This past week, I was given hope by a new doctor. Hope that maybe they could assist some of my conditions and give me a “better quality of life.” Hope that breathing would be easier. There are no guarantees. We don’t know at this point what will happen.

As I have thought about it, how will I react if this current situation is still my life? How will I respond if I am still “in the fire” so to speak? I thought of some “friends” in the Bible.

Daniel 3:16-18, “¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
¹⁷ If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
¹⁸ But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”

Now, I may not be standing before a king being tempted to bow down to a golden idol, but I am tempted to complain and “bow down” to the idol of my comfort and my wants/desires. What will I do? Complaining is a serious offense.

Another passage came to mind.

Habakkuk 3:17-19, “¹⁷ Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
¹⁸ Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
¹⁹ The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.”

Written in my words: Although my allergies continue and I can’t go outside without careful planning or be around so many allergens; if the breathing still must be considered at every turn and the infections continue to come; if the joints continue to deteriorate making walking and daily tasks difficult; Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the Chief Singer on my piano.

I long to be in a different situation health-wise. Yet, my hope is that even if I am stuck in my current issues for life, I will praise Him. I will decide to live what life I have for Him. I know I can’t do this alone, but in His strength. My prayer is that He will help me praise Him regardless, praise Him even if!

What do you think? How have you been able to say “Even If?”