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I keep thinking about my mom’s dentist appointment the other week. As we were seated waiting for her name to be called, Dad had his arm around Mom and she had her head on his chest. She said, “I hurt. You have to help me.” (Mom has frequent stomach aches. We’ve had all kinds of tests done and concluded it comes from irritable bowel. She is on different meds, but nothing seems to really help.)
Dad squeezed her shoulder and said, “I am helping. I’m here.”
She clings to him more, I think she is anxious being in this building she doesn’t remember, and repeats, “You have to help me.”
“I am,” Dad patiently repeats in a calming voice. “I am here with you.”
When her name is called Dad gets up with her and puts his hand on her shoulder (to guide him because his vision is so poor) and shuffles along behind. As they work on her teeth the dentist pulls a chair up close to Mom so Dad can hold her hand through it all.
Sometimes I hurt and I cry out to God, “You have to help me.” God is powerful and sovereign and He can take away my pain if He chooses to. Sometimes He does. And sometimes, for reasons I don’t understand, He doesn’t take away the pain.
But He says in a still, calm voice, “I am here with you.” And I hold fast to His hand, and know the grace that His presence brings, and it is enough.
(A memory post from January 2012.)
God's Grace and Life's Challenges 
How I needed to hear that my Papa is holding my hand. This has been a season of crying out “You have to help me”. He has given me Habakuk 3:17-18, Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, Though the olive crop fails and the fields produce o food, Though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, YET I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in God my Savior. May you be blessed today as Father God holds your hand!
I love that passage, too! Sorry you’re in such a difficult season, Lynette. I needed this reminder today, myself. Praying we both walk through our days holding onto our Abba’s strong hands and knowing the peace of His presence. 💗
I remember reading this when I was in the “thick of it” taking care of both my parents. What a comfort to understand that God is there holding your hand even if the situation does not change or even gets worse. It got worse than I ever could have imagined for both my parents before they were finally taken home to heaven last year. But looking back, I see that God was right there and never left them or me. Most of my lessons I learned are in hindsight now that I look back. I loved the way you were able to see the lessons as they were unfolding. Your writing has been such a blessing to me! Thank you for sharing God’s gift to you with me.
God was with us all and still is! You’ve been a blessing to me too, Ivy! Thank you!
Beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Barbara!
Such a beautiful story. He is always with us, a lesson God wants us to remember. Thank you for sharing.