For twelve years, I have known that my kidneys were sick. It has not limited me in the least bit, that is until recently. I have not been feeling well for a while, and have suspected for some time that things just were not right. Then, I go to the doctor to find out that there has been a change in my kidneys. Not only has the filtration decreased significantly, but they are not producing enough of the chemical that tells my bone marrow to produce red blood cells.
This led me to see a specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. That led to discussions of dialysis, diet change, and transplant. Within a few minutes I went from wondering how bad my kidneys were to knowing that they are bad enough that I will need a transplant.
It was definitely disheartening. It was a punch in the gut. I remember watching my grandfather waste away while on dialysis. I remember the final weeks of his life and the torture he went through as his body finally shut down. Here I am 30 years younger than he was and I am discussing with my doctors dialysis.
Of course, I wonder why God has let this happen. I have given my life to His service, and now I am facing these things. I get upset, and I loose hope. THEN…
God shows up, but it is not in a big and showy way. He shows up in the small things. He shows up in what we often write off as insignificant coincidences. I am fully convinced that with God, there are no coincidences. In many ways, He has been working on this kidney issue for many years.
I guess the greatest gift that He has given me is PEACE. I have peace because I see God working. I have peace because I know that He is able and even if He doesn’t work in the way I would like, I am His. He will finish what He has begun.
The peace of God can carry us through even the most difficult of circumstances. Do you have His peace?