More From Ken Claar

It’s been a long time since I wrote my devotion for today, and a lot has happened to me. About three days before Christmas 2022 I had a stroke. I had surgery, and then I was in rehab until the middle of February. I recovered fairly well. I can still live alone and take care of myself, except for not being able to drive. (I haven’t driven for over four years.)

Since that time, I have had a few trips to the ER with other complaints. Once I went because my blood pressure was very low and my pulse began racing. This was solved when they found that one of my medications was causing the symptoms. I went to the ER another time because I was having great difficulty breathing, which apparently was due to reflux caused by my hiatal hernia. A new medicine seems to have solved that problem. My first six months of 2023 have not been sterling.

So why am I telling you all this “old man” stuff? (I am 91.) It is because I have found that even in the worst of times, I have a way to get help. My panicky call of, “God help me!” or “Jesus help me!” soothes my fearful spirit. It doesn’t necessarily make it easier to breathe or raise my blood pressure or slow my racing pulse, but God calms me enough so I can get through bad moments and go on until I can get the help I need. Until this year, never realized how really close my Lord and Savior is. If I can remember this each time I am frightened by my circumstances, I will be protected—whatever the outcome.