“An Overdue Update on the Grace of God in Karen’s Life”

Monday January 25, 2016

You prayed. I mean you prayed really hard. You very specifically asked the Lord to do something. You asked Him to work and bless in an unusual way. Then He either said “No” or “Not now” and then you were faced with how you would handle the answer. So many dear friends were earnestly praying that the mass in Karen’s lung would be gone. Then time came for the scan and as you know the mass is not gone. I’ll share more with you about that in just a moment.

To look at my sweet Karen you would never know she has cancer. Her hair has grown in to the point that she has gone for a haircut. It’s wavy. What used to take some effort to get it to look this way now happens every morning with very little coaching. Though I thought her to be just as beautiful without her hair; I know that she is much more comfortable with her own hair growing back.

Yesterday in our church one of the special music selections involved the beautiful old hymn “It is Well with My Soul.” I quietly put my arm around her and held her close to my side as the soloist sang “And Lord haste the day when my faith shall be sight.” Right now the Lord has brought cancer into our lives. We cannot see with our very dim eyesight and limited understanding how this cancer can be of any use. It has taken her away from teaching boys and girls and working with ladies as their mentor. We have to be careful being around people in the winter time with the cold and flu season. What possible good is this miserable rotten mass festering in her lung?

Maybe some of you are wondering the exact same thing.

That’s the whole point. Our eyesight is so dim. Our understanding is so limited. Here are somethings we do know. The Lord Jesus told us that in this world we would have tribulation (John 16:33). He also assured us that we are in His hands (John 10:28). The Word of God assures us that nothing separates us from His love (Romans 8:31-39). What a grand promise that all things really are working together for good to those who love the Lord. This promise is still in operation (Romans 8:28). We are still invited to cast all our care upon Him because He really does care for us (1 Peter 5:7). He is preparing a place for us in His Father’s Home (John 14:1-3). During this time of waiting for our place to be completed we have the awesome opportunity and responsibility of being His ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20). Right now Karen and I want everything we are experiencing with this walk of cancer being in our lives to honor Him. We want our reactions to this test as well as our witness and testimony of His faithfulness during this test to glorify Him (1 Corinthians 10:31). We want to be real. We want to be honest. We want to help others.

Cancer is rotten. But the lessons that we are learning and the ministry that we are having in the lives of those around us are things we would not miss. Yes the scan demonstrated that the mass is not gone. However it is stable. It hasn’t grown. For this we are very thankful. Very thankful!

Karen is feeling the best she has felt in some weeks. Some foods taste better. She tires by evening but her days are better. Her confidence in the Lord is strong and we are enjoying every day that the Lord gives us. We are leaning heavily on Him. “What times I am afraid I will trust in Thee (Psalm 56:3). Her next round of chemotherapy will be on Friday February 5th. Thank you so much for praying and walking on this journey with us.