The Rabbit Hole

Saturday, October 14, 2017
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Listen while you read: "Let The Lower Lights Be Burning"1 (Lyrics)

Was there ever a time in your life when you just wanted to crawl into a hole and hide away from reality? Sometimes, I have thought that it would be so nice to fall down a rabbit hole, like Alice in Wonderland, and find a fantasy world at the bottom that is free of pain, sickness, and war.

Approximately five years ago, my husband was diagnosed with vascular dementia. The life that I was used to has changed. But now, besides my husband's illness, both my daughters are suffering from anxiety attacks.

I feel so helpless because these situations are out of my control, and there is nothing that I can do.

Yet, it is at times like these that the only thing that I am able to do, is to remember that I can talk to God.

Psalm 25:16 – Come, Lord, and show me your mercy, for I am helpless, overwhelmed, in deep distress. (TLB)

God understands, and He knows what I am facing. God recognizes my anxiousness, and waits patiently for me to come to Him. God is aware of the mothering and nurturing within me. God knows the outcome of this present reality.

Philippians 4:6 – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (NASB)

Is there something in your life right now that you feel helpless about?

Prayer: Lord God, we come to You in our helpless state. We ask for Your help in this situation. Help us to let go and trust in Your abundant provision and guidance. Amen.

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About the author:

Rosemary Hagedorn <rosyhagedorn@gmail.com>
Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada

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1 Comment

  • PresbyCan Feedback says:

    God Bless you.


    Rosy what a great message.


    Bless you dear friend…praying.


    Blessings and prayers Rosemary.


    Amen sister.
    Keep praying.


    My heart aches for you. May you and your family be wrapped in God’s arms and may you know that others have you all in our prayers.


    Thank you, with all your problems you chose to encourage other. I know God will bless you!!
    (Fl)


    Keep up the good fight Rosy in His strength wherein we find our rest. Thanks for a good word.
    Blessings.


    Rosy I have to admit that God gets some angry prayers from me too!
    He is not only loving but patient!
    Thanks for sharing.


    Hi Rosy,
    What changes and challenges there are in your life, it is our hope and prayer that the Lord will give you the strength to cope. I personally cannot imagine what you are going through.
    Blessings.


    Oh Rosemary, your devotional conveys such heartbreak, but even more, great faith. Thank you for sharing your pain with us. Praying for you and your family. May God’s Presence surround you this moment and every moment from now to eternity. Virtual hugs, my writing friend. Blessings.


    This is a very helpful meditation. Reading the newspapers is sickening, let alone having friends whose partners are slipping from them, either physically or mentally. Bless you for sharing this,
    (BC)


    Rosemary, through your writings, you have shared so much about yourself and family, thank you for sharing. When we were young we could hardly wait to be older and never realized the challenges that await us, I will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers. May you find comfort in Psalm 46: 1 – God is our refuge and strength in faith.


    Hi Rosemary. Yes, there are 2 things. One is financial, the other, after my back surgery I developed scar tissue which has trapped the nerves to the leg. Quite painful to stand and walk so had to resign my responsibilities and there is nothing anybody can do about it. But I know the Lord has a plan and I am doing what I can. When people ask how I am I say: 90{8395b6ce96fcf25a14d80edc3b65c36a8995b6c1ba5f8c16ac11d8adaa79f35b} of me is fine. Don’t ask about the other 10. But there are times when I have a cry.


    Good morning Rosemary: Thank you for your devotion for today. I don’t feel so alone now. It has been a similar life’s journey for me.
    God bless you and give you, joy, peace and a quite spirit in the midst of the difficulty. God’s grace is sufficient for that need as well.
    I speak from experience. And I love God more today than ever. Alone now, and sometimes lonely, But through it all I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, much more than I would have if life was all smooth. A son of God, because of Jesus.


    Dear Rosemary
    I truly do understand about anxiety attacks. I personally suffered with this horror for twenty years before I was properly diagnosed. My son also suffered with them. I am taking medication for this problem and am ever so grateful for it. I believe it has really helped. I tried working with mental health professionals and different therapies but the meds worked very well.
    My son chose to work through his anxiety issue with a behavioural expert for quite a number of weeks for one course. It has helped him to a good degree.
    I pray your daughters will receive the treatment that is best for them. I pray also that God will protect you and bless you and raise you up and stand firm with you.


    Rosemary – I think you must have crawled into my head!!! This devotional is EXACTLY what I needed today. While I am experiencing none of the serious health issues facing your family, I am living in a complete disaster – renovations. One of the contractors must have seen the hopeless and overwhelmed look on my face as I stood with a broom picking up large pieces of drywall that had been cut out for light fixtures etc. and trying to decide where I should start to begin clearing away the mess – he just said, ” Oh dear – it will get better!” Actually, he told me it will get much worse when they start sanding. I felt like crying, then I told myself not to be such a baby – none of this is life threatening and I went to search for scriptures about anxiousness – guess what came up?! Thank you for this powerful reminder that God is in control of every situation and we should leave all our issues at his feet. I have just prayed for you and your family for strength to deal with the new reality facing all of you. Blessings.


    Hi Rose
    I read your submission earlier today.
    Then I gave it some time to sink in —You see I very well could jump in to the habit hole—but that won’t solve anything.
    You see my dear husband has a bad infection in both legs.
    The Doctor will continue coming to our house but he will never be admitted to a hospital and there is not to be a 911 call.
    So, what does this tell me?
    Only that it is possible a matter of time!
    A miracle would be a blessing for me but I know he is suffering very much, so I leave it in God’s hands (for us both).
    God bless.


    Rosemary
    Your devotional this morning really hit home with me and I can more than understand what you are going through. My husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease several years ago and this spring was admitted to a Long-Term Care Home (the worst day of my life). He still recognizes me and is glad to see me but does not know our children or grandchildren. As we did not have family in the area it seemed like the best thing was to move closer to family. I am finding it very lonely and thank goodness for a new Church family and the telephone for contact with old friends.
    I am very thankful for my faith and know that turning to God is the only relief from this impossible burden. Any kind of dementia is dreadful and I pray that you will be able to carry on. Keep your devotions coming. I have found them helpful over the years.
    (Ont.)


    Hello Rosemary:
    I just read your cry of help.
    I can feel your pain and sense of helplessness.
    My beloved wife also suffers from Dementia and is in a good Christian nursing home. I visit her regularly and try to do my humble bit to lessen her ailment and mitigate it a bit.
    I shower my love and affection on her and pray with her and read from the scriptures.
    I follow it up by feeding her organic healthy foods to help prevent further deterioration of her ailment and perhaps reverse some of her ailment.
    She has been in the nursing home for a few years now and she is doing quite well. Praise the Lord.
    Bless you.


    I just finished reading your devotional about how sometimes you wish that you could go into a rabbit hole where you didn’t have to face the problems of everyday life.
    God bless your writing for Him…….I like writing too.


    Oh Rosemary!! I just read your devotional.
    Some years ago, I had a psychotic break and the meds gave me panic attacks. I literally walked the beach thinking someone was going to come and get me but I kept walking claiming the promise in 2 Tim. 1:7 and telling the spirit of fear to leave me. Playing the organ one Sunday in church, I froze. I called out the name of Jesus and I unfroze.
    I will be praying for your daughters. We are in many battles these days but God is faithful!!
    God bless you.


    Dear Rosy,
    I can only continue in your way of trusting:
    “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and lean not on your own understanding;
    in all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5,6).
    May God bring you and yours blessed peace, with heavenly hope for all eternity in trusting that, “… those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength…” (Isaiah 40:31), while keeping in heart our great favorite promise from God: “For God so loved the world that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16. And “He gave himself for our sins, the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God”.


    Hi Rosy,
    God has been teaching me so much I can now actually thank Him for a challenging experience.
    I am not saying this to suggest any panacea for your situation because you clearly indicated in your devotional that you had come to the realization of the only way to cope with these ‘brick walls’ is not through banging our heads painfully up against them in the hopes of knocking them down, but through calling out to, looking up to, listening to, and leaning hard on our Lord, This obviously requires the light to dawn amidst our darkness. Praise His Name!! He reminded both of us that He is the Light and He is always there to bring us through the darkness.
    Bless you, Rosy, and thank you for sharing these painful experiences to show us that God is always able.

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