Strong Deliverer

By Helen Harvison

God told me: “Write in a book all the words I speak to you.” This book speaks candidly and openly of the darkness I fell into after the death of my beloved husband – and my subsequent disability. It details very naturally and powerfully how I was led out of that darkness, into the bright light of day. Here, I tell you with absolute sincerity how my Saviour has become, in all things, my Strong Deliverer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Sep 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9781398414396

Helen Harvison

Helen is a widow. Her much-loved husband died of cancer twenty-one years ago, and two years following this tragedy, she became disabled. She has a son who has struggled with disability throughout his life, and of whom she is very proud. Helen has four beautiful grandchildren. They are her joy and her delight. Helen has a strong church family – beloved women who have become her family. She lives in Brisbane, in Australia’s Sunshine State, Queensland.

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About the Author

Helen is a widow. Her much-loved husband died of cancer twenty-one years ago, and two years following this tragedy, she became disabled. She has a son who has struggled with disability throughout his life, and of whom she is very proud. Helen has four beautiful grandchildren. They are her joy and her delight.

Helen has a strong church family – beloved women who have become her family. She lives in Brisbane, in Australia’s Sunshine State, Queensland.

Copyright Information ©

Helen Harvison 2023

The right of Helen Harvison to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398414372 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398414389 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781398414396 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2023

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

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Prologue

I pen this book in the hope that it may bless you.

I look at back when I was a much younger Christian – way, way back to when my husband was still alive and we were both young and vigorous.

We always led from the front. We worked at the pastor’s side; leading support groups, out on the front line of ministry. It was my joy and privilege to serve the wonderful Lord, who died so that I could live.

Then the unthinkable happened. My life-partner and soul mate became terminally ill; then he died. Two years after this devastating blow, I was disabled.

This book deals with how God walked me out of a darkness and confusion that was very profound. I had lost my identity. I could no longer do what I saw as my service to my saviour. I thought, as did many others, that my ‘use-by’ date had passed. Both, my disabled son and I, had suffered at the hands of numerous churches, who apparently saw us as a burden. Certainly, their view appeared that we were failing in some way because we found ourselves in our present circumstances.

But, do you know what? I am so glad that I’m here today to tell you that God is oh, so much bigger than our circumstances.

Here, I have opened my soul to you. These writings deal with how God so gently, so lovingly opened my understanding to the fact that this was in no way, as He saw me. He walked by my side as my grief began to heal. He gently and wonderfully opened my eyes to a great beauty He saw within me and also within my son.

I am so glad that He does not see as humans do. No. For He looks at the heart. And He began to speak to me about that beauty He saw there.

For a time, I couldn’t accept this. But He kept on speaking to me until I had to accept that this was, in fact, the voice of my saviour.

The pages that follow detail my first faltering steps on this new path and then more confidently as I grew stronger.

He showed me that just being, each day, His beloved – that, indeed, greatly pleased Him. That is all He asked of me. Then, as time progressed, He made it clear that He still had a plan and a purpose for me.

You see, only God looks past our outward circumstances to our heart. If your heart is white hot with passion for Him…then He goes way past your circumstances and calls you out to serve Him.

We’re told over and over again that man looks on the outside. God looks on the heart.

This book is dedicated to all of those ‘little people’ that the world and sadly, many Christian people also categorised; and deemed them, unimportant. God told me to write in a book all the words I speak to you. Now He is calling each one of you who, like me, are ‘little people’. Come out. Do the work that God has placed in your heart. I promise you no matter how difficult it is, we have a God who is God of the impossible. He will make a way where there is no way.

Come! With all your heart, reach out to the promise God has called you to. Remember, He sees your heart. Trust and don’t be afraid.

He alone will do it and He is faithful.

God’s Love

God’s love is so great – it’s the greatest thing in Heaven and earth.

I asked God how much He loved me. He said, This much. Then He spread His arms and died for me.

That is love without question, beyond understanding; beyond human belief. His love caused Him to die for me. I will surrender to this love, forever.

Run with It

I saw Him – bending down, drinking from a crystal spring, wiping His mouth, looking up at me questioningly. I had seen Him before in different presentations that evening, always looking for more. But this time, He said to me, ‘Little one, why look for more? You have my truth, my very presence. Come now and run with it. Be a blessing. Bless others through me. This is what I want from you.’

The Husbandman

I see the wounded loneliness within your heart, the longing there for the one gone on ahead. But it is better for you that it happened that way; otherwise, all that I had planned for you would not be fulfilled.

Beloved, I would be your Husbandman, that Husband Redeemer and ease the pain within you. There are so many places that he cannot go; I can hold your hand when the darkness closes around, light the way when it seems unsure. I can always be the wisdom that you need; bring peace in your heart when the pain is strong. I can lay my hand on your heart and bring the peace that always will endure.

I will be a lamp and a light that will never fade away and fulfil the longings that are so strong today.

For I understand, I know everything that you long for and I give the peace that will never fade away.

The Husband-Redeemer

Harsh words flew; biting words, bringing hurt and wounding. I was wishing my son could understand, somehow develop a talent of complete compassion and understand; crying out inside: if my husband was here, he would understand and he would look after me. Then I wouldn’t be alone in my pain.

Then the hurt turned to uncontrollable sobs of grief, loss, longing and aching for the one who was gone – putting so much on my son; so hard for him.

But characteristically, he stoically tried comforting, holding me and waiting. We said goodbye.

It became clear that my pain is my own and that of no one else; no one in this life can carry it for me.

I have a Husband-Redeemer who can do all these things – still my aching heart show me what to do to bring ease, give me wisdom so that I’m not foolishly making things worse – place His hand on the deep, terrible aching of loneliness in my heart.

He knows, in every part of my life – each pain, each cry of the heart – for they are also etched on His heart.

I can turn to this Heavenly Husband of mine and trust Him completely with my life; and from now on, I do. I make that commitment, that pledge, now and I put my hand in His.

"Dear Jesus, sweet Lord, I am weak and frail. Gently remind me. My lovely son cannot be a substitute for the one who has gone, to feel for me, anticipate my hurts, my pains – he has to and always will be my son – a good son; a wonderful son who has taken care of me with such care. But to You, oh, Lord, I turn and take Your hand.

I cast my burden on You, my Heavenly Husband – for You care for me."

Heart Set Free

Perseverance is continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation. This is what one person wrote – continuance in a state of grace – that’s very important.

You know there are so many voices – like rushing waters in our head, a train hurtling out of control, that at times, they can overwhelm you. It’s like a continual battle of so many voices so that you can hear nothing clearly.

That’s why it’s so important to be still – quiet your spirit within you and focus on the voice of God. His word must dwell in your heart and mind if you are to hear Him clearly – just be still, close your eyes and focus on the voice within; that, still quiet voice of God that will never fail to lead us, truly. He will stop the thundering waters, the many voices – still them completely.

His whisper will come quietly and faithfully – and we will never regret the choice we have made to run in the path of His commands. For He has set our heart free.

Run

It is an awesome responsibility to have the life of another in your hands – awesome, sometimes heavy and arduous – wondrous and beautiful – soul-searching; rewarding beyond measure.

You learn