Seeking His Heart
Perhaps many of you have gone to the doctor and heard the dreaded C word. If not cancer, maybe another take-your-breath-away word.
We had been watching my husband’s TSA score gradually elevate. Then came the day when the doctor said he had prostate cancer. Jim began searching the treatment options—so many directions, each with their sets of pros and cons. At last, he decided to have it surgically removed.
In my stunned state, I recalled sitting in a Bible class as a young bride long ago, when the teacher asked, “What is your greatest fear?” Immediately, I thought of the devastation I would feel to lose my husband. Those thoughts came again when I faced this possibility.
Obviously, one prays for healing, for the Lord’s will to be done, for strength to go through this valley which ever way it goes, but at some point I just didn’t know what else to pray. It is at that point that I turned to Romans.
. . . if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we need to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Romans 8:25-26
Jesus spoke often of the Holy Spirit. The disciples had the advantage of being with Jesus, God in the flesh, but after his resurrection, he told them,
“. . . Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4-5
That same Holy Spirit is at work in today’s believers, ever guiding, ever judging, ever strengthening.
In other times in my life, I have asked or offered directions in which the Lord might lead and finally realized I have no more words. In those times, I must plead for the Spirit to intercede with holy groanings for me.
In my husband’s case, the surgery was successful and there was no spread of the cancer. The cancer was small, but testing showed that it had been a fast growing kind. Thankfully, the Lord led us to take care of it in a timely manner.
We “leaned not on our own understanding, but acknowledged Him.” These verses come around again and again. That’s why I call them “life verses.”
No doubt many of you have experienced a frightening diagnosis and could share verses that have sustained you. Please do that in the comments section so others might benefit.
~ Joyce ~
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Another good one, Diana. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Thank you for this encouragement from 1 Thessalonians.
Good one, Diana. Romans 12:12 goes right along with that one.
Yes Joyce, this is a succinct blog.
When I first learned of my lung cancer this past March, a friend sent me a page full of very helpful scriptures. I recited them every day. Two of the meaningful ones are: Ps. 41:3 “The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness”. The other is Jeremiah 30:14 “For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee….saith the Lord.” And as I told your/our Sunday School class, every day for 78 days I prayed “Lord, if it be your will, please remove this cancer from my lung.” “And He did”! Ps. 103:2 “Praise the Lord oh my soul, and forget not all His benefits!”
Thank you, Anne. I know you’re a great prayer warrior.
Joyce , I’m waiting to get my husband’s results from his last PSA test > he hd progressive prostate cancer 4 yearsago. The thoughts of not having my husband is devastating-wafter almost 53 years of marriage You truly become one as a couple. Appreciated your post and appreciate prayers for the future.
Thank you, Pat, for sharing. Knowing those anxious moments, I commit to praying with you this week as you wait for the results.