Not Return Empty

We shared so many times like this with Michael.  So many times of serving others and sharing life.  And these are the times that make my heart both happy and sad.  Happy because of the beautiful ways that Michael chose to live his life, loving and serving.  Happy because I always loved to see Michael’s big, beautiful smile.  Happy to know the influence he’s had on his friends and peers.  But also sad.  Sad to know that it’s now been over a year of his long and difficult journey after an accident and a traumatic brain injury.  Sad to know that even today, the struggles still continue to be very real.

I talked to Sally this afternoon and she shared some updates as well as some very important prayer needs.  The biggest update, is that Michael is back on Long Island at Stony Brook Hospital.  He is in the ICU and there are serious concerns about issues with his colon.  He is on antibiotics, but if they don’t do their job and the issues don’t resolve themselves, he may need surgery and could face further unwanted complications.

I felt so disheartened when Sally shared this news.  I hate hearing that Michael isn’t doing well and that he is facing other needs in addition to what he is already going through.  But I realized that dwelling on this would do me no good.  I thought back on all of the times that Michael has needed prayer in the past year and remembered all of the ways that God so faithfully answered those prayers.  And so I resolved to keep praying and to ask others to do the same.  Michael will have a CAT scan tomorrow to see where things are at, but in the mean time, will you please join me in praying for healing for his colon and that he won’t have to have surgery?

Other prayer needs have to do with finding the best care facility for Michael in the months to come.  There are some different options out there, but right now Sally is just asking for prayers for the right doors to open for what is best for Michael and the care that he needs.  Her current desire is that he stays on Long Island and closer to home but what it looks like is unknown at this point.

This afternoon, I spent a good three hours, shoveling snow.  And every time I look at snow, I always think of the same passage in Isaiah 55 that says:

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;

So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”

Snow, even a foot of blizzard snow, has a purpose.  It waters the earth and causes plants to bear and sprout, which in turns provides us with the food that we need.  And God says that this is the same with the words that He sends from his mouth.  They do not return empty, but they accomplish God’s desires and his plans.

I truly believe that God is working in all of this.  I believe that everything that Michael has gone through will not return empty.  I don’t know why bad things happen, but I do know that God is good and that He can work good into even the most tragic of situations.

So we continue to pray with hope.  Please pray for Michael and that God would heal his colon so that he would not need surgery or have further complications.  Please pray that Michael would find the right place to be where he can heal and start to recover.  Please pray that God would work miracles for our Michael and that he would fulfill his promises in any and every way.

Thank you, to everyone who is reading this.  Thank you for your place in this story and for allowing Michael’s life to influence yours.  And again, if you are local and available this Sunday, please come and join us as we set things in motion for our first meeting for Team Einfeldt.  It’s a quick friends, family and community meeting at Eastport Bible Church this Sunday, February 12th from 6:00pm-6:30pm.  Our goal is to pray for the family and to start to put together ways we can come together to help and support the Einfeldts.  We would absolutely love to have you join us.  Please feel free to message or email me (lauraherr@gmail.com) with any questions.  Hope to see you there!