Go in Peace!

My sister recently graduated from nursing school at Grambling State University in Louisiana. If you know anything about the nursing degree...crossing the stage...doesn't mean that you are done with test...she has been studying for a major test...a few of her colleagues have been telling her that this test is so hard...people tell her all the time about other people from "more prestigious" nursing schools...that have failed this test...unknowingly planting seeds of doubt in her mind...You know...doubt in her ability to pass this major test...There are other people that remind her to "think positively"...to believe that she can pass the test...and she will pass the test...so she has been studying like crazy...taking as many of those Kaplan practice tests as she can...everyday reading something new...and quizzing herself over and over...it wasn't until a few days ago...that we had a conversation about the severity of this coming test...she revealed to me everything that could be effected by her failing this test...after she had laid out the "laundry list" of things that could backfire if things didn't go well for her...I shared with her the story of the centurion...

This story is found in Matthew 8:5-13...
5When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6"Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering."
7Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him."
8The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
10When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
13Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour.

Whenever we face difficult times in our lives it is important that we understand the God we serve...you don't have to look back very far...to see God's hand at work in your life...He has provided for you time and time again...when things were much worse than they are now...God has always made a way...so what makes you think He won't step in this time...

The significant thing about the centurion was...his faith was not in the man...but in the power of God...he had probably heard so many things about what Jesus could do that he knew...that Jesus was God...and didn't even have to come to where his servant was...the centurion knew that all Jesus had to do was say the Word and his servant would be healed...He recognized God's power...and allowed God to do what He had always done...work miracles...so when you are facing difficult times...rest in the fact that God is able...God can and God will take care of you...

Let's pray...Lord you are awesome...you know us better than we know ourselves...we need you Lord...we can't do anything without you...so stand up in us...allow us to become the men and women that you've called us to be...remove everything that hinders us from getting to the place that you called us to...position us to be a blessing to someone else...allow us to meet the needs of your people...Do a new thing in us God...we know that you are able...allow us to find rest in the peace that only you can provide...Lord we need you...we love you...and it is in the matchless name of Jesus...that we pray this prayer...Amen!!!