In the Balance

Just after 11pm that night, our baby boy was rolled out in a mobile incubator all bundled up with his adorable little face looking right at me for a few seconds whilst he was being transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. He was born 11 ½ weeks early, weighing 3lbs 11 oz, just the size of my hand. Even though his life was…

Life was certainly “in the balance” on that hot summery night in July 2003. It was a night when life as I knew it could have been drastically changed. Two weeks prior, my pregnant wife had been rushed to the NHS Trust hospital in Warrington, England. Due to a complication in the pregnancy, then negligence at a hospital in Manchester, our baby boy and my wife’s lives hung “in the balance”. At the young age of 25 and new to the country, I sat on my own that night looking up into the star-filled sky wondering if I would have a wife, let alone a family. I did my best to “keep it together”. I phoned my family in America, my wife’s family in the Philippines and our pastors here in the UK to inform them of the situation and to ask for constant prayer – which was given without asking. At that moment, I had to rely upon the core of my belief and trust that God was present with me and my family whilst our lives were hanging “in the balance”.

A few hours later, I had the chance to see my wife. She had lost a lot of blood but had pulled through the emergency Caesarean with flying colours. That night although I was physically on my own, and the lives of my son and my wife were uncertain, I knew there was someone who was keeping us, someone who was there “in the balance” – God.

When life is “in the balance”, we are assured that He is there – “When you walk through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” (Isaiah 43:2). I want to encourage you that at the loneliest, darkest times of your life, God is there to take care of you. Sometimes it is hard to imagine that he is there, but I can attest to it by my own experiences.

What can you do when life seems to be “in the balance”?

Recognising your Limitations

My biggest challenge that night was my own limitation. I couldn’t rescue my wife or son. I was powerless to change the situation. I had to recognise my limitations and rely upon the expertise of the medical team – despite previous experience.

One of the main problems we have as human beings is our ability to recognise that we all have limitations. Everyone has limitations – some are born with physical limitations, others are born into social limitations due to skin colour or economic status, while others discover or end up with limitations due to life-altering circumstances. I am always humbled when I meet people who have not let their limitations keep them from achieving what society tells them they can’t achieve. As the health and wellbeing “expert” for Universal Inclusion UK – an organisation that helps entrepreneurs with disabilities (some of whom had been sacked or moved to a less satisfying role due to being disabled) find the resources needed to give them the right support towards success – I have met people who haven’t allowed their physical limitations hold them back. The levels of achievement have been incredible.

The truth of the matter is, we were designed to be limited. In fact, there is nothing on this earth that is self-sufficient. Why? You and I were created to thrive with God as our complete source of strength and ability. Due to sin, our connection to the limitless source, the one who makes all things possible, has been severed – hence the reason why Jesus came. He did not die just to give you and I eternal life once we die, but to restore us to a relationship with God that reconnects each of us to Him and Him to us, and then each of us with each other.

Recognising God

You may have heard the story about the rich young ruler. He came to Jesus in desperation because he realised there was something missing in his life. He recognised that despite his success in life – wealthy, morally and ethically good, and a law-abiding citizen, – he was limited. He knew he needed to do something to be saved or ‘right’ with God. When he was told to sell everything he had, give it to the poor and become follower of Jesus, he went away sad because his achievements became his security and then his final limitations. When Jesus overheard his own disciples wondering who could ever be saved, Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God – God makes all things possible” (Mark 10:17-27). The disciples thought that out of everyone they met, the young ruler appeared to be the role model to follow. They failed to recognise that human success will always be limited because it will never be success without Him.

One of my favourite verses in the Bible is found in the book of Philippians: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” (4:13). I have relied on that verse so many times in my life. What does it mean? The context of the writing comes from a man (Apostle Paul) who had discovered how to be content in every circumstance – from living in dire situations to living in abundance. He discovered the key to staying mentally healthy – faith in Jesus. Listen to the same verse from The Passion Translation: “For I am trained in the secret of overcoming all things, whether in fullness or in hunger. And I find that the strength of Christ’s explosive power infuses me to conquer every difficulty [or to master all things].”

Although it was easy for me to recognise my own limitations and having to rely upon the medical team, ultimately all I could do was trust in God.