I have been caught between a desire to be open about hardships we are going through and the desire to not do too much in the midst of the hardships. (My hope is that daily posts and podcasts will resume on Monday). Almost four weeks ago the entire Sproul household came down with COVID. We don’t know from where and aren’t much concerned about that. Our boys barely noticed. Lisa has been significantly hindered and in my case, Covid brought along a plus one, pneumonia. In the midst of all this we were likewise coming face to face with significant financial challenges. In both cases we have been blessed by others.
On the COVID side a family reached out to us that has been actively involved in doing and publishing research on the impact of vitamin D on COVID. These men and their insights swiftly reduced our symptoms and are hastening our healing. Better still, they have been a great spiritual encouragement to us. They were such an answer to prayer that we couldn’t help but sense God’s nearness and grace. These men have called often to check on us, have prayed for us, have been the hands and feet of Jesus to us.
Yet another dear friend, in response to our financial challenges, graciously set up a gofundme campaign asking the body of Christ to help us deal with unexpected medical expenses as well as much needed and long delayed car repairs as well as bills we are behind on. She did not have to do this, but was yet another example of the being the body of Christ.
On the health front we are doing well though we are not yet all the way home. We are grateful neither of us required an overnight hospital stay. Today Lisa and I took a healthy dose of Vitamin D by walking outside, logging a little over a mile. Our coughing is still present but diminishing daily. Our strength is slowly beginning to come back. We are well out of the woods and praise God for it.
On the financial front we are still asking our friends to consider giving which you can do here, to be in prayer during this time of active job searching and perhaps even to keep me in mind for any opportunities you are aware of. We are enormously grateful for the sacrificial giving of many of you. We are well aware these are not times of great prosperity for anyone.
These hardships are hard. What we have experienced, however, is just what God’s Word promises us. God draws near as we cry out to Him in our need. Openness and vulnerability are part and parcel of the Christian life. A facade may hide a crumbling foundation but will only cause collapse all the more quickly. We have learned, in a time when the devil wishes us to believe that we are all alone, that we have friends in the body who care for us, and that is a great encouragement. We remain grateful to live in the midst of this glorious truth- Jesus changes everything.