War is hell; life mirrors war.
Soldiers get beat up on battlefields and little boys become brave warriors when they endure land mines and rapid fire cardiac units they never volunteered for.
In this portion of our journey, God allowed the stench and sweat of the fight to almost suffocate us. We experienced an oppressive darkness, a gnawing desperation that shrouded us in anxiety and fear. Right there in the middle of that mess, God sent the cavalry - people to remind us that He was still sufficient, still completely trustworthy, still perfectly in control despite all outward signs. Our supportive family came to the rescue with words of wisdom, acts of kindness and prayers of faith to dispel the drape of fear. When we were outnumbered, those who loved us dearly showed up with a rallying cry. "Remember who God is," they cried, "Remember He will give you grace for whatever He calls you to do. Don't allow your fear of what might happen to replace what you know about God. Don't forget Him in the middle of the battle. Hang on. Here He comes. Listen for His voice. He provides all the armor you need for every gut-wrenching, overwhelming struggle. Remember now. Don't lose hope."
Hope is a wonderful thing.