If you are a parent, I would imagine that your worst nightmare might involve a catastrophic injury to one of your young children; oh yes, I’ve heard many parents say this, and as a parent of 3 myself, it was my biggest nightmare scenario, no doubt about that.

Consider the story of Bob and Jennie…

Their 10-year-old son, Jack, had been climbing the big tree in the back yard one day, just as he had on so many other days. This particular day was not like those other days, however, for on this day, Jack lost his grip and fell from the tree. When Jennie found him, Jack was bloodied and unconscious. The paramedics took Jack to the hospital, and Jennie met her husband Bob in the ER where the news wasn’t good: He had a few broken bones, but nothing too terrible, bones heal. He needed some stitches, but again, nothing too bad in that area. The it hit them, he does, however, appear to have serious head injuries and the doctors aren’t sure just how serious they will turn out to be. No, Bob and Jennie cannot speak with him, he is in a coma, and there is no way to know how long that will last…

Neither of them spoke; they were in a kind of shock, yet their minds raced, full of terrible questions: Will he die? Will he ever wake up? Will he walk again? What if…?

Although they did not speak, they looked at each other and each knew exactly what the other was thinking. They had never felt so alone, so vulnerable, so helpless, so desperate. Jennie whispered something to Bob, who could barely make out what she was saying:

So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

This took Bob by surprise, for Jennie wasn’t one to walk around quoting the Bible! Then, he was even more surprised when he heard these words:

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

Bob was especially surprised when he realized that these words were coming out of his own mouth― where did that come from?

An unaccustomed calm came over the couple as they realized that they were not alone and that God was right there with them. They still didn’t know how this was going to turn out, but they did understand that with God’s help, they would get through this difficult time. They went to the hospital chapel and found a Bible. Bob opened it and Jennie read the words that seemed to her to have jumped off the page:

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

In due course, Jack recovered from his mishap, and would spend many happy afternoons climbing that old tree, only now he was quite a bit more careful. The entire family told their story to many people in the years that followed, of how God had met their needs, saving them from their darkest hour, and in the process, they brought hope and comfort to many who needed it, and thus they all lived happily ever after.