"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him,
he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
John 15:5
It is true. Painfully true. Apart from Him, we can do nothing...and that's just how this morning began.
Brodie landed in Malawi today (after 2 days of flying) and we realized that his phone was not going to work. At all. As the reality sunk in that I would probably have no contact with him for his whole trip, my first instinct was to cry. Fortunately, my second instinct/God's wake up call was to trust in the Lord with my whole heart knowing that He is all I ever need and He is in control of all things...even the little details like phones not working.
So, I'm accepting this new twist in the plan by God's reassuring grace and trusting that He will be all sufficient. How could I ever doubt that? He has proven Himself to me time and time again.
I sat up praying last night (unable to sleep as Brodie flew from South Africa into Malawi). I also read through Sally Clarkson's Seasons of a Mother's Heart and the Lord used the last few chapters to minister to me in such a special way. Read them! You won't regret it. Her words confirmed what God has been teaching me: His grace is enough. I must remain connected to the Vine. I must maintain an eternal perspective. God is worthy of my praise! Prayer is my most crucial parenting practice. He is all I need and all my children need. My fruitfulness comes from Him.
"I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit."
Hosea 14:8
Although I am desperately missing my best friend, I'm keenly aware that my true Best Friend is with me always, with me now. He is with Brodie under the same blanket of stars across the globe. And even though I can't do anything about fixing the phone problem and God has chosen to allow it to stay so, what I can do is cling to Christ. What I can do is praise Him anyway. I can pray and trust and follow Jesus the same way as if I were talking and texting with my husband so many miles away...all the more in fact.
If I'm connected to the Vine...then I'm right where I should be. He supplies my everything and I am never alone. I praise God for His faithfulness and friendship. And I'm glad that I'm here in this place of relying solely on Him where it's perfectly clear that apart from Him, I can do nothing.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction,
with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
2 Corinthians 1:3
Yes, He does...and I pray that I may do the same for another.
"I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:3
He has not. He will not. I believe.
