Waiting and Worrying

Since Friday, the situation with my dog, Devo, has gotten a lot more serious. He is at the vet’s now, and is scheduled for surgery first thing tomorrow morning. And the vet, who is painfully pessimistic by nature, warned me that Devo might not make it through the surgery. And so I am waiting and worrying (with a fair amount of weeping, to be honest).

What do we do in times of terror, pain, and sadness? Prayer. Constant, desperate, pleading prayer. A few months ago I was going through a similarly painful situation, and I discovered, to my surprise, that praise was even more effective than prayer (not that they are mutually exclusive). Last night at church (The Austin Stone), we sang a song that I keep singing to myself today as I worry. It’s by Hillsong United, and I’ve pasted the lyrics below for anyone else who is in a period of waiting and worry.

You are good, You are good
When there's nothing good in me
You are love, You are love
On display for all to see
You are light, You are light
When the darkness closes in
You are hope, You are hope
You have covered all my sin

You are peace, You are peace
When my fear is crippling
You are true, You are true
Even in my wandering
You are joy, You are joy
You're the reason that I sing
You are life, You are life,
In You death has lost its sting

Oh, I’m running to Your arms,
I’m running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

You are more, You are more
Than my words will ever say
You are Lord, You are Lord
All creation will proclaim
You are here, You are here
In Your presence I'm made whole
You are God, You are God
Of all else I'm letting go

Oh, I’m running to Your arms
I’m running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign.

Also, in this time of waiting and worry, God is reminding me of all the children who are waiting for parents and all the parents who are waiting for children. I think of them and pray for their pain as I try to suffer well through my smaller pain. And for those of us who are not waiting for family members at the moment, I encourage all of us to think of the waiting times in our lives as a reminder to pray for those who wait, that they would feel God’s strength and peace surround them.

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; 
be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:13-14