For His Good Purpose

At the time of my cancer diagnosis I was feeling a bit like Job, who had seen much calamity and had felt much heartache. Job's wealth and livelihood were wiped out and all ten of his children were killed simultaneously. Lastly he had suffered in his physical body with boils. Had I not experienced the grief of a mother for her child, burying my premature infant?...experienced the heartache and loss of divorce?...suffered and survived a heart attack with cardiac-arrest? Now cancer?! I surely did express to God feelings of exasperation!! Would this cancer be yet another area God Himself would grow me for His good purpose?

Job Loses His Property and Children

Job1:13-22

NKJV

13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine

in their oldest brother’s house; 14 and a messenger came to Job and said,

“The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,

15 when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said,

“The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them;

and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands,

raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword;

and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead;

and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped.

21 And he said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there.

The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away;

Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.

***

---

"He Shall Cover You with His Feathers"

It was in the lowest of times in my life...the times of great heartache and pain...times of great disappointments and of despair... that I have sought God with all earnestness. Had I wandered from God?... had my relationship with God been too casual?...too comfortable?...did God desire a deeper relationship with me? Now through this diagnosis of cancer I came looking for God once again. As a hurting child crying out I sought after God. I sought His love and I sought His divine protection. "Seek and You Shall Find" ...Here I found His love and His comfort...and He nestled me under His Most Holy wings. Covered by the divine love of God I am safe.

---

"Jesus Answered...

'So that

The Works of God

Might be Displayed in Him'"

John 9:1-3

NKJV

Healing the Man Born Blind

As Jesus passed by, He saw a man who had been blind from birth.

2 And His disciples asked Him,

“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents,

that he would be born blind?”

3 Jesus answered, “

It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents;

but it was so that

the works of God might be displayed in him."

***

---

Lord God, Our Heavenly Father,

May we be like

Job

May we too

Fall to the ground and worship

You

Grant to us

Hearts of Faith in You

Hearts that

Cannot be broken

by the illness of

Cancer

As it is written in the Holy Scriptures

from the Prophet Isaiah

'“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways,”

says the Lord.'

May we hold fast to the

Words of Jesus

Grant to us grace daily

so that even in our

illness of cancer

"The works of God might be displayed"

Amen

***