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The Lord’s Lullabies 

“Do not fear Zion, let not your hands be weak. The Lord Your God is in your midst, The Mighty One will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:16-17 NKJV 

The way that God deals with me is very interesting. Sometimes, depending on the situation, I relate to Him in my “parental role”, and yet at other times, I relate in what would almost seem to be a state of “infancy.” 

Recently, I have been going through a time of illness that revived many memories in me. I would like to share a little of these current events and what God is doing through it all. It started off with a sudden illness that required some unpleasant treatments and procedures. One in particular, having to have a feeding tube placed brought back a flood of both “parental” and “infantile” memories to me. 

A week after our son’s first birthday, we found ourselves in the emergency room with a very ill baby boy. His condition was critical, and we were taken by ambulance to one of the Children’s Hospitals in the area. It is difficult as a parent to see your child ill and to have to stand by while some things that must be done tear painfully at your heart. 

We suppressed sobs more than once as he bravely endured what we knew was necessary for him to survive the crisis and get well. One of those things was a feeding tube much like mine. It was one of those things that hurts to look at…still it was a necessity for the tests and for any procedures that they needed to run on him. 

Throughout the night and into the wee hours of the morning, he was pelted with one test after another. I would not leave his side for even a moment, though many times I could hear my husband sobbing out in the hallway. Those memories are deeply embedded into our minds…even to this day, but there is also something else that I heard time and time again. Each time that he was going through a test, I would find myself leaning down and singing softly in his ear. Most of the time I was simply singing, “Jesus Loves Me,” to my son over and over again. It brought waves of comfort to both of us, and the nurses commented on the calming affect I had on him—not bad considering I was a first-time parent and exhausted and worried just as any parent would be. The music kept right on coming from somewhere deep inside of me, no matter what was happening or how I felt. 

Just last week we celebrated our son’s 13^th birthday. Ironically the tables were turned, and I was the one facing unpleasant procedure—the worst for me was having to endure a feeding tube for six days. One night when all my visitors had gone and I was feeling extremely restless, the Holy Spirit brought to my mind the Lord’s Words in the book of Zephaniah…”He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” 

Suddenly I could picture it…my Heavenly Father, not even a step away from me, gently wiping my tears, calming my fears, and all the while singing sweet lullabies of love in my ear. What a picture of the most loving and sweetest music this side of heaven! 

Today, you may be very weak with illness—physically, spiritually, or emotionally, or you may be facing many unpleasant things that bring with them great fear. Remember this, if I—as an earthly parent—could comfort my little child in his time of great need, how much more can the Almighty Father God comfort you right now? He has promised to be there in your greatest time of need, to quiet you with His love, and to be right there next to you whispering sweet lullabies in your ear. Let Him drown out all the pain and sorrow. He will comfort you, and—if you listen quietly at this very moment—He will calm and soothe you with lullabies of love from up above.  

Prayer:

Father, I have never forgotten the sense of calm that I felt when I was singing sweet lullabies into the ear of my sick baby. Thank You for bringing both this situation and this Scripture to my remembrance. 

Thank You for holding us so close at all times. Your lullabies of love whispered in our ears bring comfort and such love. We are always in need of Your songs and Presence, and we are so thankful that You Word says that You neither slumber nor sleep, which shows even more how you are always here for us. 

Give us ears to hear and a heart to receive Your songs of love…and help us to be able to hear you in the midst of our situations.

In Jesus’ Name we ask it!

Amen 

©2003. Melinda L Lancaster. All Rights Reserved.

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