Meant to Destroy – A Personal Story – Hope and Healing abounds.

MEANT to DESTROY – A PERSONAL STORY

Prepared by Pastor Calvin Cook

February 19, 2025

Yesterday was a scary day. I came home at lunch time to find Gail very unresponsive. Thinking the worst had happened I prepared to take her to the Emergency Room, realizing that I couldn’t, I called 911 and soon 2 paramedics arrived in an ambulance.

It was determined that Gail’s blood sugar levels went very low and her blood pressure went very high. Fortunately, the Paramedics were able to do their thing by providing excellent care and Gail was soon in normal ranges with both. I confess during that period of waiting; I was very afraid and uncertain of what would happen next. I gently tried to keep Gail calm, without falling apart myself. I prayed and prayed hard.

Last evening in my nighttime prayers the scripture from Genesis 50:20 captured my thoughts

Genesis 50:20 (NIV) “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”_

In this verse, Joseph speaks to his brothers who sold him into slavery. Despite the hardship and betrayal, Joseph remained faithful to God, and God used Joseph’s circumstances to fulfill His greater plan. Joseph’s journey from slavery to becoming the second-in-command in Egypt showcases the importance of trusting and following God’s call. Even in the most difficult of times.

I further thought – when God speaks to me or calls me to a greater plan and purpose, how do I respond. Am I so caught up in the sin-sickness that I can’t see the incredible powerful new things that God is desiring for us and for us to do.   When I spoke with Gail yesterday, she either spoke nothing or gave a response that made exactly no sense.

I think that sometimes speaks to how we relate to God. When we are offered help, care, healing we respond to God in an un-understandable way. We want to answer in a healthy holy way but something prevents us from doing that. In Gail’s case she wanted to be well, she wanted to answer in a way that brought help but couldn’t because of diabetes and high blood pressure issue. Gail needed someone on her behalf to call for and cry out for help. That happened through response of paramedics, resulted in prayer because I was praying, I was afraid for Gail, for me, and the comfort and healing of God was realized and will become testimony to the healing ever present God.

Gail asked me this morning what would have happened if I had not come home?  I am uncertain about what would have happened. But God turned the whole situation that could have been terrible into something for His glory. 

Here are some things for us to consider. There are millions of people right now who are sin-sick and hurting and searching, who can’t answer for themselves what they are searching for. We who claim Christ are called to stand in the gap, visit with them, build a relationship, pray for them when they can’t or won’t pray for themselves, call unto the Lord for help and direction and present Jesus in powerful ways that builds God’s kingdom here on earth and prepares us for eternity.

I am praying – Lord continue to guide me and may I continue to follow. Continue to speak and may  I listen. When we seek you may we not be distracted by the things that are not You or of you. Heal my soul first, refresh my spirit, calm my mind, and bring hope, joy, peace, and love into my heart. Praying in the name of the God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen