For When I Am Weak, Then I Am Strong

Two years ago today, a man named Larry Quinnell made it to his heavenly home, surrounded by his family as they shared they “confidently saw him see heaven.” In his honor, I am sharing the tribute written for him and his family and shared at his Celebration of Life.

Helping people to face the fear of death, embrace hospice, and make room for healing.

It is what I believe the Lord wants to do through The Upper Room. And, it was through Larry and his family, that the Lord gave us the blueprint to do so.

I had the honor of caring for Larry when his family was told he only had days to live. This is something that I am passionate about, and I have quite a bit of experience in. But, the experience that I had with Larry and his family is one I will never forget.

I am here today to give you a small glimpse into what I saw during the 18 days that I spent with Larry and his family. And the three words that I want to elaborate on and commend Larry for are prayer, strength and healing.

On the night that Larry made it home, what I saw was so different from what I expected to see. He did not look like someone with only days to live. There was a fight in him and a youthfulness that I couldn’t understand. I knew right then and there, that God was up to something. You know why? Because he works best in situations that are too big for us to understand. The hard part is letting go of what we can’t understand.

So, what can we do in these situations? For guidance, for clarity, for comfort, for peace? We can PRAY. I know. PRAY. It can be an intimidating thing. One many don’t feel worthy of, or “good enough at” or maybe just plain old uncomfortable doing. But, we’re all pretty good at talking aren’t we? I’ve been told by MANY people that this is something that Larry LOVED to do.

Well, that is all that prayer is…. A conversation with GOD. With Jesus. The creator of all things. The most powerful! The one who died for us! The one who loves us the MOST. We have the privilege of being able to have conversations with him whenever and however we want to! So, that is exactly what I, my husband, Jeff, other fellow believers and the entire Quinnell family did A LOT of with Larry. And, even though Larry couldn’t physically speak much on this journey, I KNOW he was conversing too. How did I know? Through the look in his eyes, through hand gestures, and how deeply engaged he was. AND, there were a handful of moments, when I or the family were praying with Larry and we hadn’t heard his voice in days. Then, suddenly, at the end of a prayer, Larry would chime in with an “AMEN!” Larry was very good at encouraging people with his words, and he was STILL doing that even when the words were lacking.

Larry was SO strong. And SUCH a fighter. I know he was “the rock” of his family, and they looked to him for security because they knew he would be their strength and fight for them. He did that in his last days too. But, his strength looked really different than the family was used to seeing it. The words “For when I am weak, then I am strong” came to mind as we prayed over Larry one night. And THAT is the strength that I want to praise Larry for today. And, it is a strength that we can all learn from and have for ourselves. You see, Larry was “weak” from a worldly perspective, in so many ways after he suffered his strokes and had all sorts of medical complications. But, he didn’t let any of those obstacles stop him from being strong! What these challenges, these weaknesses, did for Larry was strengthen him in a whole new way. A way that the Lord desires for all of us.

We all have weaknesses. Whether they are physical, mental, emotional, relational, or so on.... But, most (if not all) of us (at some point in our lives) are afraid to admit, name, share or allow people to see what our weaknesses are. GOD DOES NOT DESIRE THAT FOR US. He wants us to “delight in our weaknesses”.... To take pleasure and be satisfied in them. I know, again, not something that comes natural to us as humans. How in the world could we “be satisfied” in the midst of feeling weak? And, why the heck would we want to do that? You know why? Because, when we do this, it's another way for GOD to show up! Because in our weaknesses HE GETS TO BE OUR STRENGTH. And, that is EXACTLY what he did through Larry in his last days. Larry humbled himself in his weaknesses. He didn’t stop fighting even though his weaknesses were exposed. He was joyful in the midst of his weaknesses. He invited people into them, accepted them, embraced them, was healed through them and allowed GOD to show up in SO many powerful ways. Talk about miracles, signs and wonders... And, while I’d love to elaborate on that more today, I’m not going to because these stories are for the family to cherish and share! What I want you all to know about Larry, is that HE NEVER LOST HIS STRENGTH. Instead, it was RENEWED!

This bible verse comes from Isaiah 41:29-31.
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall. But, those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength! They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Even the strongest people get tired sometimes, but God’s power and strength never diminish. He’s never too tired or busy to help us and to listen to us.

You guys, life is hard. Larry’s journey in the last couple months of his life, for him (and his family).... HARD. And that probably doesn't even come close to summarizing it . But, let what God did in and through Larry encourage all of us today. Especially all of you....Larry’s family and friends.... Grief... pain.....loss.... It is SO difficult. There are going to be days when life feels like it's crushing you and you can’t go on any further. In those moments, remember Larry, (remember your husband, your dad, your grandpa, your friend) and what HE did to renew his strength. What HE did to receive ultimate healing.... Put your HOPE and your TRUST in GOD. Allow for your weaknesses. And don’t be afraid to talk! Honor Larry by talking to each other, and talking to Jesus! And as you do, know that he has joined “the great cloud of witnesses” and he is cheering you all on!

“As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has already been marked out before us.” -Hebrews 12:1 TPT