I was packed and ready to head to Grand Rapids for the annual Festival of Faith and Writing Conference at Calvin College. As I rechecked the contents of my briefcase and reviewed the workshop schedule, I savored the moments I would be able to indulge in the opportunity to hear Francine Rivers speak. I have always wanted to meet her. She is an incredible writer. Also, I looked forward to special meetings with other writers and editors. The three and a half hour drive to Grand Rapids would be long, but enjoyable as I had already packed the audio version of Karen Kingsbury’s Redemption Series to listen to as I traveled.
When I felt the first shiver, I thought it was just the night breeze from my open window. When the shivers turned to intense chills, I knew there was a problem. With a fever of 102, I was not well enough to go to the conference. Within the next 24 hours, I ended up in the emergency room, dehydrated and officially diagnosed with influenza. But wasn’t the flu season over? It’s almost May!
If you suffered from the flu this year, I am so sorry. It’s debilitating, isn’t it? Unable to get out of bed for several days, I stayed warm beneath the covers. With a throbbing headache, I wasn’t able to read. All I could do was be still. I now have a better understanding of the verse in Psalm 46: “Be still and know that I am God.”
Although moments of “being still” can be frustrating, especially when special plans were changed, we should embrace those moments. Quiet moments to spend with God in prayer. One on one. So during your hectic week of non-stop errands, endless appointments, dueling deadlines, find a moment to be still and be blessed.
My mother has been a christian for as long as I can remember. She instilled in me a deep and passionate faith in God and prayer. At one point in my life, my sister and I became the prodical sisters. We had bought the same sports cars one black and one white. We were known as the ghost and shadow around town and also for our weekend partying. After a late night of drinking, we were in a horrible accident where my sisters car hit a telephone pole and she was thrown from the car. She was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. I immediately started praying and begged the other two boys to pray too. I called mom and she just said, Pray and don’t stop. An hour later, they came out and told me they could not understand it but she was still was revived and breathing on her own. My mom later told me that that day God had her on her knees praying for us and she didn’t know why until later. Thank GOd for my mom’s prayers, we are both back walking with God.