One week ago I received an email update from CaringBridge.org
regarding my sweet neighbor, Marianne. Marianne has been battling lung cancer
for nearly 5 years, and through it all she has blessed us with her faith, encouragement
and positive outlook on life. “Celebrate Life” is her constant reminder to all
of us. Recently, she received amazing
news that all spots on her lungs were gone…Praise the Lord!!! But in the same
report she learned that they found a new spot in her neck. Radiation treatment
was started, and this new Caring Bridge update was to ask us to pray for her. The
radiation was causing terrible pain in her neck, shoulders and arms, and she
wrote, “I'm asking for your prayers of pain relief and recovery. All things are
possible through prayer.” How right she is…all things are possible through
prayer! I immediately closed my eyes and began to ask the Lord to help my
friend, Marianne.
This past Tuesday evening I received a text from my sister
asking if I had read my cousin’s post on Facebook sharing that my aunt had colon
cancer. My heart sank, and I immediately went online to check Facebook. As I read the post I learned that my Aunt
Charmaine, who lives in Chicago, had recently been diagnosed with colon cancer.
She was in surgery at that very moment to remove 16 inches of her colon. As
tears filled my eyes I began to pray, “Lord, please guide the doctors as they
operate, please bring your peace to my aunt and cousins, please draw all of
them near to You during this time. And Father, please, please, please let it be
Your will that they are able to remove all of the cancer.”
Just last night I found myself again pleading to my heavenly
Father for help. My little 6-year-old, Carson, has many food allergies. Peanuts
cause the worst reaction for his airways, and have sent us to the emergency
room in the past. As fun as Halloween night is for children, it’s a big worry
for a mamma with a peanut-allergy child. After trick-or-treating Carson brought
his big, bag of candy home and dumped it on the dining room table. What a pile!
We separated out all the peanut candies, and then I let him have a couple
pieces from the safe pile. Within moments of him eating Milk Duds (I thought
they were peanut-free and safe) he began coughing and getting very congested. “Lord,
please help my baby,” I pleaded. Quickly I gave him an Albuterol breathing
treatment, which is the only way to open his airways and control the cough. His cough subsided, and he fell asleep. As I
carried him to bed I asked the Lord to help my little one sleep calmly through
the night.
As I think about these tough circumstances in the lives of
those I care about my mind remembers the warning Jesus gave us in John 16:33, “…In
this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus warned us there would be trials, yet he encourages us at the same time to take heart. As I renew my mind with this verse, I slowly begin to look at each situation with a new hope. But if I’m truly honest I have to admit my heart still aches. I know God is in control of all, but I still feel sad and
am overcome with emotion at times.
And then…I read on…as John continues in 17:1 “After Jesus
said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed…”
After Jesus warns us about troubles, as if knowing how our hearts
will take it, He turns towards heaven to talk to God. And there I find the full
response, the one-two punch, to the troubles in life. As I renew my mind with the
truth that God is in control and all-powerful, and then bring my heart-filled requests
to the Lord (sometimes over and over again), finally the peace of God fills me deep within.
Thankfully, my Carson is fine and had a peaceful night sleep. Today he is back to his usual,
playful self. The answers to my prayers for Marianne and Aunt Charmaine
are not yet as clear. Time will tell what the earthly diagnosis reveals. Yet, as
we all wait, we can rest in the promise that Jesus has overcome the world and
all the imperfections down here. And as we continue to get down on our knees and
pray, our hearts can experience the peace and presence of God.
My verse this time is John 17:1 “After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed…”
Praying together,
Teresa
That was beautiful Teresa. Thanks for the encourgement!!
ReplyDeleteRhonda...thanks for your sweet comment. It's a true blessing to serve with you....on our knees together! :-)
ReplyDeleteMy verse:
ReplyDeletePsalm 27:14--Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.
--Donna Vonfeldt