John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (NIV)
Like most, the connection I have with home is the telephone. It has been a year since our daughter called with the news of our granddaughter's illness. She has a brain tumour, on which surgery was done. Because of its location, the tumour could not be totally removed. We prayed that it would not grow again, but it has.
She will undergo chemotherapy hoping to shrink the tumour. This is experimental and if it has no effect, there could be an attempt to do further surgery. I thought, "Maybe we are buying time, hoping for improvements in technology?" I have given a lot of thought to what is to be done. It is so much for an eight-year-old to go through and a lot for the family to stand by and watch, somewhat helplessly.
A miracle from God, would be my prayer, but perhaps the miracle came and we did not see it. Though it has been a strain and a worry, each day has passed, while we wait for God's plan to unfold.
This leads me to think of others who see loved ones, stricken with illness, and even death. We are not unique; it happens every day. We have to prepare ourselves for the valleys and travel through them. We are not alone, for even in the bleakest of these valleys, we have our heavenly Father to hold us in His tender loving arms. God is with us as we wait for His timing and His plan to be made known to us.
Lamentations 3:21-24 – Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." (NIV)
Prayer: Be with us, Lord Jesus, when we walk through the valley, knowing that You went before us. It is You who suffered and died for us, to forgive us our sins and to give us eternal life. Comfort us and keep us close to You in the days that lie ahead. Give us patience to wait. Strengthen our faith so that we may profess, even in our trials, that "Jesus is Lord". Amen.
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