In the Biblical narrative, there is story after surprising story, miracle after miracle, big acts by a great big God. In the story of Abraham and Sarah, Sarah becomes a mother for the first time in her eighties - a feat as impossible then as it is now. When she hears that this will happen she laughs in bewildered disbelief and her Maker responds by saying ” is anything too hard for God?”

This morning as I sat huddled in my warm fleece against the chill of the early morning, gazing again in awe at the silhouetted mountains against the golden pink sky, the canopy of trees over my head, I read this promise. It was as if God was speaking just to me.

A close friend of ours here has made another descent into significant mental illness. For the last few days he has been missing and we have all feared for his life. I have cried tears of despair, bewilderment and deep sadness. Tears of disbelief in God’ presence or plan in the midst of heart ache. Tears mostly for this man, a prisoner to his illness and the power of Satan through the witch doctor; and for his wife and children, pulled along, helplessly through this pain.

Meanwhile, another friend, a man so close to death from malaria, had recovered enough to translate slowly and painfully for me today in church. I look at him, so much thinner and more weak and at his young wife and baby and I cry both tears of thankfulness and of sadness for all they have and will go through.

Here people will often say ” God is there”. No matter the circumstances, when there is nothing else to say, “God is there.” And really what else is there to say in the midst of someone else’s deep and unfair pain?? I don’t understand but I know a God who does. He is trustworthy despite appearances sometimes to the contrary. I take it on faith and I know it to be true.

So I said to our friend, who I managed to visit today, and who threatens to take his life . . . Nothing is too hard for God. Be strong and of good courage for He has already overcome. I praise God that this man knows Jesus, though his faith is small and childlike he has chosen to give his life to God. Please won’t you join me in praying for him? As Quinn prayed at bedtime tonight, “God please help Satan’s power to get broken so M will be okay.” Amen, my son, Amen.