I am touched by childhood cancer through a friend of my daughter. I am not happy about it at all. A 13 year old with a malignant tumor on her pancreas devastates me on so many levels: being a mother, mothering my child who is worried, being a Christian who believes that God is good ALL THE TIME. That means ALL the time; even in times of suffering. I have been thinking about this for about 2 weeks, since the news first came to us and it is an hourly occurrence for me. But today, after reading a thoughtful note by another mother acquainted with this young lady, I am convinced that my thoughts for the past 2 weeks have been giving the Enemy a stronghold in my heart.....these worries about the future and suffering and sadness are not glorifying to God. They are not lovely, excellent, praiseworthy or pure. They are not from God and I very strongly have been rebuking them all day long. In fact, my whole outlook has changed and I am thankful to the Holy Spirit for guiding my thoughts away from the sinful nature in me.
Testing does produce a person's true character. What will I believe when I encounter suffering? How will I live to bring glory to God through it? I think Peter says it perfectly:
"These [trials] have come so that your faith---of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Christ Jesus is revealed." 1 Peter 1:7
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