Shelter from a Stranger

I attend an online chronic illness support group each week, and last week we told stories of God's faithfulness in our lives. Throughout the week we had been mulling over the question, "What stories of God's past faithfulness offer you stability when your circumstances feel at odds with God's goodness?" And then when we met together, a few of us shared stories of times when we could clearly see God's faithfulness.

The story I shared was of a time when Will and I were the recipients of God's protection and generous hospitality from a stranger. This is a story I shared online many years ago as a guest post, but I have never shared the whole story here. So today I would like to republish an edited version of my original guest post from November 2011.

Will and I lived in Alaska in our early years of marriage. While we were there, God placed many people in our lives who showed us hospitality in generous ways. One family in particular I will never forget.  

Will and I lived in Glennallen, which is about 200 miles northeast of Anchorage by way of the Glenn Highway. We often drove to Anchorage for shopping trips or to go to the airport. On this particular day in October of 2004, we were driving back home to Glennallen at night. We left Anchorage around 8:00 in the evening and began the long drive home. We soon ran into snow, but by the time we realized how bad the snowstorm was, we had no option but to keep going, and so we did.

It was not an easy drive. We were crossing a mountain range, and the roads were winding and narrow. Sometimes there were very steep drop-offs, and there were no guardrails. I prayed constantly as we were driving, “Lord, please don’t let us go off the road.”

We continued on for many hours until eventually we could go no further. The snow was too deep, and our car could not make it up the hill. We knew that it wouldn’t be wise to spend the night in the car on the side of the highway, especially considering my fragile health, but there was no way to get home until the roads were plowed.

God was watching over us, and He caused us to become stuck in the snow very close to Victory Bible Camp, a Christian camp in the Chugach Mountains. We decided that we would turn around, drive back down the hill, and drive down the camp road as far as we could.

There were many missionaries who lived year-round at Victory Bible Camp, but we did not personally know any of them. We were going to have to ask a stranger for help. We drove until we got stuck, and then we knocked on the door of the nearest house. By this time it was 2:00am. A startled and sleepy man answered the door, and we said, “Hi. We are Will and Rachel Lundy from Alaska Bible College. We are stranded in the snowstorm, and our car is stuck in your driveway. May we stay here for the night?”

This man graciously opened his door and invited us into his family’s home. He told us that earlier that day his wife had put clean sheets on the guest room bed and clean towels in the guest bathroom. We were welcomed to make ourselves at home.

Weary from the intense driving, we crawled into bed, grateful for a safe, warm place to lay our heads for the night. We were so exhausted that we didn’t wake up until 9:00 in the morning. We showered and dressed and then nervously went downstairs to meet the family who was hosting us.

The man we had met the night before was out plowing the camp roads, so we never got to see him again. However, we did meet his lovely wife and children. His wife gave us breakfast and talked with us as if it was the most normal thing for us to be in her kitchen! She said that we could come back anytime we needed a place to stay. What an extravagant example of hospitality!

Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers…” (NIV). How thankful I am that this family chose to welcome us into their home in our time of need. We were hungry, and they gave us something to eat. We were thirsty, and they gave us something to drink. We were strangers, and they invited us in (Matthew 25:35). They spared us from a long, cold night in our car. One day the King will say to them, "'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me'" (Matthew 25:40, NIV).

I cannot remember the name of the family who opened their home to us, but I will never forget their godly example in showing hospitality to strangers in need. I am thankful for their willingness to give us a safe, warm place to spend the night.

And I am thankful to the Lord who so faithfully cared for a chronically ill wife and her husband who were stranded in a snowstorm. He kept our car from going off the road and sliding down the side of the mountain. And He caused our car get stuck near where we would find a safe place to stay. God was faithful to protect us and provide for us in our time of need.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (Philippians 4:19-20, NIV).

How has God shown His faithfulness in your life? Please share your story in the comments to encourage your fellow believers!

Photo: Glenn Highway in the Winter, by Kelsey Gray. Used with permission.

Book Review: I'm Praying for You

When we go through suffering, or when we know someone who is suffering, it can be hard to know how to pray. We often pray for relief, but we may struggle to know what to pray for beyond that. If you could use some ideas of ways to pray for someone who is suffering, I recommend I'm Praying for You by Nancy Guthrie. This book is filled with biblical wisdom and helpful direction on ways to pray.

There are 40 devotions that are encouraging and filled with truth. The devotions are short, so if you struggle with brain fog, this might be a book you could read.

After each devotion, there is a prayer to pray for your friend who is suffering. Then there is a QR code that you can scan, and it will copy a short message that you can text to your friend. This message tells your friend what you are praying for them that day based on the devotion you just read.

There is space for journaling after each devotion in the book. If this is a book you will be keeping for yourself, this is a great way to take notes on what you are learning or write a prayer of your own.

If you wish to give it away, this book could be made into a very special gift for a friend who is suffering. You could read through the devotions and pray for your friend each time you do, texting them the copied message to let them know what you are praying. After each devotion, you could either write an encouraging note to your friend in the journaling space, or write a prayer for your friend in your own words.

When you finish reading and journaling through the book, you could give the book to your friend. They would have the encouraging devotions to read, and they would have your notes and prayers at the end of each chapter. The words from Scripture and the prayers from a friend would be very meaningful to a friend who is suffering.

Whether you keep this book as a resource, or gift it to a friend, I'm Praying for You is sure to be a blessing!

Horses, Zebras, and Unicorns

 

I have a little story to tell you today. It is from nearly 30 years ago when I was new to life with dysautonomia. It’s a story I have told very few people, and I recently decided that it needs to have a place on my blog. 

I was diagnosed with dysautonomia as a teenager in 1996. My cardiologist told me that doctors are taught in medical school to expect horses, not zebras. You may be familiar with that analogy. It says, "If you hear hoofbeats, expect horses, not zebras." Doctors look for the most obvious answers and diagnoses first because those are most likely to be accurate. But some patients are actually "zebras." They are outside of what is initially expected, and their conditions are more difficult to diagnose.

However, my doctor told me that I didn't fit into either category. I wasn't a horse or a zebra. I certainly didn’t fit into what was expected for horses, but my body also wasn’t responding well to the treatment for zebras. She said that I was some sort of shade of gray in between, and, unfortunately, there wasn’t a clear course of action for treatment.

My mom relayed this to a friend, and the friend immediately replied, "Oh! She's a unicorn!"

And I kind of loved that. It sounded unique and pretty. Not messy and blah like a shade of gray. Not a fearful unknown, but something with purpose and beauty.

I still like it today. It reminds me that there is beauty in this chronic illness life. God created my body just the way it is, genetic conditions and all. He knit me together in my mother’s womb, and I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-14). My body is known to God, and He holds it together (Colossians 1:17). I praise Him for this beautiful life and this “unicorn” body that He has given me. And I thank Him that one day I will receive a resurrection body!

If you live with a chronic illness, and you are tired of being a horse, a zebra, or a fuzzy shade of gray, then maybe it would help to think of yourself as a unicorn! Let it remind you to take delight in the God who created you.

Photo by Kaylee Stepkoski on Unsplash

In the Seams Interview

This week I was interviewed by David Heflin on a podcast called In the Seams. I invite you to listen as I share a little of my story with dysautonomia. I share about how it has impacted me, how my husband has been a help to me, resources that have been beneficial for me, and more. I even share about the origin of Cranberry Tea Time in case you haven't heard that story before! I hope this conversation will be an encouragement to you, especially if you are on your own journey with chronic illness or know someone who is.

You can listen in on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and more linked here.

In the Seams is the podcast for Broken and Mended, a ministry that serves those with chronic pain and illness. They provide both in-person and online support groups. If you are looking for support for your chronic pain or chronic illness journey, their website is a place for you to start to find that help and support. In addition to support groups, the Broken and Mended website also has a resource page and a blog that you will find helpful and encouraging.

I first met David Heflin, the Executive Director of Broken and Mended, through the Diamonds Conference that we have both been a part of. David was a pastor for many years, even while living with his own chronic pain and illness. I think you will enjoy reading (or listening) to his story and the origin of Broken and Mended here. I greatly appreciate his service to the chronic illness community through speaking events, Broken and Mended, and the In the Seams podcast.

5:00 AM Fears

It was 5 a.m. My husband, Will, and I woke to a clattering sound in the apartment. Soon we heard sobbing, and we watched as our youngest came running into our bedroom. 

"Gresham!" I called to him, and he ran to my side of the bed. I scooped him up in my arms and brought him into bed with my husband and me. As I tucked him tight against my side, I asked, "Did you have a bad dream?"

But Gresham was too sleepy to answer. Instead, he snuggled close as his tears subsided, and he relaxed into me. He had brought his fears to the right place, and all was well again. He stayed in our bed for the rest of the night, thankful for the comfort of Mom on one side and Dad on the other.

When nightmares come in the night, my son knows just what to do. He runs to his parents where he knows that he will find safety and comfort. He doesn't remain in his bed, trying to face his fears alone. He doesn’t tough it out and try to fix it on his own. No, he comes to us with his fears right away. He lets us comfort him and give him courage. Once Gresham was in my arms, his fears were gone. He knew he was safe.

As I lay in bed awake that night, I marveled at the example of trust my son had shown to me. I considered my own behavior. When something frightens me, am I as quick to run to the Lord with my fears and anxieties? Or do I first take time to worry and try to solve the problem by myself, running to God only if I don’t think I can fix it on my own? Oh, how I want to be like little Gresham and immediately run to my Heavenly Father and tell Him what concerns me!

Tim Keller has said, “The only person who dares wake up a king at 3:00 a.m. for a glass of water is a child. We have that kind of access.” Gresham has that kind of access to his parents in the middle of the night. And we have that kind of access to our Heavenly Father, the King of the universe. What an immense privilege! It is one that we best not neglect.

When Gresham needed help in the night, he had to wake me up before I could offer comfort. But thankfully, we have a God who never slumbers or sleeps. We do not have to wake Him up before we can pour out our hearts to Him. He is always there, always ready to listen to our cries for help.

Our Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to call to Him. If I, an imperfect human, love my son and want him to come to me in the middle of the night when he is afraid, how much more does God love us, His children, and want us to come running to Him when we are afraid and needy? The writer of Hebrews said, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16, ESV). There is always help to be found at the throne of grace.

Moreover, we are told not to be “anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, ESV). Indeed, we are exhorted to cast all of our anxieties on Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). What a blessing to have a God who is ready to hear our fears and give us peace!

Today, if fears and worries assail you, don’t waste time trying to power through hardship on your own. First, go running to your Heavenly Father. Pour out your heart to Him. The God of all comfort is waiting for you. Let Him carry you through whatever worries you have today. He has grace and mercy to help you in your time of need.

Photo by samira sadeqi on Unsplash