(August 15,1996) I had a very hectic day at work. It seemed as if everything had gone wrong and so, on my way home, I had a heart-to-heart talk with God.
“God, I will do anything for You. Please allow me to retire,” I cried.
When I reached our driveway, I asked God to please open my Bible, for I wanted to know His answer. I closed my eyes and with my index finger, I opened my closed Bible to this:
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.” Isaiah 10:27
(I wrote the date and note above the text believing that God had answered me. But I had to wait another 8 years.)
In 2003, the Chemical Company I worked for was downsizing. Jobs of half of the employees (around 500) were being phased out. I was not overtly concerned since I was voted “Employee of the quarter.” However, the thought that anything could happen did enter my mind.
Weeks later when news started to circulate that our laboratory was being merged with another lab, I got a little concerned because of my previous chemical sensitization In the other lab. (Then I started having nightly dreams that I was going to get sick. For several months, I dreamed about the happenings of each following day.)
Surprisingly, something started to happen to me. I started coughing nonstop. Besides the coughing, I also had difficulty in breathing. What is going on? And why now?
I did not just cough at work. I was also coughing at home. On my “days off,” I had a little relief. But each time I entered the lab, I would start coughing and couldn’t breathe. I would run outside of the building to get fresh air. It soon became obvious that I couldn’t work with chemicals anymore. But how will I provide for my family?
Troubled, I went to my secret hiding place for help each day. In the complete darkness of my walk-in closet, I cried out to God like I have done many times before. I needed comfort and peace. I believed that it is God and not man who decides when we ask help from Him. During those days of uncertainty, I read Psalms 91. There were days when I read it a dozen times; I’ve actually memorized every word. There is assured safety when we abide in the presence of God.
Psalms 91…“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust. 3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler. And from the perilous pestilence. 4 He shall cover you with His feathers. And under His wings you shall take refuge.’”
The hawk soars through the air looking down and sees everything. With its keen eyesight, it looks for its prey. It can see the smallest of creatures down below. On the other hand, a hawk’s prey – a chick – has instinctual fear. A baby chick upon seeing the shadow of a hawk flying overhead will run and hide under its mother’s wings. A mother hen covers her little ones with her feathers. Likewise, we, too, fear the shadow of evil and wish that we could run and hide somewhere for safety and protection. When we run to God, He covers us with His feathers.
“His truth shall be your shield and buckler. 5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. 7A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. 8 Only with your eyes shall you look and see the reward of the wicked.”
God is our shield and buckler. A buckler is a kind of shield worn on the arms for protecting the front of the body. A shield usually protects the chest while a buckler is used to stop arrows or parry blows. Literally, a shield and buckler is God’s truth – meaning – His promise would be our shield in our daily battles with the enemy. We are fully protected by God.
Arrow signifies temptation. Temptation to steal, gossip, lust, hate, etc. If the arrow strikes us, we have an Advocate in heaven who will come to our rescue. Learn to walk with the Lord, so when harsh trials come along, you are always ready. Always pray not to be led into temptation.
The sophistry of the enemy is stated in Ephesians 6:12…For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Whenever you have a fight with someone, your fight is not with that person. It is with the enemy.
“9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, 10 No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; 11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. 12 In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. 13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra. The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. 15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.”
Back at work, each day was getting tougher for me. My co-workers did not want to lose their jobs and seemed happy that I was sick and be the one to lose a job. I was moved away from the lab to do clerical work for 3 months – to get well. However, as soon as I was told to report back to the lab, my non-stop coughing resumed. I couldn’t breath again. (But each night, I dreamed about the next day happenings and so I followed the endings of each dream).
I have always set my love upon Jesus Christ. On October 4, 2004, I was sent home from work because of my ‘occupational’ asthma, but with FULL Pay and Benefits and Health Insurance for me and my husband JR. I was able to retire 9 years early! I later understood that God allowed that I no longer work so that I could work our two volunteer ministries fulltime. And when I am not exposed to chemicals, I do not have asthma. Today, I do not have asthma.
Today, whenever trials come, I still claim God’s promises in Psalms 91, and He has always given me peace and deliverance.