And Mightily, He Did Appear

As I scrolled through the comments on my Facebook memory from four years ago, I was reminded of the desperate, overwhelming feeling I had as I clung to the prayers offered by my friends. My original post asked for prayers for my mom. She had been in the hospital for at least a week, and her prognosis was not good. In fact, it seemed hopeless as we were running out of treatment options. She passed away the next day.

One comment caught my attention. A precious friend prayed for the Lord to “show up mightily.” I’m sure when I first read the comment four years ago, I envisioned a miraculous healing of some sort. Probably similar to what Mary and Martha believed would happen when they sent for Jesus to come and heal their brother Lazarus. I pictured mom waking up from her sedation, her body healed, and going home after a few days.

But just as Lazarus’s earthly healing didn’t come, neither did my mom’s. Some may see that as God failing us or letting us down, but it’s not. His thoughts are not like ours and His ways are not like ours either (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Looking back at what happened four years ago, I know God did “show up mightily,” even if the result was not what we wanted. He started preparing my heart for my mom’s death. He answered our prayers as we asked for wisdom and discernment regarding her treatment. He gave me a “peace that surpasses all understanding,” when we took my mom off life support, which was an unimaginably difficult decision my family and I had to make.

He not only showed up, but He never left. I took refuge in Him as He mended my shattered heart. He provided for my needs, even before I needed something. For example, a couple of months before my mom passed, my in-laws invited us to join them for a beach vacation towards the end of summer. Normally, our family vacations take at least a year to plan, due to everyone’s schedule and finances. Our schedule was surprisingly clear and we actually had the financial means to do so, so we planned our vacation. Fast forward to August – two months after my mom’s death. The last thing I wanted to do was to go anywhere, but we went. It turns out, it was exactly what I needed. Not because we were on the beach (which is one of my favorite places to be), but because I had someone to talk to – my mother-in-law. She understood exactly what I was going through because she experienced the passing of her mom two years earlier. We talked quite a bit about our moms and how much we missed them. It helped my healing process to know I wasn’t alone in my grief.

When God shows up mightily, it doesn’t always look like what we think it should look like. He doesn’t always swoop in like a superhero to save the day and make everything fine and dandy again. What He does, though, is prepare us, comfort us, and provide for us. He goes before us, walks with us, and never leaves us (Deuteronomy 31:8).

Lazarus’s story didn’t end with his death. John 11 recounts the story of how Jesus showed up four days after Lazarus died and raised him from the dead. And, because Jesus showed up mightily and died on the cross for our sins, I know my mom, along with all believers, will one day rise as well.

What are some ways the LORD has shown up mightily in your life? Leave your story in the comments below.