Peace During Crisis

One of my weekly tasks as a pastor is sermon preparation. Each week part of my sermon is an illustration. In a timeless classic entitled On the Preparation and Delivery of the Sermon, James Broadus explains that illustrations are used “to throw light upon a subject.”

Over my 28 years of preaching, I have read and written some excellent illustrations and stories that I have included in sermons and various writings. While preparing this week’s writings, I discovered a remarkable story that “sheds light” upon the topic of God’s presence and peace. I hope you enjoy the story and find it encouraging.

Cindy Holmes is a writer and pediatric nurse in Houston, Texas. She wrote an article about a mother and child she got to know at the hospital who suffered from full-blown AIDS. The child, Tyler, was born infected with HIV. From the outset, he had been dependent upon all kinds of medical treatment, including supplemental oxygen.

But Cindy said Tyler’s illness didn’t slow him down. He was all boy—a little dynamo. He often raced through his Houston neighborhood with a little backpack that held medications he had to take. Sometimes he would pull an oxygen canister in the little red Radio Flyer wagon, but that didn’t slow him down. Off he would go through the neighborhood, playing as children play.

Cindy Holmes got to know this family when they were confined to the hospital during the last stages of their illnesses. When it became obvious to Tyler’s mother that he would probably die first, she decided she’d better talk with him about what would come next.

She pulled him up into her bed, and they talked about life, love, and fun. Then she brought up the topic of heaven. She said, “You know, Tyler, I was hoping that you’d do your growing up here, but the doctors say your body is telling them that you might want to move on and grow up in heaven.” She continued, “You know, I made a decision.”

Tyler asked, “What’s that, Mommy?” She said, “I’ve decided that if you’re going to go live in heaven, I’m going to do that, too, because wherever you are, that’s where I want to be.”

A few days later, Cindy Holmes was in Tyler’s room. She said he looked up at her and said, “Miss Holmes, will you do me a favor?” Cindy said, “Sure, Tyler. What do you need?” He asked, “When I die, would you put a red shirt on me?”

Cindy answered, “Tyler, why do you want me to do that?” Tyler explained, “Well, I’m going to grow up in heaven, and I’ve been told it’s fun over there. I’m going to have friends, and I’m going to play. But my mommy will come over there, too, and she’s going to be looking for me. And if I’m really busy and don’t see her coming, I want her to see me. So it’s really important I have on something she can see. So would you give me a red shirt?” Tyler looked up from his bed and continued, “You know, heaven wouldn’t be heaven without Mommy.”

Cindy Holmes said, “I was overwhelmed by this inexpressible sense of peace that was on his face even at a time of inexpressible crisis. And suddenly, I understood where it was coming from. His peace was the result of his mother’s presence with him through his life, throughout his illness, and her promise that no matter where he went and no matter what happened, she would still be there” (Illustration is from “Acquainted with the Night” [8-13-00] by Michael Brown, pastor of United Method Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina).

Sometimes, when we are faced with a debilitating physical or mental condition, we may long for a day of deliverance. However, that may not be God’s plan for our lives. God may not choose to deliver us on this side of heaven. Nevertheless, He has reassured us of His abiding presence and peace during our moments of crisis. One of the Helpful Quotes on the Sermon Outline page of Trinity’s website is by Jacques Philippe, that reads, “The Lord can leave us wanting relative to certain things (sometimes judged indispensable in the eyes of the world), but He never leaves us deprived of what is essential: His presence, His peace and all that is necessary for the complete fulfillment of our lives, according to His plans for us.” There are several inferences we can draw from Philippe’s assertion. First, he helps us understand that God may not give us what we want, but He will always give us what we need (Matt. 7:11). Second, God knows that we always need His presence and His peace, giving us a different perspective and emotional disposition, even during turbulent seasons in our lives (John 16:33). Third, God offers His presence in moments when He reminds us of the future and destiny that He has planned for us (Josh. 1:5, 9; Jer. 29:11).

During Special Needs Month, we will work through a five-part sermon series entitled “God Is Present” which is derived from selected Old and New Testament passages. Through this series, I pray we are enlightened, encouraged, energized, and equipped to face life’s challenges. As we live each day, we should never forget Sam Storms’ observation that “Joy is not the absence of suffering, it is the presence of God.”