Our Bumps are In His Grip

"Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I am your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you." Isa. 41:10 (MSG)

My year started out with a bump. A small bump on my head developed into a small tumor––thankfully benign. It caused me to ponder what the next steps would have been if the results had been different. When I look at the tiny bald spot now growing into a crew-cut spot, I am reminded that we aren't promised tomorrow. That bump has motivated me to once again cherish every day as I feel His grip––a firm grip.

Then, just last week, came another bump–-this time on my eyelid. "I'm with you," echoed in my heart. To remove it, I had to be admitted to the clinic again. Benign, again! Whew, thank you, Lord! What next?

This week, our Golden, Jake developed a bump on his neck. Another bump! Three years ago, Jake had an aggressive cancerous tumor removed from his tail. He's been doing fine until this week. I was already concerned about our animals since we will be leaving Bolivia this month for a five month furlough. The bump turned out to be a calcium deposit, not another cancerous tumor. What was God trying to tell me through the bumps? Maybe, "Don't panic, I've got this!"

Leaving Bolivia is never easy for me. But, the joy that waits on the other end motivates me to pack and step foot on that plane. Oh, did I mention I don't like to fly either? Missionaries don't have extraordinary powers or sail through life as if on a magic carpet. However, they have an extraordinary God who gives them strength and power to do His will. His Word says, "I'll help you."

These bumps seem like baby bumps after the fact, but going through them I felt like they were big bumps. But, our God is bigger than any bump life can bring, and He holds us steady through them.

One other bump has occurred here at our mission base, Rumi Rancho. This bump makes it hard for us to leave Bolivia at this time, but furlough is set in motion and it's been four years since our last furlough. Time to go.

This one is a joyous nine month Baby Bump. Our Quechua couple who lives here on the property with us will welcome a gift from heaven on June 10th. Juan and Amelia will need lots of prayer as they welcome a new baby and at the same time have the responsibility of the ministry while we are gone. But we know God will help them, and  He'll hold them steady as we head to our homeland on May 28th.

We are blessed by God's promise that through the bumps, He has a firm grip on us––He holds us steady!