Josephine Mary Schmidt

A Place of Refuge for the Soul

trust

Christ Has Not Left Us as Orphans

Vulnerability and How I Overcame Fear

As you may or may not know, I shattered my big toe in Australia while filming a documentary with Leo about the incredible things Jesus has done for me. When in the doctor’s office back in San Diego, where we now live, I was told by the podiatrist to start walking without my air cast boot. It had now been 11 weeks without ever bearing weight on my injury or walking unassisted without my cast. The doctor in his office didn’t help me take my first steps. He merely told me what I was to do and went out the door. There was no personal service, no helping me, just these instructions to go home and walk without my boot, juggling between the pain and putting it back on until I could walk unassisted without it and my cane. And the whole idea was daunting.

As I squeezed my oversized foot into my sandshoe, trying to stretch the laces as far as possible to make it less painful, tears welled, and I knew I was emotionally weak. I was scared! And physically tired from wearing the boot for so long. And now, this new direction I needed to face. I felt vulnerable without the protection of my air boot cast and tried to see into the future and what lay ahead of me to full recovery.

As Leo watched, offering support, and I stood for the first time, it reminded me of when I first came home after Jesus had delivered me from demon-possession. Jesus had kept me safe at a holiday resort with cabins and a caravan park from the people who had done this to me. At the resort, Jesus taught me His gospel and how to be strong in Him before filling me with His Holy Spirit and leading me back home to live on our property where all this horror had happened. It had been extremely daunting, this new direction without the protection of the resort and haven where Jesus had acted so powerfully. It was a bit like this boot – it had allowed me to keep functioning, protecting my injury so I could heal. 

As I stood in my sandshoes and as Leo cheered me on, I knew I wasn’t alone like when I had returned home, taking my first steps unguarded by the resort to trust in the healing and knowledge Jesus had granted. He was here now to help me in this new direction and unknown weeks ahead to full recovery. Jesus was here in my frail body and insecurities and weakness to be strong. 

Air cast boot on the floor next to someone standing in sand shoes

The following day, I spent my whole day in my sandshoes before resting and putting my foot up for the evening. My recovery will be slow, learning to walk again and hopefully without pain. But so was returning home after such a horrendous ordeal and learning to live there with courage and faith.

But the most important thing is to know where our help comes from and to cry out and receive that help. Once I did not have the mercy of God. But now I am found and have experienced God’s great love and compassion in Christ Jesus. I need to walk worthy of what I have received every day and with that understanding. Jesus died so we could be friends and know Him and live with Him forever in paradise!

Vulnerability and fear can meet us in any situation where the unknown is the future. But Christ helps us through these battles. Remember the past and His previous victories, and the steps forward will be restful.

At Jesus’ Word

Bible Open showing John 4:50

“The man took Jesus at his word,” John 4:50. 

There were plenty of signs and wonders Jesus was exercising around this Father who had asked Jesus to come to his home to heal his son.

“Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe,” John 4:48.

So often, we need to open our eyes and see what God is doing around us. We should take God at His word and not be forcing Him into doing miracles for us. And we shouldn’t seek them to strengthen our faith.

What has Jesus done in our lives – remember. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed,” John 20:29.

This royal officer, after Jesus’ words to him about seeking signs and wonders, still begged. “Sir, come down before my child dies,” John 4:49. He called the Messiah, Sir. His faith not yet rooted in understanding Jesus as the Messiah and image of God in the flesh, come to redeem.

“Go,” Jesus replied, “Your son will live,” John 4:50.

Later, we read through this interaction with Christ that this man believed, he and his whole household. (John 4:53). “He took Jesus at His Word” – no longer begged and believed. This action is faith. He took God at His Word and acted accordingly. This man didn’t badger Christ anymore but departed in faith, and the miracle occurred at the exact time that he did!

A Bible Open to John 4:50

I fear today, so many are not taking Jesus at His word but rather seeking miracles, the spectacular, the show, the marvel. Faith is quiet, it believes in God’s Word, and it expects what Jesus promises. I encouraged you today, remember the promises of God, and through them, you will partake in the divine nature of God. Isn’t that what it’s all about, our transformation, not the spectacular. It’s so often a trap.

Signs and wonders occur so that we will believe, but after we have believed, we shouldn’t be seeking their glory but Christ’s.

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

2 Peter 1:4

I took Jesus at His word, and it’s how I escaped demon possession and much trickery set against me. It was an impossible escape, accept by faith in Christ, I won. Today, it’s still the way I live, by trusting in Jesus and putting all my weight and faith on His Word. I had many miracles that Jesus used to help me understand and believe in the gospel. But it was through faith that they occurred and not by me seeking them.

Josephine Mary Schmidt – About Page

Before this Father’s encounter with Jesus, the event that took place before – was of a woman meeting Jesus at a commonplace, a well. (John 4:1-42). There were no miracles. Yet, this lady believed Jesus’ words spoken to her as a prophet, and then finally as the Messiah. Her belief came from her encounter with the Truth. Jesus’ words cut deep into her heart, and He saw all that she was as a person. (“A Soul’s Worth,” the title song from A Soul’s Worth album.)

Jesus wants to have an intimate and personal relationship with us. It’s based not on miracles but trust and the truth and abiding.

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