Days of Remembrance

In the Old Testament, God instructed His people to observe specific days of remembrance.  These holidays, or "holy days", were intended to remind the people of the miracles God had performed and how He had delivered His people time after time.

Today is a Day of Remembrance in my life as well.  July 29, 1997.  It was the day that God showed Himself to me as Great Physician (Jehovah Rapha).  For many years, I had suffered from Epilepsy.  Through this time, God had graciously shown himself to me as Jehovah Shammah (The Lord is There) and Jehovah Tsur (The Lord is my Strength).  Time after time, he worked in ways that could only be credited to him.  He strengthened me when I felt I had nothing else to give.  He sustained me when I felt I couldn't go one step more.  He reminded me that when I am weak, He is strong.

Sixteen years ago, however, he showed me a new facet of His glory.  It was in my stay in MCG for my brain surgery. I had my final epileptic seizure.  It was at that point that my neurosurgeon felt he had what he needed to perform a successful surgery.  And he was correct; it was successful.  A textbook case.  To the point that on his stop by my room on the following Sunday, he said that he had never seen such a textbook case, and never seen such a quick recovery.  He couldn't explain it.  God was glorified, and recognized as Jehovah Rapha, as I shared with him that it was easily explainable...people all over the world had been praying for this surgery, and God had answered their prayers.  And his reply was, "You're right."

God is truly good.  While he didn't have to bring healing, he chose to, in order that he would be lifted up.  He has provided opportunity in the years following to continue to receive glory.  To help others in their journey.  To take them down a similar path.  He chose to leave a small, but ever present thorn in my "flesh" to constantly remind me of His healing, of my dependence on Him and of His power.

So today, I mark another year...5, 843 days...of this stage in my journey with Him.  While I am ever reminded of my life passage through the valley of epilepsy (1 Corinthians 12:7-10), I now claim another life passage: Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21).

I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever;

    with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known

    through all generations.

Psalm 89:1