ELIANA

She is beautiful. Her serene, unblemished face is a remarkable sight. Her tiny feet wiggle to the tickling touch of her mother’s loving fingers. Her black hair is thick and astonishingly full for a newborn. But inside this lovely baby rages some unknown storm that throws her into seizures and more than once has arrested her ability to breathe. The doctors have no answers. Meanwhile, two hearts burst in agony. Henry and Melody helplessly watch their first child not knowing . . .

All around the city friends gathered last night at their church on NE Stanton St. We praised God for His power and worshiped Him in song. We asked Him to heal Eliana. Tears fell freely as we embraced the pain of her courageous mom and dad. A wonderful thing happened—an eclectic gathering of people were able to focus on an awesome heavenly Father. Time and agendas were left behind as we brought our sadness and hope to the One we know as Wonderful.

Meditation

Psalm 27:14—Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

For Henry and Melody waiting is excruciating because the stakes are high. They may lose their precious daughter. They do not know when or even how, God will respond. They have no idea how long this trial will last. Yet in God’s sovereignty they profoundly chose their baby’s name. Eliana means “God answers prayer.”

The supreme test of faith is when life totters on the brink of termination. Our struggles are not hidden from our Father. He has not forgotten us. We are able to take heart because of His heart. When we were without hope and called out to Jesus He gave us new life. He forgave our sins and offered eternal love. We became Elianas. When you pray for her, remember what He has done for you.

“My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be” (Psa.139:15,16). O Lord, You lovingly designed us. Yet, we don’t understand what is wrong inside this baby. You ordained her days and our days. We cry for Eliana. We ask that You give her life. We pray she, like us, will bring You glory. We trust that Your grace and mercy will comfort and sustain Henry and Melody. And we look forward to what You will do because You answer prayer!

Inspiration

When in prayer you clasp your hands, God opens his.—German proverb

In His teaching about prayer our Lord never once referred to unanswered prayer . . .—Oswald Chambers in If You Will Ask

God always answers us in the deeps, never in the shallows of our soul.—Amy Carmichael