By Bridget Wolk

God has given me tests throughout my life. It seems He is always trying to get my attention. The scariest tests, like my breast cancer and the tumor that was found on one of my ovaries, did get my attention and brought me closer to God. In my heart, I believe my test was to believe and trust in Him to heal my body. As Pastor Dan has taught, testing encourages faith.

I believe my test was to believe and trust in Him to heal my body.

This week, Pastor Dan talked to us about Gideon and how God told him to fight against the Midianites (see Judges 6 & 7). Gideon had to be a warrior for God in order to protect the Covenant. He had to trust God in order to do the right thing.

Periodically, I believe God has asked me to be a trusting warrior for Him. While I was still recuperating from cancer, my husband’s uncle moved in with us. He was 89 years old at the time. This meant I needed to be strong in my faith to have someone move into our home that needed my assistance.

No doubt about it, I struggled. The evil one was right there to discourage me. So, I prayed for energy to do what was needed. I prayed for a peaceful heart because the uncle was invading my space. I prayed for patience because it was difficult to deal with yet another personality in my home.

The uncle was a good Christian man, and I knew God needed me to be a strong warrior to take care of him. I prayed constantly.

I prayed constantly.

Unfortunately, about 2 years in I started to complain. Not in a “poor me” fashion, because I didn’t feel sorry for myself. I was crying out for help. I prayed for God’s forgiveness in my complaining.

I was trying. I really was.

God answered my prayers. My son and daughter-in-law ended up taking him for 3-4 months in the winter. My daughter would periodically come over to meet any needs he had. Plus, when the uncle had to go to a nursing home for awhile, she went to visit him almost every day.

All in all, the uncle was with us for 6 years and 4 months. It was only through God’s strength that I was able to take care of him for as long as I did.

God answered my prayers.

Was I a good warrior? Did I pass the test? I don’t know. What I do know is that it made me rely on God more than ever. I still do.

Thank you, God.