When Life Throws A Curve

There are many times when life throws us a curve. How we react during these curve ball moments directly relates to where we have placed our trust, where our confidence lies.

I encountered one of those curve ball moments not too long ago. What I thought would be a simple procedure with my husband Harry, in one day and out the next, turned out to be a whole week ordeal, open-heart surgery included, with over a three-month recovery period to follow and a year to full recovery.

Around midnight Monday evening, waiting for someone to tell us the prognosis of Harry’s operation, many thoughts rambled through my mind. The very first thought that gripped my heart and I held on to—God is able and more than willing to heal and do what is best in Harry’s life.

Without a doubt, I knew and still know that God is a healer. There have been many instances that God has shown His miraculous healing power within me, our children, and Harry. Throughout the many years of serving God, I have seen Him performed miracles of healing for other individuals also. However, during this time God was showing us another manifestation of His miracle working power through the surgeon’s hands.

During the interminable suspension of time, as my children and I sat in the darkly lit waiting room, the enemy came and began to shout his words of hopelessness and doubt within my spirit. I immediately rebuked his words of doom. I took hold of the God’s promise.

“I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. . . and saved him (me) out of all his (my) troubles. ” Psalm 34:4 & 6

Three hours of waiting was difficult while Harry’s future hung in the balance. However, a peace surrounded my soul as to the outcome. It wasn’t that I knew for certain he would come through the operation unscathed, but I knew whatever the outcome, it was in God’s hands. I had peace. I also knew that if Harry died, I had the hope of seeing him again one day. It wasn’t the final chapter.

Tuesday morning around 1:15 a.m. the OR nurse entered the waiting room. Harry’s operation was over and had been completed without a hitch. He was in recovery, and the prognosis was great. The first words out of my mouth—“Praise God.”

Why? Because I knew Whom I had my faith grounded in. God is able and more than willing to keep that which I have committed into His hands.

Harry has recovered quiet nicely, quicker than everyone expected. It will take him some time to be back to normal. But what I hold on to confidently is the truth of God's Word—God is in full control of our lives.

We may be thrown a curve from time-to-time, but God will straightened the path.

We, as Christians, need to realize God is in complete control of every aspect of our life. Regardless what curve is thrown at us, we can have faith in God. He is able and willing to do what is best for us as He holds us in the palm of His hand.

Father, I praise You for Your saving, healing power. You are more than capable of keeping us safe as we trust in You. For those of us that are going through difficult and trying times, reveal Yourself to us and help us realize You are in total control. Be with each of us in the coming months and teach us look to You as our help. We pray this in the wonderful name of Your Son Jesus. Amen.

Daddy, Daddy, Pease. . .

One Saturday afternoon I needed to run some errands. Harry chose to stay at home and watch our two-year old daughter Carolyn. At the same time, he was studying for his sermon he would be preaching the next day.

Carolyn was aware that we had chocolate ice cream, her favorite, in the freezer and she wanted some. She walked into the room where Harry sat at his desk, went straight up to him, and said, “Daddy, I want sclockit ice ceem. Pease.”

At first, Harry ignored her. But Carolyn wasn’t about to be discouraged. She knew it was only a matter of time if she were persistent. She began pulling on his shirtsleeve repeating, “Daddy, I want sclockit ice ceem. Daddy, Daddy I. . .”

Harry continued to ignore her just to see how relentless she would become. He didn’t move, arms resting on the desk, his head bent as though he were reading his Bible. However, the whole time his attention was completely on Carolyn.

Carolyn wasn’t about to be deterred from her goal and give up. She had a desire, a hunger for sclockit ice ceem. She went another step further. She put her little head up through his arms, climbed up his legs, wiggling her little body into position, then planted her little posterior on the Bible he was reading. She took both of her hands, grabbed his cheeks, pulling his face up to meet hers, then repeated, “Daddy, I—want—sclockit—ice—ceem. Peeeassse.”

Needless-to-say, Harry got Carolyn the chocolate ice cream she worked so hard for and believed she would receive with her persistence. Why was she persistent? Because she was asking her daddy and Carolyn knew her daddy loved her and wanted to give her the very best of everything, even at the tender age of two.

As Christians, when we come to God, many times we don’t expect Him to hear or even give us His attention. We believe His focus is elsewhere. Our problem is insignificant and not worthy of God’s notice, time, or trouble. We act like orphans.

Our heavenly Father wants us to have faith, just like Carolyn. We need to believe and not waver. Ask and not doubt. Makes our request known and expect it to happen because we are His children.


If we are persistent with God in the same manner a child is with their parent, we will begin to see wonderful miracles take place in our life. Those mountains of impossibilities will be lowered and become realities. The valleys of despair raised to pathways of hope. But, all too often we fall short of our goal because we see God as unapproachable. We lack the persistence to pursue God for our needs and desires.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16NIV

We need to know that God is aware and concerned for our needs. He hears us when we call. He is willing and anxious to move on our behalf when we learn to come boldly to His throne with our desires. He wants us to be persistent, just like our daughter Carolyn asking, “Daddy, daddy, pease.”

Father, once again, we come to You boldly in faith that You will hear and answer our call. You are concerned for us. There is no problem, situation, or trouble too big or small that You will not take care of when we come to You asking in faith. Lord, allow Your Holy Spirit to rest upon our lives. Help us to rely on your strength and grace in the time of our needs. We pray this in Your son’s wonderful name, Jesus. Amen.