God's Protection of His Children

It’s Monday morning and I just wanted to take a moment and give God praise and thanksgiving. Last week was a pretty rough week, at least relatively speaking. I had three men in the hospital or getting out of the hospital, and I had to deal with the police at school in a very unpleasant situation. There have been several sleepless nights praying about everything that have gone on. All of this in addition to the normal daily responsibilities of driving a school bus, supervising In School Detention and substitute teaching nearly every day for three weeks straight. I thank the Lord for His sustenance in the midst of the struggle. I thank the Lord for a church body who loves me and my family. I thank the Lord for his answered prayers for my sister-in-law (I think of her as a sister), Kathy.

Between working at the school, visiting, and preparation for Sunday’s services, this past week has flown by. I am finding that though a goal of blogging every day is commendable, it is not a reality.

I am reading today in Genesis 21, the story of Isaac’s birth and God’s protection of Hagar and Ishmael. In this story, we once again see Sarah becoming jealous of Hagar and Ishmael. Sarah asks Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away to which he acquiesces. Hagar finds herself in the wilderness with all her water expended. Without hope, Hagar sets Ishmael under a bush and abandons him to die. God speaks to Hagar and tells her to go pick up her son and then reveals to her a water well nearby. We will often give up hope in a situation before we look for and find God’s solution. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 it says, “13No temptation (Gk. Peirasmos = experience [of evil], solicitation, discipline or provocation); by implication adversity:—temptation) has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” This passage is translated and used primarily to give hope in overcoming the temptation to sin. In truth, the passage encompasses much more than just temptation. This verse is a promise of overcoming evil or trials of any type in one’s life. When in the worst of difficulties we may know that we are not alone either as we go through the struggle or in the nature of the struggle itself. With this knowledge we know that God will sustain us just as He has those who have gone before us.

The struggle this past week involved a student in school telling a lie that I had done something which I hadn’t. I am not unfamiliar to people lying about me. What made this situation more difficult was the student’s uncle called my home late at night and made the accusation. The result was a sleepless night for not only me, but my wife as well. The uncle reported the alleged incident to the police, but when the police interviewed the student, it became evident the student had made the story up. God sustained us through it, and with the promise in Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose”, we have come through and God has used the situations to address some potential problems at the school. I pray that the student involved understands the seriousness of making false accusations and the damage it can have on a person’s life, even when the accusation is not a violation of any laws. It would be my preference to have avoided the situation completely, but I find comfort in the knowledge that God has used this to work things out at the school to prevent similar accusations in the future.

Thank you Lord for once again protecting your child.