Centered on the central point ...

For the past month and a half, we’ve been struggling through some medical matters with our 13 year-old daughter who was diagnosed with a progressive thoracic scoliosis at the end of March.  Her degree of curvature is not quite enough for surgery (praise God), but it could progress.  The unfortunate standard of care for scoliosis today seems to be surgery for those that require it (a curve of 50-degrees or more, Courtney’s is about 40) and for others … pretty much nothing, or at best a bunch of stuff that no one agrees actually works.  We are not “do nothing” people.

God has been so good during this time … it’s been a huge burden to bear.  Yes, we realize there are many other maladies with which we could be contending, but when a teenage girl has to wear a pretty invasive brace, and could still face surgery, and may have to impede the progress of her huge love for dance, it’s difficult.  Through this, He has faithfully provided us answers.  He has granted us a peace beyond our ability to understand (Courtney included).  He has loved us.  Even if we have to go the surgery route, we KNOW He’s there with us and that there’s a purpose in it.

This has been the frame of mind for us for six weeks, but all the more poignant this week as I read through Numbers 1 – 7, Psalms 118 – 124, and 1 Kings 14 – 20.  Allow me a brief detour …

Consider the following, as I did while reading this week in particular:

• How many chapters exist before Psalm 118?      594
• How many chapters of the Bible exist after Psalm 118?      594
• Add the two together and you get 1188.

·       What is the verse at the very center of the Bible?    Psalm 118:8

Which brings me to the verses that moved me this week … not surprisingly, culminating with Psalm 118:8 … Psalm 118:4-8 say …

Let all who fear the Lord repeat:
 “His faithful love endures forever.”  In my distress I prayed to the Lord,
and the Lord answered me and set me free.  The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.  What can mere people do to me?  Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me.
 I will look in triumph at those who hate me.  It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in people.

That last verse, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people,” is Psalm 118:8, the geographically-central verse of the Bible.  I’d argue it’s the central point in general.  For me, this week, it was a point that centered me.

What we’ve battled with perhaps most over the course of the situation with Courtney’s health is trying to find someone to provide us “the” answer.  What’s “the” best thing to do.  The first doctor we saw was dismissive and basically belittled Helen and told her just to come back in six months … and “we’ll see.”  No thanks.  Then, Helen scoured the Internet (and I mean the WHOLE Internet) researching options, found several women whose daughters went through the same situation (and who, ironically, were also ballet dancers … a couple very accomplished in fact).  There were myriad different experiences, opinions, cautions, etc.  There were a whole host of potential treatment options.  None of them seemed reliable with any degree of certainty.  But …

Little by little, God’s voice began to speak to us.  Not audibly, but clearly.  As we slogged through the overwhelming amount of unclear information, God began to direct us.  A clarity and confidence began to emerge.  Before long, we settled on not only a course of treatment, but the solid ground of God’s peace.  We went to Him distressed.  He answered.  He set us free.  He reminded us that He is for us, and so we will have no fear.  His faithful love endured when we couldn’t.  Talk about a verse that literally spoke to my heart!

What we worry about in life rarely happens.  You ever notice that?  Even when it does, does worrying ever accomplish anything or help us conquer the circumstances?  In my experience … never.  Not once.  Sure, some will say that worrying at least prepares you for the outcome.  Hogwash.  Letting go of the worry is the best preparation, as long as you have Someone to whom you can let it go.  For us that Someone is our Father.

The reminder in all this is the central point … for this week and for all time.  It’s also the central verse of scripture … “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people.”

People are often well-intentioned.  They can be experienced and educated.  They can be our friends, relatives, trusted advisors.  But they’re not God.  Not holy.  Not omniscient.  Not omnipresent.  Not omnipotent.  People can and will let us down … unintentionally, but nevertheless.  God will NEVER let us down.  He … and his faithful love … endure forever.

If you haven’t trusted Him … or are not trusting Him now … why?  Who or what alternative is better?

This verse was a great reminder that I need look no further than right beside me (where God is ALWAYS) to find my help.  As the Bible says, “an ever present help in time of need.”  I can’t imagine a more empowering and comforting reality.

Let’s ask Him this week to reveal to us the things that we’re not entrusting to Him and perhaps looking to men (women) for our trust.  Ask the Lord to center us on the central point of His word … to take our refuge in Him in all the situations we face!

Centered on Jesus,

MR