Through the years God has made a way for me in what have appeared to be "impossible" situations...when I doubted or when I had faith, either way, He still came through for me. As the years have passed we have built a relationship and it's foundation has been the Lord's trustworthy character.

I can't begin to list the litany of situations in which He has come through for me, yet each time a new problem first raises it's ugly head, my natural instinct is to fear or worry...I stop and remind myself of who God is, sometimes by worshiping Him, sometimes by remembering how He has helped me in the past, sometimes by the encouraging stories of how He has assisted other Christians. I hold onto scriptures which promise me victory because of my standing with Jesus...I cherish the very loving nature of God...I believe in what I cannot see...a my feelings change to confidence and peace.

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. By faith Abel brought a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead. By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death...By faith Noah, when warned about things not seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family...By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went." - Hebrews 11:1-8

Throughout the ages as people have encountered the living God, they have acquired a sturdy confidence in things unseen...Because of who God is, and because what He says is true and trustworthy, a terrible situation can turn around into something which gives you peace and gives Him glory.

One of the most difficult times that I had only God to rely on, was when my youngest son Jackson got suddenly sick. He continued to get worse as the doctors tried to figure out what was wrong with him. It all began early one summer morning. I was asleep (but mom's have kid radar) I woke to a deep whistle like gasp followed by an eerie silence. I immediately got up and headed for the kids rooms. When I got to Jackson's he was standing up next to the bed, his eyes were watering and he wasn't breathing. He motioned towards his throat and I saw that he wasn't swallowing or breathing (my heart stopped!...adrenaline began to flow through my body...I went into triage mode) "What is wrong? Can you breath?" I shouted. Jackson nodded his head no. "Are you choking?" I pleaded. Again Jackson shook his head no. Then all of a sudden his body began wrenching and convulsing...I had no idea what was happening and started praying to God. Jackson pushed by me and quickly made his way to the bathroom. He threw up the toilet seat and began throwing up violently.

After ten minutes or so he settled down and was able to talk. Tears from not breathing had streamed down his face. We hugged each other and his body was limp in my arms from exhaustion. This was to be the first of 8 nights of unknown trauma.

Jackson explained that he was asleep and woke feeling as if he had no breath. When he sat up he said it felt like his throat had closed and he couldn't breath or swallow. We both shared with each other that we had prayed and asked God to help us...and agreed that we had felt His marvelous presence and that His peace had kept both of us level headed.

I took Jackson to the doctor. After explaining what had occurred, the doctor prescribed liquid steroids and nebulizer treatments as Jackson has asthma. When Jackson described the not being able to swallow feeling the doctor assured us that an attack can be so severe that it can "feel" that way. We went home and followed the doctors orders. That night, I awoke to the horrible gasp again. Same story...Jackson unable to move air, eyes tearing and bulging, we held each other and prayed. After what felt like days, Jackson's air way would open again and he could breath.

The next day I called the doctor desperate and tired (Jackson and I didn't sleep for the next week). He assured me that eventually things would settle down. They didn't...they got worse. It started happening during the day. It happened when we were out at a store. Suddenly my teenager need around the clock surveillance. I couldn't leave him home alone. We were fearful to be out somewhere in case we needed to get to a hospital. Night after night I held my cell phone ready to press "911"...night after night just when I started to call, Jackson would again be able to breathe.

Finally I made an appointment with an allergy specialist to address the "asthma". When I called, they didn't have an appointment for another week. I sent out a prayer request to everyone I knew who prayed, and within an hour the doctor's office called me back with a cancellation. Jackson had an appointment that day!

We spent an hour answering questions and when we were through, the doctor handed me a pamphlet. "He has Larynpharengeal Reflux" he said. "What is that?" I asked feeling a bit puzzled. "It is when the acid from the stomach travels up the esophagus and past the Larynx to the vocal chords. The vocal chords close together from the shock of the acid touching them and the patient can't breath or swallow. Eventually they open again." "How long will it last? Will he pass out? Will he need to go to the hospital? Can he die from it?"...Ugh so many questions. The final answer was that every case was different. We left the office with prescriptions galore and a diet change and headed home. Several more days passed with night time awakenings, but eventually the diet and medicines began to work.

Over the years we have learned to live with this strange disease. The most amazing thing is how our faith was strengthened, and our bond was strengthened too. This wasn't just a parent saying "You need to pray and trust God"...this was a parent praying as a child stood breathless. This was a child confessing peace and assurance when he could speak again, that he knew God was with us and in control. Not being able to breath or swallow, Jackson had peace.

We were able to believe in something that could not be seen. God is Spirit. His people must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. His people must trust in Him and believe that He is able.

The most difficult times in our lives can be a training ground which strengthens our faith and our resolve. God makes a way where there is no way. God is worthy of our trust. God is able!