Still I will – Day 21

I would like to conclude this series with two short testimonies from readers, demonstrating God’s closeness during hard times.

Reader 1, Anna: “My husband was diagnosed with cancer three years ago. For the last two months he had suffered a lot and we have asked God many times to take him home — if it was in His will for my husband’s life. In the end, my husband passed away on 13 February. What is so amazing is that both our daughters (one from Gauteng and the other one from America) was with us at the time so I was not alone. We could also finish up everything before my daughter had to return to America. Her ticket was already booked months in advance. God is faithful and His timing perfect. I give Him all the honour. Amen.”

Reader 2, Koos: “In the real estate business, capital is required. Ours is exhausted for some time now. Still God provides for us. When my old camera broke, I found that my cellphone took better pictures than what my camera did. When my phone’s loudspeaker malfunctioned and I had to pay a large sum for repairs, I realised that I did not need such an expensive one. When the anti-virus programme on my computer expired, there were enough funds to pay for another year. When the medical aid was exhausted and we could no longer afford my wife’s R2 000 per month medication for her incurable disease, we hid our pride and discovered an amazing state clinic that gives her medication for free. So we can go on and on, witnessing about the blessings we continually receive from God’s hand. He is our Provider and we thank Him for never failing us. God bless.”

Habakkuk prayed in Habakkuk 3:17-19: “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines; though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food; though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights”. In another Bible translation we read Habakkuk’s words as: “My faith in God is not dependent on whether it is well with me or not.”

May we continue to seek God’s face — in good times and bad (2 Chronicles 16:9). I’m sure heaven stops for a moment when God looks down and sees one of us, in the midst of grief, drought, disappointment, loss or a challenging situation, standing up and, with our face towards heaven (and sometimes with our last strength), praise God as a sign that we trust Him to establish a breakthrough. And, seeing our hearts, He knows, that even if He doesn’t, we will still praise Him because we love Him. God bless.