Our firstborn spent the first three weeks of his life in the NICU. He still faces ongoing challenges to this day. It is a constant reminder that God is lovingly in complete control over every aspect of our lives.
In a dimly lit room full of medical machinery, the nurse looked over to me from the warming bassinet, “Ok dad. It’s time for a diaper change.” As I looked down at my three and a half pound newborn son, hooked up to so many devices, I remember thinking, “Why don’t they make diapers his size?” Little did I know that the preemie size was as small as they get and that they wouldn’t be tight on him for quite a while.
Over the course of the next three weeks we would spend 15-18 hours a day in that room praying that God would heal our little boy and that He would increase our faith and our joy. I learned a lot in that little room about being a husband and a dad. I learned a lot about my faith and security in the Lord.
It is in these moments where we are stretched, that we learn if we truly trust that God is who He says He is. God taught us so much about ourselves and of His character during our stay, and I want to briefly share with you a couple quick take aways from our experience:
1. God will take you where you don’t want to go, in order to give in you something that you can’t produce on your own.
God so lovingly places us in difficult situations to show us that we need Him. Like a good Father, He teaches us how to be strong. He teaches us what true wisdom is. He teaches us how to love others. Though, unlike an earthly father, God is the source of all strength, wisdom, and love.
2. God loves your loved ones infinitely more than you do and only He has the power to intervene.
I can’t imagine anyone loving my three children more that I do, but it’s true. I’ve had only a few years to know and love them; as well as a flawed sinful dad can. God has known and loved my children perfectly from all of eternity. Out of this love, He formed them and brought them into existence. He wants them to have good things, namely to have Himself. What a joy it is to partner with the Lord in praying that He would work in our loved ones lives. His desire to do so is greater than ours, because His love is greater.
Pastor Greg Clark