How To Deal With A Crisis In Your Family

“Terry, why is God allowing our daughter to suffer like this?!?”

We (my wife Jen and I) were on our way to the hospital during our visit to Israel. Our daughter was almost two years old and suffering a grand mal seizure. She was motionless at this point.

We were scared and confused. What was God doing? Why is this happening? What are we supposed to do?

Life, at times, can leave us feeling numb. We were in a hospital, in a foreign country, with our lifeless daughter, and we felt almost hopeless and somewhat alone.

We couldn’t see what was happening beyond us.  

Yet, God was working.

And, Our family was working.

Also, Our friends were working.

Behind the scenes, there was movement, yet Jen and I couldn’t see it. We were in the middle of the pain, feeling helpless.

“They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them.” Psalm 112:7

How To Deal With A Crisis In Your Family

I wish I could say I had perfect faith as we sat in the hospital room with our daughter.

I wish I could say I had just the right words to say to my wife, Jen to reassure her that God IS GOOD ALL THE TIME.

I wish I could say that I had FAITH THAT COULD MOVE A MOUNTAIN and HEAL MY DAUGHTER.

I Didn’t. I did say this;

“Jen, I don’t know what God is doing.”  

“They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them.” Psalm 112:7

This morning in my Bible reading, Psalm 112:7 caught my attention. Precisely, one word caught my attention.

Not “Confidently.”

Not “trust.”

Not “fear not.”

I didn’t have confidence in the situation, I didn’t trust that the best would happen, and I did, in fact, fear.

The word that caught my attention was “They.”

What do you do, as a couple, when all hell breaks loose?

You take the problem TO the relationship. You work the issue out IN the relationship.  

You band together, as a couple, and attack the problem. How?

• By praying together as a couple about the specifics of the problem.
• By brain-storming together, as a couple, about the situation.
• By asking for help from friends & God, as a couple, to work toward solving the issue.

As a couple, you will experience problems and crises that are complex and seem impossible. Don’t try to solve it alone; you can’t! Instead, leverage the “THEY.” Work as a couple to have faith. Work as a couple to gather information and resources. Work as a couple to ask for help.

God WILL make a way for you through the crises; take the initiative to be united with your spouse in the crises.

“They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them.” Psalm 112:7

We didn’t have faith, but we had a family.  My sister-in-law and her husband navigated both logistical and language barriers every step of the way.

We didn’t have answers, but we had a Father in heaven who we could talk and cast our cares to.  I remember Jen and me praying for Morgan and telling God that we felt confused and helpless.

We didn’t have resources, but we had friends. They prayed for us and helped us navigate the issues with insurance and finances while we were in a foreign country.

Are You Experiencing a Crisis Right Now?

If you are in a crisis right now, leverage your THEY.  Take the crisis to a relationship.  If you need help ask for it.  I want to help you take responsibility for your crisis and see where God is leading you.