Life is funny sometimes. Other times not so much. We go through this life focused on what is in front of us. Sometimes giving width and breadth to occurrences that do not even deserve a blip on the radar. Then one unsuspecting day something happens that rocks the very foundation of our soul and it affects everything we do and think. It could be the loss of a child, a life threatening accident, or the diagnosis of a life threatening illness. The last has happened to my family. My brother has been diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. He is 46 years old, is married, and has a 14 year old son. The ripple effects of this are endless. I look in the face of my parents and see the pain in their eyes. I hear the stress and sorrow in the voice of his beautiful wife. Thoughts that we are not supposed to think raced through my mind. Like, he may miss my nephew's graduation, his wife may end up being a single parent, my parents my have to attend the funeral of their eldest child, and on and on. I even hesitate to admit I had these thoughts but I want share so you will know you are not alone in thinking these things when tragedy strikes. Fear tries to consume us. Then I remembered the post from 11/24/14 entitled "No Place for Fear." As all kinds of fear rose and tried to suffocate me, I felt like my organs had become liquid and run down into my legs. I prayed. I also had a talk with myself and wondered (and still wonder at moments) if I will be able to take ahold of and apply the truths in that post to my own life.
Fear can be absent from the equation. It is not because we are oblivious to the magnitude of the situation or because we have some secret or preferred access to Christ. It is because fear is not to be confused with pain, dread, grief, suffering, or any multitude of other emotions. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7. Not allowing fear to consume us is an intentional yet challenging practice. There have been all kinds of "what ifs," but my family knows this is God's will for my brother's life. We can wrestle with "why" and "what now", but facts are facts. My brother is a devoted child of God and is very deeply rooted in his faith. He has been a light to multitudes of what the life of a godly man should look like. His circumstances are being used by God to bring glory to God in the eyes of throngs of people. Here at Christmas time I cannot help but make the comparison between him and It's a Wonderful Life's George Bailey. Literally, hundreds of people are praying for him. God has been faithful to answer every need we have lifted up to Him at every single turn. He has heard and answered in splendor. So, as we pray and not only trust, but KNOW, that God hears, we have the knowledge that God is accomplishing His will in the life of my brother. We live in hope and pray for healing. We know God is more than capable. Regardless of whether He saves him and he lives a long and healthy life, or He determines that his life's work will be short we know Christ will be glorified. This is where we all come face to face with life's purpose.
When we accept the excruciating pain that comes with this life we yank Satan's biggest weapon out of his hands, fear. When we step back and acknowledge God's sovereignty over our lives we realize that the control belongs to God for the glory of Christ. "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." Revelation 2:10. Notice we are not told that we will not suffer. We are being told not to fear it. Listen my friends, there are times of immeasurable suffering, consuming pain, and unimaginable grief. We can dread it, be angry about it, feel desperate, insecure, and vulnerable, and have sadness deeper than the deepest ocean, but when we know who sees and hears us, loves us to the level of sending His son to die for us, and is more than able to accomplish His will in our lives, the fear is gone. We will wrestle with God, pleading for what we want and what we feel is best. No one wants to suffer or see their loved ones suffer. But when they do, if we are close to Christ we can accept it.
So this new journey begins. It is a road none of us want to walk, least of all my brother and his little family, but we will. We will walk it with faith and strength that can only come from Christ. "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6. No one can do this on their own and my family is no exception. But our position in Christ equips us for the task to which we are called. "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8. When we see this life as poured out for the glory of Christ and nothing more, we have the strength we need to persevere. We are also encouraged to share our burdens with fellow believers so we can pray and help carry the heavy load. "Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2. We will make it. There will be scars and pain but our reward will be worth it. God is faithful.
Having learned of my brother's condition a couple of weeks ago it is only now that I am able to share it. It is raw and personal and it is still painful and hard. But I very much wanted to share the truths of God's promises with you. We are not watching the battle through field glasses on the bluff but down in the trenches with you. There are moments and even days we struggle and fight the fear. I am sure that will continue. But we will not concede to it and give Satan the victory. The closer we are to Christ the better we are able to manage this road of hardship and the more glory Christ can bring to himself which is what it's all about anyway. We will all find the strength we need when we seek it in Christ. God bless.
Fear can be absent from the equation. It is not because we are oblivious to the magnitude of the situation or because we have some secret or preferred access to Christ. It is because fear is not to be confused with pain, dread, grief, suffering, or any multitude of other emotions. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7. Not allowing fear to consume us is an intentional yet challenging practice. There have been all kinds of "what ifs," but my family knows this is God's will for my brother's life. We can wrestle with "why" and "what now", but facts are facts. My brother is a devoted child of God and is very deeply rooted in his faith. He has been a light to multitudes of what the life of a godly man should look like. His circumstances are being used by God to bring glory to God in the eyes of throngs of people. Here at Christmas time I cannot help but make the comparison between him and It's a Wonderful Life's George Bailey. Literally, hundreds of people are praying for him. God has been faithful to answer every need we have lifted up to Him at every single turn. He has heard and answered in splendor. So, as we pray and not only trust, but KNOW, that God hears, we have the knowledge that God is accomplishing His will in the life of my brother. We live in hope and pray for healing. We know God is more than capable. Regardless of whether He saves him and he lives a long and healthy life, or He determines that his life's work will be short we know Christ will be glorified. This is where we all come face to face with life's purpose.
When we accept the excruciating pain that comes with this life we yank Satan's biggest weapon out of his hands, fear. When we step back and acknowledge God's sovereignty over our lives we realize that the control belongs to God for the glory of Christ. "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." Revelation 2:10. Notice we are not told that we will not suffer. We are being told not to fear it. Listen my friends, there are times of immeasurable suffering, consuming pain, and unimaginable grief. We can dread it, be angry about it, feel desperate, insecure, and vulnerable, and have sadness deeper than the deepest ocean, but when we know who sees and hears us, loves us to the level of sending His son to die for us, and is more than able to accomplish His will in our lives, the fear is gone. We will wrestle with God, pleading for what we want and what we feel is best. No one wants to suffer or see their loved ones suffer. But when they do, if we are close to Christ we can accept it.
So this new journey begins. It is a road none of us want to walk, least of all my brother and his little family, but we will. We will walk it with faith and strength that can only come from Christ. "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6. No one can do this on their own and my family is no exception. But our position in Christ equips us for the task to which we are called. "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8. When we see this life as poured out for the glory of Christ and nothing more, we have the strength we need to persevere. We are also encouraged to share our burdens with fellow believers so we can pray and help carry the heavy load. "Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2. We will make it. There will be scars and pain but our reward will be worth it. God is faithful.
Having learned of my brother's condition a couple of weeks ago it is only now that I am able to share it. It is raw and personal and it is still painful and hard. But I very much wanted to share the truths of God's promises with you. We are not watching the battle through field glasses on the bluff but down in the trenches with you. There are moments and even days we struggle and fight the fear. I am sure that will continue. But we will not concede to it and give Satan the victory. The closer we are to Christ the better we are able to manage this road of hardship and the more glory Christ can bring to himself which is what it's all about anyway. We will all find the strength we need when we seek it in Christ. God bless.
