Rest In His Care

““Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” — Matthew 6:25-27

©2021 John Sorrel – All Rights Reserved — photo & writing — exception scripture.

In the photo above is a beautiful Sparrow sitting on our fence. A flock of sparrows and finches have made their home in the passion vines near our pergola. When we go out to sit, they come out to frolic around with no worries. They have become our Ohana (family)! As I was photographing them the Holy Spirit calmed my fears and inspired a message in me.

Over the past year my degenerative spine disease has become serious and disabling. Each day is a battle of endurance through waves of crippling pain. My family, friends and I have been praying to God incessantly for my healing. Though He has not removed the pain yet, He has sustained me. Medical insurance changes in recent years have forced me to wait till the new year to proceed with testing and treatment. My prayers continue in faith that soon my doctors will devise a plan to make me as pain free and mobile as possible, though this may include spinal surgery.

When we truly rest in our Father’s care, we see His presence all around us and His Word comes alive. I must admit that when things in my life have been easy, my focus on God’s Word has waned. But in the last several years my family has dealt with serious storms in our lives. God has used these storms and fires to draw me closer to Him. I am grateful the Holy Spirit has given me the zeal to study God’s Word like never before. What continually pulls me through hardship has been my time with Jesus in prayer, and meditating on His Word. I’m amazed at how the Holy Spirit teaches me new things though I read over the same passages time and time again. As the new year approaches I can think of no better gift than to read the four gospels of the New Testament. For there is hope for everyone in Jesus and in His Word!

"But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." -- Isaiah 40:31

So when my mind drifts to worry, His Word draws me back to gratefulness for answered prayer knowing I need not fear for He is holding me in the palm of His hand.

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." -- Isaiah 41:10

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not 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 4:4-7

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." -- Romans 15:13