I recently received great news.
After my recent 18-month visit to Oncology, further testing was recommended to ensure that there had been no return of cancer, and my follow-up visit with the Oncologist confirmed just that: I continued to be cancer-free. Praise God!
I was excited to hear this news, to say the least, and I put out a post on my personal facebook page. Was I ever surprised at the comment one of my colleagues sent in: “YAY!!! Congratulations Lyn! Though you knew it all along right! Our Main Man kept His promise.”
That comment really got my attention. You see, the day I was originally diagnosed with cancer, God sent me a message through my husband: “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” (1Pet 5:10, NIV2).
I held on to this promise, and it carried me through surgery, through the dark days of recovery, and it carried me through the fear of radiation and chemotherapies. I am happy to report that I held on firmly to that promise until it was all over, and God did, indeed, restore me, making me even stronger, firmer and more steadfast than ever.
But what did I do with the promise then? Because the moment I learned I had to go for more tests, I couldn’t seem to remember that God had promised to restore me and make me strong. All I could think about was, “What if the cancer is back?”
As soon as I read the facebook post of my friend and colleague, I repented of my doubt and fear. God had, indeed, promised me a good outcome, there was–and is–no reason to doubt God!
It is true that the outcome was the same despite my doubt. God knows we are weak, and He is still big enough to work His miracles, despite our weak moments. The story of Balaam is a great example of this:
Balaam was tempted to make himself rich by simply cursing Israel. To his credit, when God told him not to go, he didn’t. But when the men returned with an even more enticing offer, Balaam took it back to God. After all, maybe he had heard God wrong the first time. God wants us to be prosperous, right?
The story, recorded in Numbers 22-23, tells of how God allowed Balaam to go with the men this time, yet when he was en route, an angel of the Lord was sent to stop him. Only the faithfulness of his donkey saved his life.
In the end, Balaam did go with the men, but from his mouth came blessing, not cursing. It was not an optimal situation, it was not something showing complete faith and obedience to God. Yet despite Balaam’s weakness, God used the situation to bless Israel with the words that have shown God’s faithfulness throughout history: “May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!” (Num 24:9, NIV2)
Yes, God is big enough to bring about good things, even when our responses show marked lack of faith. He was big enough to bring about good results from the tests I underwent, despite my faithless reaction. Yet how much stress might I have saved myself had I simply stood firm?
It is interesting that the verses preceded the promise God gave me through my husband speak of just that: Standing firm! “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith…” (1Pet 5:8-9, NIV2)
I urge each one of us today to be alert and sober, ever on the alert for when the devil tries to confound, confuse and discourage us and to make us take our eyes off of Jesus. Only when we do, can we stand firm in our faith, no matter what circumstance screams at us today.
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two, Author — “Aboard God’s Train — A Journey With God Through the Valley of Cancer”, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, with Answers2Prayer Ministries. Follow Lyn on Twitter @lynchaffart.
