I previously posted about some of the blessings that the Lord has bestowed upon our family since Bobby was diagnosed with Lymphoma. Maybe the greatest surprise to us is that Bobby's cancer has turned out to be a blessing itself.
The primary blessing has been God's gift of His presence throughout this ordeal. Especially during the months of chemotherapy, while we watched our son shrivel up into a much weaker child physically and emotionally, God was faithful to cause us to sense His presence very clearly. Even when we were not necessarily thinking about Him, He would give us great comfort. It is hard to explain. For example, we rarely felt as bad about things as it seemed like we should have considering the circumstances. God's grace is great and consistent.
Why should I be surprised? Scripture makes it clear as to how we should respond during times of trial. Romans 5:3-5 says, "More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." James 1:2-3 tells us, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."
So Paul and James make it clear that sufferings and trials lead to hope and steadfastness. What are we to make of this? It seems clear that when we go through trials, we grow spiritually if we look to Christ to sustain us. He alone provides strength for the current sufferings and makes us remember that we need to keep an eternal perspective in the midst of times of difficulty.
2 comments:
Our family has rejoiced and prayed with you through the ordeal of your son...We praise God with you that all is going well..
...Would you mind praying for our son Joshua? He is being sent as a turret gunner to Sadar City...
...and I remind myself daily that the same God who has returned Bobby to health...that took down the walls of Jericho is the same God with my son in the turret of that humvee... it is a great comfort to know that the battle has already been planned..the outcome for his glory!!!
.. Please hug your son for us!
Lea,
Thank you so much for praying for Bobby during his chemo. What a joy and thrill it has been to see him regain strength over the past two months.
We will be happy to pray for your son Joshua. I can't imagine what it must be like to be a parent of a soldier. I admire him for what he is doing.
Praise God that He is sovereign and gracious. He controls all that happens in our bodies and in violent places.
In Christ, Eric
Post a Comment