Women's Devo | February 2021

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more that we might ask or think.
Ephesians 3:16-20 NLT

When something great happens in our lives we often make the statement, “God is so good”!  We want to praise Him from the rooftops. Now don’t get me wrong--we should do just that. However, God is still good in the darkest days of our lives. In those moments when we are weak, tired, and afraid, when we don’t know what our tomorrow holds, we must lean on Jesus and know that He will never leave us or forsake us. If the path we have to walk is painful and scary, we must know He is walking with us and many times carrying us through. The love of God has no boundaries. When we face trials in this life, it doesn’t mean that God does not love us or that He is punishing us. The Word says that “all things work together for GOOD to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

The enemy can only come as far as God allows him to come. If God allows it, then we know that according to Jeremiah 29:11, it is to prosper us and not to harm us. He is molding us into the vessel that He can use. Though it may be painful and hard, it will all be worth it in the end.
January 10, 2020, I began to walk a very dark road. Severe abdominal pains wakened me. My husband took me to the local emergency room where I was diagnosed with Diverticulitis. I was admitted and treated over the weekend. On that Monday, I was released to go home on a strict diet and rest. Two days later, I woke in excruciating pain. My husband rushed me to the hospital where I was told that I had a rupture in my colon. Never had I ever experienced this level of pain. I was told that I must have emergency surgery.  The waiting room began to fill with my family and church family. They began to intercede for my healing. When the surgeon arrived, he informed me that I would probably wake up with a colostomy. I began to weep. He looked at me with such compassion and I could see his concern. I remember crying out to God. I was so afraid. Following my surgery, I was placed in ICU. I remember slowly moving my hand to my abdomen to see if there was a bag. I held my breath until I realized that there was not one. I began to praise God and weep. I was informed that he had removed the infected part of my colon and reattached it.
The days following were very rough. My blood work continued to be very concerning. They took me back for another CT and found that I had a leak where my colon had been reattached. Our hope was that it would heal itself. We began to pray for it to heal and for all infection to be gone. Finally, my doctor came in and told me that he was very concerned. It was not healing and things were declining. I was then transported to Savannah Memorial Hospital that night.

Two days later I was taken in to my second surgery. After a week, my surgeon came in and told me that there were no improvements and we had to move forward quickly. Things were not good and the only hope was to place a colostomy. I was taken in to my third surgery where they would remove another portion of my colon and place a colostomy. They were not able to complete the entire surgery due to the amount of inflammation. So, I was then scheduled for my fourth surgery three days later where they would complete the process and place a drain into my lung because of fluid. I have never been so sick in my life. I felt like I was in the middle of a nightmare. But I knew that God would see me through. I was just ready to get home to my family. I wasn’t sure how I was going to make it, but I knew I would. My husband and I were hoping that I would be released when the doctor came around. However, when he came in, I knew something was not right. He told me my blood work was very concerning. We were informed that my platelets and hemoglobin levels were very low. I was not getting the nutrients that my body needed. They placed a port where they started TPN (nutritional supplements), and began to give me platelets and infusions. I was then moved to a critical care unit where I could be monitored closely.

We began to pray and cry out to God for my levels to become normal and stay where they needed to be. However, they continued to remain at a dangerous level. We were told that if these levels did not improve that it could be fatal.

I was so scared and weak. I would turn on healing scriptures when I didn’t have the strength to pray out loud. I remember crying out to God that I did not understand why I was going through this, but I trusted Him. I asked Him to let me see what He wanted me to see through this trial. One Sunday afternoon, I had some dear friends visit me. They gathered around my bed and began to pray over me. I could feel the power of God even in my frail condition. All of a sudden, one of them began to sing...
I love you, Lord
For your mercy never failed me
All my days, I've been held in your hands 

From the moment that I wake up 

Until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
And all my life You have been faithful 

And all my life you have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
 
I could feel something in the atmosphere as I listened to those words. I knew something was taking place in the spirit at that moment. The next morning my levels began to slowly improve. I began to feel stronger day after day. Finally, after 40 days in the hospital, I was released to go home. I am not going to tell you it was easy. I had several setbacks once I returned home. I was sent back to Savannah and had a couple more procedures to clear those issues, however, I knew that my God was with me. I was so thankful for His ever-present help.

On July 7, 2020, I went in to have my colostomy reversed. Everything went perfect with my surgery and I was home after only 6 days in the hospital. I developed another abscess, which required a minor surgical procedure. All is clear today! I have another surgery scheduled on February 2, 2021 to repair a hernia that I acquired through this, but I believe that will be the end of this battle. I do not share all of this for pity, but to proclaim how great my God is, even in the storms we face! He loves me with an everlasting love. And He is molding me and making me in to the vessel He needs me to be. I just pray that I will be found faithful.

He loves you, right where you are. We must share the love of God with others. We are made overcomers by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony. We are so thankful for all our family, friends, and churches that reached out and loved on us during this time. So many visited, called, gave love gifts and so much more. We could never express how much this means to us.

Prayer:
Precious Lord, I pray today for all who are reading this. You know the trials they are facing right now. Lord, I pray you will let them feel your love. Let them feel your arms wrapped around them. Assure them you have them in the palm of your hand. God move in their situation right now. Give strength and power to endure until the end.  Amen

Deirdre Greer is a wife, mother and “Mimi”. Deirdre serves alongside her husband Nathan as senior pastors of Grace Community Church in Hazlehurst. They have been married for 33 years and have two amazing children (twins), Korey and Kelsey (24), and the sweetest, most adorable granddaughter, Bethany (4) and fur baby, Luna. They have served in full-time ministry for almost 24 years. Deirdre works outside of the home at Waldron Enterprise in Douglas. She also is an Independent Beauty Consultant for Mary Kay where she loves to help enrich the lives of women. She loves planning events and decorating. Deirdre’s greatest desire is to be a servant and worship with all that’s within her.