“Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.” Isaiah 49:16 ESV
As I prepared to graduate from college in El Salvador, my husband was in the USA finishing a double Master’s degree. He bought a plane ticket to surprise me and planned to land in 8 days. Full of joy because of my accomplishment and making my family proud, we prepared to celebrate. I’m sure you know how family and friends get excited about a big event! My parents, eager to host a party, had all the embellishments ready, so I invited my brothers and sisters in Christ to the fiesta. Invitations, food, singers, a preacher, and decorations set the scene to thank the Lord for my accomplishment.
But a week before the big party, I got a call from the Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, Illinois. They asked, “Are you the wife of an SIU student?” and described him. Concerned, I said, “Yes.” They replied, “We need you to come as soon as possible. Your husband had a stroke and is in a delicate condition. He will need care.” The moment I heard this about the love of my life was painful and uncertain. I felt on the brink of failure. My life changed in a moment, and I wondered, “Where is God?”
I had a big decision to make and felt like giving up hope. My joyful moment to celebrate with family and friends turned into an impossible moment of pain and sorrow.
This time in my past reminds me of encountering animals when driving. I now live in southern Illinois and see many deer and squirrels. I have realized that when a car is coming, they are quick to make a decision and move in desperation to save their lives. But I also notice they don’t know which way to run sometimes. I experienced the same indecision back then. I was in a different country, and my husband just suffered a stroke. My graduation day was coming, and my family planned a big party. I needed to act as quickly as possible, to take action in that crucial second.
It is challenging to make decisions in our daily lives. From the moment we wake up until we lay our heads down, how often do we make wrong decisions in desperation to change our situation?
Let’s study the underlying reason these decisions are so difficult. Many circumstances in my life, even those less challenging than this, caused emotional distress. According to the Real Academy, “Emotional distress is mental suffering as an emotional response to an experience that arises from the effect or memory of a particular event, occurrence, pattern of events or condition.”
I have experienced this kind of mental suffering. Have you?
When I remember this circumstance from my past, I consider how Bible study and the words of Isaiah 49:16 helped me through this time. “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.”The “walls” reference the broken-down walls of Jerusalem while the Jews were exiled to Babylon. God is giving hope to His people amid heart-wrenching circumstances. God makes clear that He sees their lives and situations. But their names on His palms show that He will never forget them. God can turn this difficult situation into a beautiful experience, hard to understand in the hardest times.
Knowing God was with me, I took action! The emotional distress came from wondering if that decision was the right one. But I trusted God’s presence and guidance. I acted quickly and here I am years later in the USA counting every blessing with my husband at my side.
Isaiah 49:16 was a great help during that time, knowing that God had me written in the palm of His hands. This Bible verse reminded me that God won’t forget me and has become my best friend. It continues to help me remember my faith and never give up.
Beatriz Garcia is from El Salvador. She is married and has two beautiful children. Her firstborn is James, and her daughter is Jossiebella.
Beatiz and her family have been serving the church for many years in different areas, and God is using their life testimony to bless others. They keep looking for His guidance to continue overcoming life situations, help them grow, and see the capacity He gives them them to change situations by trusting Him and letting Him guide them.