A LOVE that CARRIES US THROUGH…AND REMEMBERS HIS FAITHFUL PROMISE

"Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. The Lord will accomplish that which concerns me; Your [unwavering] lovingkindness, O Lord, endures forever— Do not abandon the works of Your own hands."

(Psalm 138:7-8) (AMP)

A LOVE that CARRIES US THROUGH… AND REMEMBERS HIS FAITHFUL PROMISE

I was almost seven months pregnant with my first and married for about a year and a half and was 24 years old. I was sitting in my parked car at the High School where I worked. I remember thinking about how I loved my job, and God’s faithfulness in bringing me there.

This was the High School I attended as a teen. It was where I encountered a God who loves and cares for the lost. As a junior and high school senior, I considered it my mission field.

Now I was back. I had a passion to reach the youth of my city. God had called me to do this.

After graduating from a local Bible School, I began to serve and volunteer as the Youth Director at the church where I was a member. A short time after I was also given the opportunity to work as a youth Mentor at a local church with their Urban Youth Outreach Ministry. I worked for about a year when they had to let me go due to budget cuts and being the newest employee.

In my role- I would go into the High School during their lunch hour and after-school programs to mentor young ladies.

When I was let go, I knew that God would open another door to minister at this High School. It was something He had shown me and I knew my assignment was not complete at this school. As Youth Director at my local Church, I would meet new students that would attend youth group and I knew that working at our local High School would be a great mission.

I prayed for direction and God led me to apply through the public school system. I was hired fairly quickly as a paraprofessional. They were aware of my desire to work at the High School, but there were no current openings. My first assignment, therefore, was at an Elementary School where I helped in their special education department. Soon after, there was an opening at the High School in their (ESL) English Second Language department.

Fast forward to the High School parking lot where I am sitting in my car with an undeniable peace.

I was listening to a Bible teaching on the radio that corresponded with what I had read as my devotional earlier that morning. It was a reminder of what I had been reading and meditating on earlier that week regarding trials and hardships in Romans 5: 3-5.

"And not only this but [with joy] let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance; and endurance, proven character (spiritual maturity); and proven character, hope and confident assurance [of eternal salvation].

Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

(Romans 5:3-5 (AMP).

I had such a beautiful peace overwhelming me. I knew at that moment that God was preparing me for what was to come.

That day at work was one of the most difficult work days I had ever faced. You see, I worked alongside a colleague in this program who was constantly negative, especially toward my pregnancy. Speaking her superstitions about how I was carrying my baby and that I should get checked out because she thought that something was wrong. She would unceasingly say negative things.

(Note: We have the power of life and death in our words. (See; Proverbs 18:21). We must always guard what we say and what we allow others to speak into our lives. And when such negative words are spoken over us, we must counteract those words with God’s Word).

When I arrived home later that evening; I began to speak God’s Word and promises over my womb and son. Despite the hard season, I was in; I had such an overwhelming peace.

Sometime after, within that month, I was rushed to the emergency room after a routine check due to severe pre-eclampsia and toxemia. I remember being in that hospital room feeling as though my heart was going to explode- yet Christ’s presence and peace were so strong. I knew HE was carrying me. HE had been preparing me for this hard moment. Before I was rushed to the nearest town Children’s Hospital, my grandfather paid me a visit. A man after God’s own heart, with a faith like Abraham’s, is how I always describe him.

Full of faith – he looked at me and said- I will pray so that the Lord miraculously heals you. Moments before his arrival; an ultrasound revealed that my son had stopped receiving nourishment since he was 24 weeks old gestational age. He was now 31 weeks gestational age-old. I needed to be rushed to the next town children’s hospital asap...

I told my grandfather without a shadow of a doubt – I truly believe that God can instantly turn things around. Yet, with great conviction, I told him respectfully that I felt this was something I had to go through. I asked him to pray for strength and for all things to go well no matter the doctor’s reports.

He agreed and with a deep fervency, he prayed. As soon as the ambulance arrived, my grandfather left. As I was traveling in the ambulance, full of pain; I couldn’t help but smile. The paramedic asked; how I could be smiling during a time like this.

I explained that despite the pain and what things looked like; I knew where I was standing. My foundation was firm.

(See; Matthew 7:24-27). I knew that NO MATTER WHAT my Abba Father was carrying me through. My trust in HIM was secure. Jesus was my anchored hope. My perfect peace.

I was able to share the hope of Jesus Christ with the paramedic that evening.

When we arrived at the children’s hospital my husband Julio and later my mom, met me there to support me. I was in so much pain due to the swelling all over my body and the intense pulsating of my heart. According to the physicians, my son and I were at great risk of dying if quick measures were not taken. My blood pressure kept on rising. At this point, it was about 224/124. They decided the best option was to perform an emergency Cesarean section before it was too late. They were hesitant though because I had recently eaten and my son was breeched.

My husband then took my hand and began to pray in faith that I would vomit what I had eaten. Immediately I began to throw up what I had eaten. The nurse was in the room and said; ok, well now we can do surgery. As we waited to be taken to prep for surgery, Julio and I began to recall God’s promise of a son and began to remember the Lord coming to each of us in our dreams where HE told us both that we were having a son and that he would be called Isaac. We knew with certainty that NO MATTER WHAT- we would have our promised son.

Julio had brought my Bible and I asked him to read to me since my eyes were blurred and in pain. The Lord led him to the book of Joel. Where God once again affirmed His promise to us.

I began to laugh and with boldness said; “that IS Isaac’s middle name.” Julio agreed and noticed that the description of the book of Joel in my Bible said; that Joel literally means; ‘Yahweh is God’.

I began to laugh more and declared; “Because the Lord is God-I can laugh in the face of danger.” Wow! Isaac means laughter and Joel means Yahweh is God!

Shortly after that inspiring moment in God’s presence, they came to pick me up to prepare me for surgery. Julio wanted to be in the room with me and they prepared him as well with the possible news of losing us both. They wanted him to sign a waiver stating who it was he wanted them to save in case things came to that. He refused to sign it and declared; that God would save us and give life to us both. And it was so; after complications during surgery, we finally had our promised Isaac Joel…

What is it that you are currently facing?

Know without a shadow of a doubt that NO MATTER WHAT - God is carrying you through because you trust in Him and are standing on the firm foundation of Christ's Word.

In our hard seasons, His love remembers what He has promised and reminds us of His faithfulness and His faithful Word.

*Choose this moment to believe in who HE is NO MATTER WHAT.

God is LOVE. He is always faithful and true to His promises.

HE never fails.

*Take a moment to recall what He has promised and remember what He has done.

HE WILL DO WHAT HE SAID. HIS WORD WILL COME TO PASS.

His Word never returns to Him void. (See; Isaiah 55:10-11)

*Choose to trust fully in Christ and stand on His promises NO MATTER WHAT.

HE is trustworthy.

Be encouraged by God’s Word;

*As you read each of the following Bible passages below-

take a moment to give God Thanks for who HE is and for what HE has done.

And for what is yet to come-that HE has promised.

“For I the Lord your God keep hold of your right hand; [I am the Lord], Who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13)

“Listen to Me,” [says the Lord], “O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, You who have been carried by Me from your birth And have been carried [in My arms] from the womb, Even to your old age I am He, And even to your advanced old age, I will carry you! I have made you, and I will carry you; Be assured I will carry you and I will save you.” (Isaiah 46:3-4)

“Your faithfulness to keep every gracious promise you’ve made

passes from parents to children, to grandchildren, and beyond.”

(Psalm 103:17b) (TPT)

“For we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises]”—

(2 Corinthians 5:7) (AMP)

“He carries out and fulfills all of God’s promises, no matter how many of them there are; and we have told everyone how faithful he is, giving glory to his name.”

(2 Corinthians 1:20) (TLB)

"For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us."

(2 Corinthians 1:20) (NKJV)

“Every good thing the Lord had promised them came true.”

(Joshua 21:45) (TLB)

“Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.” (Romans 15:4) (NLT)

“Only fear the Lord [with awe and profound reverence] and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.”

(1 Samuel 12:24) (AMP)

“Remember the wondrous works he has done, all his marvelous works, and the justice he declared”—

(Psalm 105:5) (CEB)

“Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.”

(Psalm 103:2) (NLT)

“I will always thank the Lord; I will never stop praising him. I will praise him for what he has done; may all who are oppressed listen and be glad! Proclaim with me the Lord's greatness; let us praise his name together!” (Psalm 34:1-3) (GNT)

(Take a moment to look up and read; "Footprints in the Sand" poem)

Your friend in Christ,

Ruthy Villanueva