Extreme situations are definitely all too common. Around 14 million children suffer hardship and trauma from the war in Syria and Iraq. UNICEF estimates that 140 million children worldwide are orphans. According to the World Health Organization, 66 million primary school-age children attend classes hungry across the developing world, with 23 million in Africa alone.
Extreme situations.
Closer to home, a dear childhood friend of mine is fighting for her life in a hospital ICU. Her illness resonates loud and clear to me, shouting out the truth that life is filled with extreme situations, situations that assail us and leave us helpless and hopeless. And we are left with no control.
Extreme situations.
I found this little gem of a quote in a friend’s blog post today.
In extreme situations, which have been emptied of all shelter and tenderness, that small voice whispers from somewhere beyond and encourages the heart to hold out for dignity, respect, beauty, and love.
– John O’Donohue
So in the throes of extreme situations that come our way, let us give thanks for the whisper of that small voice, the voice that does not give us control, but does give us hope.
The Biblical character we know as Elijah faced off against an extreme situation.
. . . A great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
– I Kings 19:11-12
If you find yourself hopelessly trapped in an extreme situation, may you find hope in the gentle whisper of God.
God of the Sparrow 🌱 By Kathy Manis Findley 
Thanks for the link to my post. Blessings.
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This will help – I am searching for words. I am a chaplain at a large senior care facility. One of our nurses has been diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer – both breasts and lymph nodes, not responsive to chemo, but they are going to try 2 aggressive types of chemo then radiation. She has 2 young children. I am feeling so inadequate.
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Sue, I can so understand your feelings about this tragic turn of events. I served as a hospital chaplain for many years, and one forms very close relationships with the nursing staff. May God give you wisdom and encourage your very real feeling of inadequacy. You are placed where you are by God’s hand, and God will give you the grace you need. Kathy
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