When Holding On is All You Have!
Sis. Jan taught all of us how to suffer well. Never gave up, always with a kind of joy -unknown
to human nature. She had a joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Pet 1:8). When I would visit her,
I would do my best to settle her spirit. I think with most of us who visited this dear sweet
woman, she did more to settle our spirits and to give us some of her confidence and hope in our
Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.
And I know that this day is challenging for the family. But Sis. Jan showed us how to hold on
when holding on is all you have. (Matt 9:20) The woman with an issue of blood held on to the
hem of Jesus’ garment. Luke 13 (verses 10 – 13) speaks about a woman who had a spirit of
infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when
Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine
infirmity. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified
God.
Sis. Jan touched the Lord’s garments. And the Lord straighten her up. She also received the
Lord’s touch, but somewhat different than these women that chronical the New Testament. Sis.
Jan’s touch from the Lord was more in line with Paul’s case. Paul had received from the
messenger of Satan, a thorn in his flesh. Paul even says this thorn was given to him because he
was getting too close to God. (2 Cor 12:7) And lest I should be exalted above measure through
the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of
Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
Sometimes, the Lord allows the devil to give some thorns in their flesh because of the heighten
awareness and walk with God. Fannie Crosby wrote some 8000 hymns all while blind. Some of
her famous hymns: “Safe in the Arms of Jesus,” “Blessed Assurance,” “Savior, More Than Life
to Me,” and “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior.”
Sis. Jan was given, as it were, a thorn in the flesh. But like Paul, who sought the Lord thrice to
heal him, God said No. God, as with Job and Paul, the Lord would not heal them or take away
their trouble. But God did something even better. I believe this to be the same for Sis. Jan. Listen
to how Paul says it.
2 Cor 12:8 – 10,
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in
weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of
Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in
distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
It was God’s grace that Sis. Jan was holding on to. And it was because of His grace that our dear
sister could glory in her infirmities, that the power of Christ could rest upon her.
Time would not permit me to tell you of the wheat family and the tomato family. Both families
were farmers in rural town America. Both with similar family makeup: husband, wife, and three
kids. Both wives had a debilitating sickness. Both families were praying families. That particular
year, both families were praying to God that their crops would produce in abundance so they
could get the health care that was so drastically needed. The wheat family was praying for rain,
whereas the tomato family was praying that it would not rain.
For the next two weeks, no rain. The tomato family harvest was in abundance. The wheat family
had to sell the farm. The wife of the tomato family was able to get the medical care she
desperately needed. They were able to send one child off to college. They believed and praised
God for answering their prayer.
Things were different for the wheat family. The wife was unable to get the medical care. They
had to sell the farm and rent out as sharecroppers. However, they continued to trust God. They
still went to church. The wife, even though she was unable to get her medical treatment,
continued serving her family the best she could, always with a smile.
The wheat family continued to hold on to God’s unchanging hand. You see my family was the
wheat family. We didn’t have much. But the Lord was good to us. All we had was Jesus. When
holding on is all you have, keep holding on!
Time is filled with swift transition
None on earth unmoved can stand
Build your hopes on things eternal
Hold onto God's unchanging hand
Trust in Him, who will not leave you
Whatsoever the years may bring
When your earthly friends forsake you
Still more closely to Him cling
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