Waiting, Waiting, Waiting...

Thank you, everyone, who have written to me privately to say you're praying for Eric. It has been a roller coaster ride, highs and lows, for this family. It has been amazing to see God at work. Unfortunately, there are some who can't see God's hand in things, some who see no hope. We should add those people to our prayers. Please go to Angie's blog and leave her an encouraging note. Don't just read her latest post, read all of them, and especially her prayer for Eric. I know she and Bob are completely, emotionally drained but God keeps refilling them with strength and courage.

I want the world to stop. That's the feeling I have. I just want everything to shut down so I can listen and feel and wait and cry and pray. Ever have that feeling? That you just need to stop all movement around you so you can take a breath, get your bearings. That's the way I feel when I think of Eric. That if things would just slow down a moment, if we'd all just hold our breath for just a second, he could catch up, gain ground. I guess that's my own anxiety. Every time I think of Angie and Eric--all the family--I have to beat that lump in my throat away or I'll burst into tears. I can't tell you how much Angie has come to mean to me in the past few days. We've attended writers' meetings together, worked on our conference committee together, had lunch with our 'lunch bunch' every Wednesday for almost a year... but these past thirteen plus days, I've grown to admire and love her, think of her as I would a daughter--or sister.

Please, please visit her blog and offer a prayer or words of encouragement. It would mean so much to all of us. And especially to Eric when he walks out of that hospital. I want him to know how much we've prayed, and how much we care for him and his family. I want him to know that he's one of God's beautiful miracles.

Click HERE for Angie's blog.

The Answer is Always Jesus

How helpless parents feel when there is nothing they can do for their sick child, but pray. I know prayer is the ultimate answer and while we've hit our knees many times on behalf of our children, there's still that nagging feeling that we could do, should do, more. There's still that horrible tremble of fear going on inside us even though we've placed everything in God's hands. Sometimes I imagine God is shaking his head, pursing his lips and saying, "Ohhhh, Jessica, haven't you learned by now that I'm your answer? The only answer." He knows I know that... and believe it with all my heart, and I praise Him for answering my prayers even when I can't speak them aloud; for those times I can do nothing more than cry and beg, "please-God-please-God-please-God-please. .
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Like I'm doing now for my friend Angie and her son Eric. You can read the latest update on Eric by visiting her blog here. Eric makes a little progress and then he'll have a bad night or morning. He's definitely keeping us on our toes with our prayers. This is definitely a time to pray without ceasing. 1 Thess. 5:17.

As it says in Matthew 17:20-21, 'For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 7:7,8 says "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

Ask. Seek. Knock. There are so many wonderful prayer warriors across the country praying for Eric and his family. I thank God for each of them.

"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." Hebrews 4:16

As believers, we know without doubt that God has the power to answer prayer. God has given each of us the gift of faith. Let's pray that whatever is standing in the way of total restoration for sweet Eric be removed. Let's pray for the doctors and medical professionals as they tend to Eric. Let's pray that God gives them wisdom, and especially gives wisdom and comfort to Angie and Bob as they sit and wait and pray for their son. Lord, guide them in every decision they make. And let's praise God that praying for Eric allows us to express the sincerest desire of our heart and soul--which is that this precious young man be touched and healed, and will speak of the miracle in days to come.

Thank you, Jesus, thy will be done.
Amen.