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Our journey with the Lord

Sarah Hiebert

Many times in our 26 years of marriage, Jake and I sensed the presence of the Lord. Our motto at our wedding was:

“God’s strength behind you, His love within you, His concern for you, His arms beneath you are more than sufficient for the task ahead of you.”

Little did we know at that time what the task would be nor how much we would be put to the test. Jake had been married before and had a grown family, which called for more adjusting than only to each other. Yet, the Lord was gracious. We did what we sensed was right and held firmly to each other, giving each other full support. Over the years, the family grew together, and the Lord guided and blessed.

After a number of years, there were signs of depression in Jake, which at first lasted only for short periods of time. However, in time, these periods became longer and the depression deeper. The Word of God became our main supply of strength (we also knew friends were praying). Often at night, when struggles and doubts were disturbing and strong, we would get up, flick on the light, open the Word of God, find John 10:27-29, and read: “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them. . . . I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” The Word of God gave us:

1. Confidence and security

Philippians 1:6 promises that “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” 1 Peter 1:5 says that we “through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” If, as Colossians 3:3 says, our “life is now hidden with Christ in God”, the enemy cannot touch us. Jude 24 praises “Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy”. The Lord promises in Hebrews 13:5, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

2. Peace

God promises not only to keep us, but also to give us peace in the meantime.

Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.” Jesus says in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Philippians 4:7 promises, “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” One night, Jake was so restless in his sleep that I prayed back to the Lord His promise from Matthew 11:28: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Immediately, Jake slept peacefully.

3. Joy

Philippians 4:4,6 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Psalm 22:3 states that the Lord inhabits the praises of Israel. Jake and I often spent time in praise, whether driving or at home. Praise lifted us up and strengthened us in the Lord.

4. Understanding

Often Jake would cry out to the Lord from Psalm 42:1: “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.” After Jake’s passing, I came upon Psalm 143, which aptly expresses the experiences which he had: the persecuting of the soul by the enemy, the dwelling in darkness, the spirit being overwhelmed within and a call for deliverance. It was helpful to know that God understood and had already recorded the things that we went through. Hebrews 4:15-16 explains, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

5. Hope

Romans 8:18 says, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” The Lord has much in store for His children in the future. One time, when Jake had great temptations from the enemy, he found relief in the promise of 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”

6. Strength to conquer, power to overcome

Nehemiah 8:10 reminds us, “The joy of the LORD is your strength.” As we choose to live in the joy of the Lord, the enemy has no power. He has already been defeated by the death and resurrection of our Lord. John writes in 1 John 4:4: “The One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” We took refuge in this knowledge. Romans 8:37 adds: “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” The victory is ours through Christ.

7. Thanksgiving

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 5:20 reminds us that we should be “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” That was not always easy to follow, yet we could thank the Lord for His mercy and grace and for being with us in every situation, knowing that He would be with us also in the future.

8. Trust

Because of all that God had done for us, we could make our own promises and say with Isaiah 12:2, “I will trust and not be afraid”, and with Psalm 56:11, “In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” My goal for the future is to continue trusting God until the end, believing that God will do what He has promised.

After Jake’s passing, I received a card from our care group, the words of which restated our wedding motto: “Above you is the Lord’s covering, beneath you is His strength and security, and around you are His arms of love.” This was accompanied by Deuteronomy 33:27: “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”

Sarah Hiebert is a member of Ross Road Community Church in Abbotsford, B.C.

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Last modified March 28, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
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