In Troubled Times
In times of trouble, times of catastrophe, illness, or calamity, where do you turn? Are these times that you lean on your own understanding? Do you attempt to figure things out and work through these troubles yourself, or are these times that you turn to God?
Seventy-eight days ago, at the time of this writing, I had a catastrophic health issue that came on in an instant and that caused me to lose the ability to consume any solid food and greatly hindered my ability to even drink some things.
Over the past few days, I rapidly lost weight; fat and muscle were fading away and, at the time of this writing, I am a shadow of the man physically that I was just two-and-a-half months ago. During this time, I found I was losing my ability to maintain focus and concentration.
I was praying continuously it seemed, but the weakness in my body affected my mind and hindered my writing. My biggest fear became failing God—that thought overwhelmed me. The time came when I felt that, now in my mid-sixties, I was going to starve to death which deepened my fear that I was failing God in my calling.
One evening I called my best friend and preacher to discuss this fear that troubled my heart. I remember weeping and asking him what I needed to do or what I had not done, because the only fear I had was leaving this world without doing something I needed to do for the Lord.
Of course I was comforted with lifting scripture, the love of a true friend and prayer, and reminded that I wasn’t gone yet, so the Lord God was not finished with me. He reminded me that Paul had an affliction that hindered him also and to stay strong in the Lord.
The next morning I was listening to a sermon given by David Jeremiah on the very same subject of Paul’s affliction. You can believe me or not, but that same day I began to recover and have gotten better each day since. I’m still not completely over this issue but I am gaining strength and my mind is able to focus and concentrate again.
Then last week, we were hit with another catastrophic issue in our family, one of those things that hits you so hard you are stunned in every sense of the word. Immediately, I began to pray, scriptures rang through my heart in clear resounding words. “I will never leave you or forsake you.” The words of Job, “Though He slay me I will trust Him.” “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding.” “The prayers of a righteous man availeth much.” “Be still and know that I am God.”
The truths of the Holy Word of God rang in my mind and still are. Again I began the fervent prayers for this family member seeking the mercy of God the Father in the name of our precious Lord, the only begotten Son of God. This is not the first time my wife and I have faced multiple catastrophic events in rapid succession; we unexpectedly lost both our mothers within thirty days of each other.
That same year we each lost an uncle, one of which passed the day of my mother’s funeral. The following summer we endured the passing of our dear Ben. Each and every time we ran to the Lord. You see, I have no other place to run, no other place of comfort and strength, and I do not want any other! I have learned so much through these times of trouble.
Many verses of the Word of God have been made real in our lives. As one man preached, if you are saved then everything that happens to you has been sifted through the hands of God. Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Our lives in this fleshly vessel makes us desire the end of the story, and you may even find yourself wanting to know how all that I have covered in this writing ends. Well, I can tell you this with absolute precision: it ends as everyone else’s ends, either in paradise in the presence of our Lord God, or in eternal torment in the prison designed for Satan, forever separated from God! That last never-ending chapter is one or the other—there is no other option!
If you find yourself prompted to pray, please know that we covet and appreciate your prayers. Know also that I pray often for you, the reader, that these writings will instill or deepen within you a desire to know God through His Holy Word.
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8
Kenneth Kellar
A Man Called by God to Teach and Disciple