Half of our small congregation was terribly sick this morning. Cold, flu, Clorox-burn, you name it.
Orchestra and ensemble was canceled for the morning and we all gathered in the sanctuary and simply sang. What began as a struggling motley crue of people attempting to worship ended in a most sacred way.
I played There is a Balm in Gilead for the offertory, Sharon sang a beautiful song, and Brendan led us in a powerful chorus of Praise to the Lord, the Almighty.
Pastor Jeff barely had voice enough to read scripture, but he opened his Bible and began softly reading from Jeremiah.
Ah Lord God! Behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.
As I glanced around the congregation, I couldn’t help but see how many of us need healing in different ways. One family was full of tears this morning. Today is the day they whisper goodbye to a family member. I held a dear friend last night at the visitation and she wept as she said, waking up tomorrow is going to be so hard. Then there was the lady who is burdened for her grandson’s salvation. He visits the church occasionally and when he does you can always find him trailing after Pastor Jeff. He aches for the familiarity that we all have with each other. His home life is scarred and the name of Jesus amazes him. He’s intrigued. But not enough. And over to my left, I see two people who are attempting to swim through the academics required to attain their Master’s degree. Overwhelming to say the least. My dad was sitting in the balcony today, attempting to run the sound system. He can barely walk, and singing is well nigh impossible.
I couldn’t hold the tears back as I read the words in Jeremiah. Nothing is too hard for thee. It seems like such a simple phrase but when the God of the universe says it, my fears fade.
I will thank You for the healing, even before it comes.