Sometimes I hear news that makes me mad. Sometimes it even causes me to question God. Today I heard from a friend that has already had to endure so much in the last few years and now there is more to endure. I can't help but wonder why more and more and more keeps getting added to her life "plate." Today, as I sat questioning God, Bethany was upstairs playing and singing. At the very moment that I was asking God why, she was singing, "and I will just trust the Lord..." As I sat marveling at the perfectly timed lyrics, I was reminded of God's faithfulness in my life. I realized that I have to trust Him. Because of the promises I have seen fulfilled in my life, I have to trust Him. If I don't trust Him, I am pretty much calling Him a liar. I opened my bible to this:
It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.
How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
his Dominion endures from generation to generation.
Daniel 4:2-3
When I was asked to join the Heartline Foundation board, I had no idea that a few months later I would be helping to select and even write devotions for our conference calls. In 2012, I had to endure a cancer diagnosis and radiation treatment. God used that experience to teach me about His faithfulness and that it is always perfect. He showed me how He uses all things for my good, even the hard stuff. Even the stuff that I wish would just go away so I don't have to deal with it. When I sat down to write my first devotion, I knew I had to write about God's faithfulness and how I am to respond to that faithfulness. And so, I wanted to share it here with you all.
It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me:
It took about 2 weeks to get the results of the skin biopsy. I really had no idea what it would show. As I waited for the doctor to get back to me with the results, I prayed and asked God to do His will. He showed me this verse:
You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow and the Lord will be with you. 2 Chronicles 20:17
Later, I got the news. It was cancer.
God was so faithful through the entire diagnosis and treatment. From the dermatologist who had done her residency with a physician that specialized in this type of skin cancer, to the radiation specialist that had just treated a man with this same type of skin cancer and had had very good results. After struggling with this rash that ended up being cancer for 8 years, the cancer had never spread to any other parts of my body or into my blood. It was expected that I would suffer radiation burns and blistering from the treatment and I experienced none. And as I went out to face the battle, God was with me for every one of the 15 radiation treatments, giving me a peace that was unfathomable and noticed by others around me. I could only say that it was from God. He gave me the strength to stand firm and He did deliver me. He delivered me from the fear, the anxiety, and, in the end, the cancer. He gave me the strength and courage to go out and face the cancer and He was faithful to be with me every step of the way.
Lamentations 3:21-23 in the NIV says:
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
How do we respond to this great faithfulness? By being faithful in all that we do. For the Christian, faithfulness occurs when we allow the Holy Spirit to move in us and when we put on the Lord Jesus Christ and become transformed by His life. We show our faithfulness by serving God and serving others with a selfless and loving heart.
Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. 3 John 1:5
Application:
1. Can you think of a time when you experienced God's faithfulness in your life?
2. How do we put on the Lord Jesus?
3. How can we share God’s faithfulness with others?
1 comment:
Thank you for sharing your story. I know that we are trying to forget about this but we really need to remember the goodness of God. We need to remember the trials that he brings us through so that we can better handle future trials. I look forward to what is in store for your future!
Your Husband
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