There are a couple of families we know who are really undergoing some testing right now. In one family, the mother, a godly pastor's wife with eight children, has Stage 4 ovarian cancer. The other family has a 3-year old twin boy who has been diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma. As of last week, he was declared "brain dead" and the family is fighting a battle in the court system to keep him alive. The doctors won't "add care" at this point and are just waiting for him to die. We have been praying for these families, and rejoicing in their faithfulness to God and to one another during these trying times.
A few years ago, I used to be discouraged when I felt that God was not answering my prayers to heal those that I care about. "So and so is such a good person," I would reason with God. "Why don't you let this bad thing happen to such and such a person instead. They deserve it." But, learning more about God's character over the last few years, I now realize that this is not the way he works. Truthfully, even the best of humanity is terribly wicked when compared with the righteousness of God. It is only when we realize how wicked we are that we see our need for Him. We deserve nothing from God, and any blessings we receive are much more than we deserve.
In our family, we have experienced a number of illnesses and accidents over the last few years, and I have noticed something. When things are going well, I tend to depend less on God. I believe that He allows these problems to happen to draw me closer to Him, and I am thankful for this.
My husband has a rare illness, for which there is no known cure. We have been told to expect a significantly shortened lifespan because of it. My mother has suffered several heart attacks and a stroke over the last year or so. My husband also cut off his fingertip at work a couple of years ago and had to have a couple of surgeries on it. In addition, every baby that we have requires me to be on bedrest since I am considered a higher-risk pregnancy. Each of these have been an opportunity that God has given me to depend on Him to a greater degree, and provided that I make the right choices, bring glory to His name through my responses. This can be an incredible testimony to my children.
Even though I may feel like I am losing sight of God in the midst of my troubles, I always find Him on the other side waiting patiently for me. He has never lost sight of me. He was there all along, if I would only have taken His hand and allowed Him to lead me through. I am learning this lesson, slowly, but surely.
As I have watched these families undergoing crises I have ever experienced, I am inspired by the glory they are bringing to God. They trust Him in all circumstances, knowing that He is good and righteous. Their lives are His to bring glory to Himself in whatever way He chooses. May I be as faithful unto Him in all He gives me.
If you are interested in praying for these families, there are updates at the following sites:
http://debbieshealthupdate.blogspot.com/
http://weloveyoujoel.blogspot.com/
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