Pray for a man facing surgery & his pregnant wife.

[faith88]

I ask your prayers for two special people.

The young wife has had a very difficult pregnancy and has needed a lot of help with housework and childcare (they have a two-year old child.) Most of this has been provided by her husband, who is a football player, but is also studying for a degree for when he leaves Football. He is a Christian with a deep faith. His wife has not got so much faith.

The new baby is due in two weeks, but unfortunately, the young husband has just found out that an injury he sustained whilst playing is worse than was originally thought. He is facing surgery in early January to remove a bone in his ankle.

Knowing how his wife has felt, and how much she relied on him, this couldn't have happened at a worse time. The new baby will be barely two weeks old, if he/she arrives on time.

Please pray for this family to receive more help from others- parents..etc.. for the surgery to be a complete success and for the baby to be born safely, and the young mother to feel well again. Pray that this young man will continue to show Christ's love and to be a good witness and an example to team-mates and supporters in a world not noted for Christian values.
Thank you for your prayers. God bless

[MIRIAM JACOB]

We are praying for this young family.
May God bless them and bring them
safely through this difficult time.

[Amanda]

Dear friend,

I have been through a similar scene four years ago. My son was two years old when my daughter was about to be born, and my husband was away, due to unavoidable circumstances, for about 1 1/2 years. My daughter's birth was earlier than planned due to foetal distress, and I had to undergo a C-section. Post pregnancy was bad, as I had to attend to both children by myself, and my abdominal wound would fester when I scrubbed the dirty diapers or carry my two year old. I was on strong antibiotics, and must say that it was a difficult time for me, very difficult. But looking back now, I see how God helped me in many ways than one, although I never realized it then; He made me bolder and more courageous and taught me that with him, I could survive. Sleepless nights and an ever short temper was frequent, but through it all, God made me come out victorious. I have also learnt to grow with my kids in many child-like ways, and I have grown stronger as a Christian through this experience over time.

I pray that your friend too, this pregnant lady, understand God's purpose for her in life. Maybe He wants to show her that she has to depend on Him (God) more than she does on her husband, and also so that she may grow more loving, stronger and courageous as a wife and mom, and be a source of moral support too to her husband.

I pray that our God be with her, and give her the patience and love to go through the next few months with fortitude and trust. I also pray for the couple, that God may strengthen their bond through these difficult times, and bring them through it all , smiling and victorious in His name. I pray that her pregnancy and his surgery are but minor itches compared to the many promises Our heavenly Father has in store for them. And most of all may our God of love wrap His arms around them, as this is what they need most at this time. I pray this in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

[faith88]

Thank you for your prayers. Thank you Amanda, for sharing your story and showing that, however difficult the circumstances are, you can, with God's love in your heart, get through these hard times.

The news is now out on the team's messageboard- so a lot of people will be wishing him well, and are already remarking how brave he was to actually play with a broken ankle before it was rayed and the trouble diagnosed. I hope that his professionalism and the way he has given his best, and never makes excuses for himself for any poor performances, will be a good witness to his faith in Jesus.

All the same, it might have been better for his family if he had stopped playing and had this trouble seen to sooner.

I pray also that the way he faces the surgery..etc.. is a witness to his wife who doesn't have the same faith in Jesus. She has a very difficult time ahead and I pray that she finds the same strength and comfort in Christ as her husband does.

[faith88]

I am happy to tell you that one half of my prayer has been answered.

A beautiful baby girl has been born to this young couple and both mother and baby are well.

The baby was late, and there was a worry that they both might be in hospital at the same time, leaving their nervous and sensitive two-year-old daughter with grandparents. (She does not settle when both Mum and Dad aren't there.)

I praise God that the baby has arrived- and that there is now 9 days until the proud father has his operation.

I am now praying with confidence that this operation will be a success, that his healing may be rapid and complete, so he is able to support his family and help his wife as he did before.

Thank you, Lord, for your precious gift of a new little life on this earth. May this baby and her mother and father, and sister be truly blessed.

[MIRIAM JACOB]

We rejoice with you at the safe birth of this lovely baby girl. God's amazing grace and mercy is so beautiful to behold. We are praying for the young dad's surgery. God bless!

[faith88]

I forgot to update you on this situation, too!
The young Dad had his operation. It was tough for them for a while as he couldn't do much for himself.

It all took longer to heal than he had hoped. As he wanted to be back playing part-time Football.

But he now believes that God had a purpose in the lengthy recovery. After he was able to get around, he was able to be with his wife and the little ones a lot more.

Also it gave him more time for his studies, which he hopes will give him a new qualification for when he leaves Football. He wanted to be a minister in the church, but now thinks teaching may be a better option for providing for his family.

Please continue to pray for him that he is successful in gaining his degree, get s fully fit if that is God's will for him to continue in Football for a while which gives him opportunity to reach out to young people for Christ even more than he does already.

I am praying that HE prays for God's guidance for his future, and I thank God that he has brought this young family through their difficult time, and closer to Him.

[MIRIAM JACOB]

Thank you for updating us on the life of this young family. God has His hand upon them. The fact that we are praying for them proves it. May God bless them all with His love and peace. Amen.

[faith88]

Since I updated you, unfortunately this young father has suffered a bit of a setback with his injury- and has sustained another injury whilst running to get fit. It seems to be a real weakness.

I just pray that he will be able to continue with his playing career long enough to support his family.

I believe, along with many people who have met him, that God has a special purpose for him. He communicates his love for Jesus and his commitment in such a way that people say he has an air of authority and listen to him. As a footballer, he finds he has opportunities to give talks to children and young people, and can reach them for Christ.

He also cares about people a lot, and will listen to their problems. He has a strong calling to go in for the Ministry of the church, but his wife is not at the same point in her faith and many in their family feel she would not cope, so he may go in another direction, such as teaching, when he gets his degree.

Please pray for him. I feel strongly, as others who know him do, that God has plans for him, yet things keep going wrong.
I have seen the whole family together, in church- and there is so much love between them, you can feel it. He looks as if he "belongs" there, and has an air of serenity, as if he is "at home" and his young wife, though she may not have the same faith, is obviously giving him his position as head of the house, leading his family to God.

He works in a profession where there is a lot of ungodly behaviour, of course- and is called to be "salt and light" in that situation, I should have thought. He is not afraid of ridicule from team-mates, but declares his faith at every opportinity.

And yet, because of the injuries, I can't help thinking that his days as a player are numbered, or that God wants him elsewhere sooner than he thought. (He is still only in his twenties.)

I have no doubts at all that God has their future in his hands, but I ask that others will pray for him- and for all of them as a family, that he receives clear guidance, and that the love of God touches his wife so that she has the same faith, and that they all, as a family, fulfil the purpose God has for them.

[MIRIAM JACOB]

We will pray specially for this young family and their children.
May God reveal His plans for them in a wonderful way. Amen.