Be Brave

I wear a bracelet that says "Be Brave." I wear this bracelet because I'm not brave. I'd have no need of the reminder if I were. Sometimes I'm so not brave that I'm nothing but a quivering mess on the floor, crying my heart out. My son has had CF his whole life--nearly 23 years, and while there have been times that I've been a bit frightened for him, and I've hurt for him and the various painful maladies and procedures he has had to go through, I've never really felt the possibility of losing him until last fall when he was suddenly fighting several kinds of bacteria in his lungs and losing twenty pounds off of his already slim body.

That's when bravery was required. And that's when I realized how far short I fell.

I know a few of you are thinking, "Well, that girl just needs some faith. Does she believe what she says she believes or doesn't she?" I know you're thinking this, because I've thought it. I've even said it behind the back of someone afraid of dying.

And I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. And I forgive you if you've thought it about me, because you just don't know. And I pray you never find out.

Having been accused lately of being "sanctimonious," I've given this word some thought. The dictionary defines the word as "affecting piousness; hypocritically devout." And while I was initially offended, I have to wonder, do I believe what I say I believe, and do I believe it enough to say it out loud... to anyone and everyone. I go to a church that believes in the finished work of Jesus on the cross for the redemption of the whole man--body, soul, and spirit. It's a church that believes in ALL God's promises without sweeping the inconvenient or outrageous ones under the rug. It's a church that believes that God not only heals, but that he wants to heal EVERY ONE EVERY TIME. Sanctification through illness is not one of God's methods.

So here I am being real--being brave. I'm putting my faith where my mouth is.

I believed that I received this word from the Lord: "I will not abandon Tracy to the grave. He will live; he will not die. I will heal him, and his testimony will shine like the sun."

Every time I ask him "what can I do" in regards to my son's health, I hear, "Just praise me."

Why? Because, somehow, in a spiritual war that we can't see, that is our greatest weapon.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. Acts 16:25-26

So, I'm going to ask you to join me. Take a few minutes to fight this battle with me each day. I don't even care if you're a believer. Just sing. Then share this post. I'm putting my name and my faith out there. Be brave with me.

And it doesn't need to be all about me and my son. God's big enough to take care of your needs for healing, deliverance, provision, addiction, depression, anxiety, etc., at the same time.

Sing with me, and the chains will fall.