news article
God’s strength throughout my life
August 14, 2017 / By Rev. Rhonda Kouterick, Horseheads UMC
When have I had to trust that God is enough? When haven't I? And when haven't you? Here are some times throughout my life when I have trusted that God is enough:
- It was when I went off to seminary with a sleeping bag and $75 in my pocket with no guaranteed place to stay and thinking I could buy what books I needed for the semester; The housing person yelled at me then found me a room, but only if the others there agreed; And in my mailbox was notification of a book award that paid for the year's books before I even discovered how outrageously expensive they were.
- It was in Texas doing a year long stint of Clinical Pastoral Education at the Austin State Hospital completely broke, not able to even make my car payment and at the chapel service I was in charge of, the patient choir sang "It Took Me So Long, So Long but I Learned to Trust the Lord."
- It was during the last month of seminary classes when the world stopped when I found out that my husband, Lon, had testicular cancer and needed surgery immediately. We only had health insurance because he was working on the Drew cam- pus as a custodian in the Science Building. His supervisor, an Asian refugee Christian, came to pray over him.
- It was when I was on my way to be introduced to the people at my first appointment and feeling totally inadequate and the DS handed me a list of what the people were looking for and I realized they were looking for me. "I can do those things" I said; and the DS laughed.
- It was during the second year of my second appointment at Thanksgiving, when with a 10th grader, a 1st grader, and a 3-year-old, we found out that my husband would need brain surgery. It was over Christmas; everybody from everywhere sent prayers and words of support. My sister from Florida was able to come and be with the children so I could go to Strong in Rochester and not worry.
- It was the next year, a few months after my husband’s second brain tumor surgery, juggling full-time pastor with everything else and in prayer, God let me know "I'm with you, it will be okay." And so it has been, every year, every time.
When I was at my wits end with one of the kids, with the church, with health issues, every year, every time, and even early morning this past Christmas Eve when my husband, surrounded by family passed away after a long courageous battle with cancer, God is enough. God's strength is enough to get me through the deep water and to the other side.