Emmanuel - God with Us

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
2 Corinthians 12:8


During my prayer time today, I realized that I’ve overcome a huge obstacle in life this week. When I worry, I become paralyzed in fear and then end up getting sick and often feel like fainting. It’s a horrible thing that I struggle with every time one of my children is sick or gets injured.

On Monday, I called the doctor about my baby who was running a fever for a few days. I set up an appointment for that afternoon. I drove the two of us to the appointment. That was big!

You see, my dh has taken the children to doctor appts. for the last 6 yrs. because of my fears. I didn’t think anything of it, when my dh came home for the appt. I was preparing the diaper bag and getting the insurance information together because I was going. When my dh came home, he thought he was going. Of course, dh was a bit dumbfounded when I said that I’d go. I just felt that I should be going this time.

As soon as I got on the road though, I began to feel queasy. “Oh, dear God, please not now. Let me get to the doctor’s appt.,” I prayed. The feeling went away only to resurface once I got to the office. Then the queasiness happened again while waiting for the doctor. The pain was so excruciating, I thought I was going to double over. “Please God, be with me.” The pain went away and I was fine again until I had to go to the pharmacy. The pain started up again. “Please, God be with me.” 15 minutes later, I made it home, exhausted from the stress of the appointment and the pharmacy run.

It only took me a few days to realize that I did something wonderful that I didn’t know I could do. I went to the doctor’s with a sick baby and I did it by myself. Well, not really. I made that trip with Emmanuel. God was with the baby and me that afternoon. He sustained me in my weakness. How appropriate for this to happen during Advent.