Sometimes you just feel done. Know what I’m sayin’?

My cb girl’s family has gone from one illness to another for what seems like months. This included a scary bout with their newborn. Needless to say, she’s worn out. Done.

We’ve learned that the owner of our home is wanting to sell. The good news is he’s given us first option. The bad news is securing financing has been tricky for various reasons. When our first offer (and what we thought was our only option) was presented, he declined. We looked at another home, and again our outside offer was declined. We were blessed and humbled as some wonderful, generous people offered some help. We again went through the process to see what we could secure. Presented again. Declined again. I had not been overly anxious up until this point, but I confess, after that last rejection, I felt done.

You may be wondering: What’s the big deal? Girl, just move on to another place. Unfortunately, our town has no available rentals and only a handful of homes for sale, with most completely beyond our scope. Enter another wonderful, generous couple coming to our aid. Another hiccup with financing and more waiting. Two houses sold around us, another on the market for way more than we can fathom. That nervous feeling was springing up. I kinda felt done, once again.

In case you are new here, I’ll give you some context. We came to this town for ministry almost 8 years ago. It was difficult to find a rental even then (read about it here and here). At that point purchasing a home was not on our radar financially. We moved from one cottage to another, to another, for a full year before this home became available. The rental market was still not favourable with rentals being scooped up before we could even get a phone call in. But, God, He had this home prepared for us. Truly it was nothing short of a miracle.

But that, my friend, is precisely the point. God is the miracle-worker, the way-maker. He made an impossible way then and, though I can feel discouraged by times, I believe He will again.

In our study, The Bible in a Year by Kandi Gallaty, we’ve been following the Israelites through the wilderness. I was struck (sadly not for the first time) with the fact that I am not so different from them. They saw God miraculously deliver them from the Egyptians when escape seemed impossible; I saw Him provide this home when it seemed impossible. They lost heart–were done–as they came to a spoiled well (one among many times!), tired and thirsty; I lost heart–felt done–as we faced what seemed like countless obstacles.

One minute trusting and praising; next minute fearing and worrying.

Like the Israelites, I will momentarily forget that God has plans for us. We’re here because He wants us in this corner of the world.

As I commit this situation to prayer, I trust that He will make a miraculous way when it seems impossible, because He, Himself, planned for us to do this “good work” (Ephesians 2:10) right here, right now. This part of our story is still being written, but I am ever so grateful that I have a Father in heaven who knows what we need, and for His children who intercede for us in prayer and act as His hands and feet. Bitter water wrestles to seep into my heart and settle there. Well, the bitter’s got to make way for the sweet: because, my friend, I’ve got Jesus and I’m choosing to trust Him.

This reminded me of a post from awhile back. Have a look, if you’d like.

what a beautiful name {jehovah-rapha: my healer}

Are you feeling broken? Wounded? Worn out? Ashamed?

I have good news. Our God is Jehovah-Rapha: Healer.

I mentioned before that our ladies’ Bible study group is working on The Names of God Bible Challenge. Though I’ve only just started sharing with you, we are actually about half-way through it. One of the ladies remarked how amazed she is at what she’s learning. She didn’t anticipate that the study of God’s names and titles would reveal so much.

Our text is from Exodus 15:22-27.

To gain some insight, let’s look at the events preceding our passage. You can read this account in Exodus 6-14. God had just brought the Israelites out of Egypt in a miraculous way. Egypt faced ten great plagues as Pharaoh refused to let the Hebrews go. He finally relented at the final plague; but, in a rage, chased after the departing Israelites. With Pharaoh and his army in hot pursuit, the Israelites began to panic. However, God was prepared to help their escape. The Red Sea was parted for them; they walked across the sea bed on dry ground! Once the last of God’s people had crossed, the great wall of water let go and Pharaoh and his army were lost.

The people were full of praises!

The Isaraelites traveled in the Wilderness of Shur for three days with no water. Coming to Marah, I’m sure they were anxious for refreshment. To their utter disappointment, the water there was not palatable–bitter. Gone were the praises from their lips, replaced with grumbling and complaining and casting blame on Moses. They were bitter, too.

Moses cried out to God on their behalf. He followed God’s instruction to throw a tree into the water and it was healed–made sweet.

God then revealed Himself to them as the God Who Heals, Jehovah-Rapha. He showed mercy to His people. Though they responded poorly to the bitter water, God gave them a gift. And, as God is wont to do, He provided in abundance shortly afterward in the oasis of Elim, which had twelve wells of water and many palms.

Jehovah-Rapha. Jehovah, the personal name of God. Rapha, physician, to heal, or to make whole. My Healer.

I’ve been teaching my Sunday school class about the miracles Jesus performed. He healed the sick, the lame, the blind. Such power! But look at this account:

Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”

Matthew 9:2-6

Physical healing was wonderful, but more marvellous yet, is His ability to heal the soul and spirit.

Perhaps that tree, which healed the water, was a picture of the cross. True healing, after all, is found in His finished work on the cross:

 But He [Jesus] was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5

Again, God does nothing in small measure. In this healing of our spirit, we are given more gifts: peace, joy and hope.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 5:1,2

Again, I ask you…

Are you feeling broken? Wounded? Worn out? Ashamed?

Look to The God Who Heals You. Bring to Him all that weighs you down, surrender your pain, your sorrow, your life to Him and let healing begin.

Come as You Are
David Crowder

Come out of sadness
From wherever you’ve been
Come broken hearted
Let rescue begin
Come find your mercy
Oh sinner come kneel
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You’re not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are

There’s hope for the hopeless
And all those who’ve strayed
Come sit at the table
Come taste the grace
There’s rest for the weary
Rest that endures
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t cure

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You’re not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are
Come as you are
Fall in his arms
Come as you are

There’s joy for the morning
Oh sinner be still
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal
So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You’re not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are
Come as you are

Come as you are Music video by Crowder performing Come As You Are. (C) 2014 sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records