I painted this for my dad. (Mom don't show him yet ;) I wanted to paint him something special for his 75th birthday. He's had a rough couple of years. He has heart issues, diabetes issues, double knee replacement, and chronic back pain for years. A doctor finally diagnosed him with a birth defect in his back which cause bone spurs between his vertebrae. He then had back surgery which caused all kinds of kidney and bladder complications, which in turn caused renal failure. And to top that off he finally admitted he had a horrible addiction to pain medicine, which almost caused him to take his own life. To say my Dad was in the wilderness is an understatement. Not much fun for his family either.
So I wanted to paint a picture for him that depicted these trials in his life.
We could see our Dad slip away from the Lord more and more through the years. It...was...heartbreaking!!
My dad gave his life to Christ when I was in high school (after he got clean and sober) He was on fire for the Lord. He didn't drink a drop for many, many years. But slowly Satan got a foot hold of my dad..and he kept slipping more and more. I prayed Lord bring him back. Bring him back. Because you see, when God starts a good work...he ALWAYS completes it. I clung to that promise!
This was a very dark time for my dad, and our family. Our family has been down this addiction road before. You feel helpless. To love someone who is an addict is UGLY, and painful. But God is faithful, and HE ALWAYS keeps his promises.
For years I prayed for my dad..For the Lord to bring him back to him. I hoped, I prayed, it would happen. But honestly I had my doubts. Now I know we are suppose to trust the Lord, but just like the man who brought his son to Jesus to be healed and the Lord asked him ,"What do you mean, 'If I can'? Anything is possible if a person believes." and the man replied, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" That was me...crying out, "help me with my unbelief."
Never in my wildest dreams did I think we would have to walk this addiction road again. NEVER! But you see, just because you are a Christian doesn't mean you won't face temptations and trials. Even Jesus did. The kicker is he didn't sin.
After a week stay in the hospital in January, to ease my dad's detox process. He was sent home. The next month was hell on earth, not just for him, but for my family. To help a person come off drugs is disgusting. Plain and simple. It's hell!
I remember getting the call, and realizing my mom needed help. Crying on the ride north yelling at God..saying ..really God...really?? 74 years old and here we are again with addiction. Really??
Then I heard the whisper..Yes at 74...I will bring him back to me, and this is the way I'm going to do it. All I ask is for you to do is to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8.
There have been so many lessons the Lord has revealed to me through this all. Forgiveness..Love..Mercy..Compassion.
It has been a long few months. But I'm so happy to say my dad is clean and healthy, and has picked up his cross and started walking with the Lord again. Hallelujah!! It is so awesome to hear him laugh. To see the light in his eyes again!
We are all a work in progress. We all we stumble and fall, but God is merciful, and patient. In Hebrews 4:14 it says , So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
How about you? Have you ever had time you doubted God? Have you ever had a time wondering in the wilderness, wondering if God hears you? Believe me I understand. But hold on...Don't stop praying...He hears! Thank God..that He is for us!! He is gracious...He is patient... and He will never leave us.
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