“They Will Run and Not Grow Weary”

I’ve been involved with Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) intermittently for almost 30 years. Several years ago, I re-enrolled in my current class and was immediately placed in Miss Joyce’s group.

Miss Joyce was a widow in her mid-70’s with twinkling eyes, a winning smile, and a heart for Jesus and His Word. She led our group with grace, compassion, and a sincere love for each member.

She quickly became one of my heroes and over time one of my beloved friends.

Joyce’s story is sweet and inspirational. In her words, she was a “Sunday Christian,” attending church regularly with her husband but with no real relationship with Jesus – until her beloved mom underwent a dangerous surgery and Jesus made Himself real to Joyce.

Joyce’s mom suffered from severe back pain and was in need of a delicate surgery. The doctors in her hometown, however, refused to perform the surgery because of the risks involved. After a trip to Rochester’s Mayo Clinic, her mom was sent home to consider whether or not she wanted to proceed with the surgery as the doctors there were willing to perform it if she fully understood and agreed to the risks involved. Feeling that she had no other alternatives and in severe pain, Joyce’s mom headed to Rochester.

A large contingent of concerned family members traveled to the clinic for the surgery – which went very well! Postoperatively, she was placed in a critical care unit with round-the-clock care and a nurse who never left her side. With such amazing results, family members returned home, but Joyce and her dad stayed behind for her mom’s recovery.

At midnight one night, Joyce and her dad were alerted by the doctors. Joyce’s mom’s lungs were beginning to shut down. The prognosis was grim. In fear for her mother’s life, Joyce went into the hallway and begged God to save her mother. She realized the irony of her desperate plea to a God she wasn’t intimate with, but she so wanted her mother to be healed. And Jesus so wanted Joyce to be His. He met her there in that hallway. In Joyce’s words, “Jesus appeared to me!” His strong presence fell over her and gave her the peace and comfort she was seeking. At 60 years young, Joyce surrendered to Him. And her mom? She recovered with no complications and enjoyed a good six more years of life!

When Joyce returned to her home, she immediately joined a BSF group and never looked back! Her daughters had been urging her for years to enroll, and now that she was walking with Jesus, she just wanted to soak in as much of His Word as she possibly could. Losing her husband several years later was devastating, but Joyce leaned on her faith in God for comfort and peace and poured herself into serving Him wholeheartedly. She began leading groups in BSF and also Bible studies in multiple churches.

But Joyce doesn’t rest on her laurels. Take this past year, for example.

As she matured in her faith and in her knowledge and understanding of God’s Word, Joyce began to realize that error had crept into the church she’d attended for years. She knew it was time to make a change and to become a part of a Bible teaching, Bible believing, Bible practicing church. Carla, a friend in our BSF class, invited Joyce to become a part of her church family. It was there that Joyce was convicted of her need to be baptized. At 82 years of age, Joyce was buried with Christ in baptism and raised to walk in newness of life!

Then she felt the call of the Holy Spirit to go on her first mission trip where she was challenged to boldly share her faith in a different culture and a different language. In the process of preparing for her trip, Joyce solicited prayers from family and friends.

One contact happened to be with a childhood friend, Glenn. Glenn prayed for Joyce and encouraged her via email and text, and shortly after her return from her trip, he asked her to marry him. The week after Thanksgiving, Glenn and Joyce began their new life together in a beautiful ceremony among family and close friends.

What have you been up to this year? Not many people can say they led multiple Bible studies, were baptized, went on their first mission trip, and got engaged and married in less than a year, but Joyce can!

When Joyce’s friend Carla gave last week’s BSF lecture, I wrote down her challenging words: “Are you breathing? Do you love Jesus? You can serve!” To that I would say, “Amen!” And I’m pretty sure Joyce would say the same!

*****

“But those who hope in the Lord shall renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12

“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in their old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, ‘The Lord is upright; He is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in Him.’” – Psalm 92:12-15