He Will

Over the holidays, our family got together and shared food, fun, memories, and germs. Many of us ended the holidays with coughs and colds. There were still many fun times and special moments. I ended up with a more lasting bug. I gave my daughter Lydia lots of vitamins and only noticed her sniffling one day. I was hopeful it bypassed her.

But a week later she started feeling sick. Fever, upset stomach, and runny nose. I wasn’t sure if it was the same bug we all had since none of us had stomach issues. I did the usual “mom stuff” ... giving meds, clear fluids, etc. But she seemed to be getting worse. I’ve actually never seen her this sick. Not sleeping or eating. Lydia's doctor was unavailable for a week and a half, so we headed to Urgent care.

At the Urgent Care it was obvious Lydia was very sick. Partly by her countenance, and partly by the throw-up bowl and Kleenex box I carried with us. They diagnosed her with the flu, and gave us anti-nausea meds. From the look of stuff coming from Lydia’s nose, I was sure she had an infection. But they wouldn’t give her antibiotics.

As the sleepless nights went on, I was at my wit's end watching her get weaker and sicker, and not knowing what else to do. I used the shower to steam up the bathroom and a humidifier by her bed. I used a saline nasal spray to try to clear her nose. To no avail.

I had people praying for her. I prayed for her. I was sleep deprived. We both were. That night I sat on her bed with her propped up against me, trying to help her get some sleep. I kept praying and lifting her up to the Lord.

Later, I remembered my Psalm for that day:

“For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and needy and save the needy from death.” (Psalm 72:12-13)

Those verses brought me peace. But Lydia was still sick. By the eighth day, I felt sure she just needed an antibiotic. So the next day, my husband and I returned to the Urgent Care. This time we had a very efficient provider.

I asked her to please check her lungs, her throat, her ears, and give me an antibiotic ... and she did.

Lydia had such a bad ear infection that it burst. Poor baby. But we quickly got her on the medication and saw great relief in a short period of time.

During those ten days of Lydia being sick, I did a lot of soul searching. I cried out to the Lord. “What am I doing wrong? What more can I do for her? In that verse it says 'He will ... deliver the needy and save the weak.' So why did it last 10 days?”

The bible says a day with the Lord is like a thousand years. The time Lydia was sick felt like a thousand years. But, when God says “He will...” we can trust him to do what he has promised. “He will”, might not mean right now ... or even in a week or more.

But God is faithful. He did heal Lydia. She is eating again, sleeping, and smiling, and I am thankful.

Whatever you are facing, take comfort that “He will” hear the cries of the needy.

“Praise be to the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.” (Psalm 72:18)

I pray for a season of health in our home, and for blessings on you and yours!