for several more weeks, mainly because I spend a lot of time around sickness and death. Somewhere deep inside, I felt concerned that I might lose “my cool” again. And nobody ever wants a basket case for a pastor.
No matter how collected you are, at some point life will throw you a curve. We will all face situations or circumstances that seem to knock us for a loop. At times we just need to ask if God is still in the room for more assurance. I am reminded of Moses. When Pharaoh was slaughtering the male infants; Moses’ mother set him adrift in a crocodile infested river riding in a basket. That must have been the darkest moment of her life. Yet God watched over Moses, even cared for him as he grew. When Moses fled Egypt, God found him and called him home to lead his people to the Promised Land. Even Paul suffered many things in his life. He lost his lifestyle, his friends and the respect of the Jewish religious community. On several occasions he even lost his liberty and health. Yet in the midst of all these problems, he said “I can do all things in him that strengthened me.” (Philippians 4:13)
We are all called to more than knowledge of Christ. We must also make Christ known. If we truly trust God, our countenance will teach it in good times and bad, in smooth circumstances and rough. No matter what problem with which we must deal, God will provide guidance. No matter what loss we experience, God will provide comfort. Even in times of weakness and despair, God is there. We are never alone, even in our lowest moments. After all, even Moses was once a basket case.