The Never -ending school of God's Grace
Recently I added another surgical procedure to my medical history. Although there are some serious side effects that can happen after total knee transplant surgery they usually don't transform your life like the word cancer and all the baggage that comes with it.
After my last knee surgery I came across an article that I wrote that was published in our church's magazine, New Horizons. The magazine was dated October 2000. The breast cancer surgery occured the first time in September of 1993. These are excerpts from the article.
Cancer is never easy. The first time, no matter what the particulars of the diagnosis are, you feel like the word cancer alone will consume you
From the first scare to the reality of cancer, God has schooled me in spite of my reluctance to be his pupil. God has allowed me to latch onto three principles that have been my comfort.
There have been times when I have yearned for a return to normal life. I craved normal life because in spite of all the stress, it is free of the pit of the stomach fear that the uncertainty of cancer can give. Putting my hope in normal life was not the answer. This life holds no hope outside of the eternal hope that only Christ can give.[II Cor.4:16-18}
When my first biopsy was scheduled, I was overwhelmed by the thought of being laid out vulnerable and unconscious before a surgeon I barely knew. The reality was that I would be vulnerable before God.[Psalm 91}
Here is principle number two We are always vulnerable before God. The circumstances of surgery strip us of any pretense of being in control. As always we can entrust ourselves to God's omnipotent love and care. Nothing catches God by surprise. He did not send me courage as a last minute answer to prayer as he suddenly realized I was headed for a biopsy. No,.on the contrary " All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." {Psalm 139:16} Why should i pull away from what God has allowed to be? Couldn't he have changed my situation at any moment along the way? If He loves me and He is also sovereign then I am in this situation either to be taught something or to be used by God to teach someone else. Why should I recoil at what God has chosen to do in my life?
This is principle number three. We must rest in every situation, since God has allowed us to be in it with his glory and our good in mind. In his hands, every situation can become a good gift.
If I seem to have weathered my bouts of cancer well, do not put me on a different spiritual plane than yourself. If you start to say, 'I could never handle cancer as well as Joanie Doe has,' swallow your words. God's grace is always sufficient, but he gives grace to each of us for our own 'story,' not for someone else's. Give praise only to our Lord, who gives grace through the principles found in his Word. Take heart when other believers find grace in those principles. Rejoice with them. since grace is a treasure that belongs to all of our Father's children."
I do hope that this is my last surgery. Whether or not the future holds more trips to the hospital one thing is certain. My loving father will use all the ups and downs of life for my good and his glory.
After my last knee surgery I came across an article that I wrote that was published in our church's magazine, New Horizons. The magazine was dated October 2000. The breast cancer surgery occured the first time in September of 1993. These are excerpts from the article.
Cancer is never easy. The first time, no matter what the particulars of the diagnosis are, you feel like the word cancer alone will consume you
From the first scare to the reality of cancer, God has schooled me in spite of my reluctance to be his pupil. God has allowed me to latch onto three principles that have been my comfort.
There have been times when I have yearned for a return to normal life. I craved normal life because in spite of all the stress, it is free of the pit of the stomach fear that the uncertainty of cancer can give. Putting my hope in normal life was not the answer. This life holds no hope outside of the eternal hope that only Christ can give.[II Cor.4:16-18}
When my first biopsy was scheduled, I was overwhelmed by the thought of being laid out vulnerable and unconscious before a surgeon I barely knew. The reality was that I would be vulnerable before God.[Psalm 91}
Here is principle number two We are always vulnerable before God. The circumstances of surgery strip us of any pretense of being in control. As always we can entrust ourselves to God's omnipotent love and care. Nothing catches God by surprise. He did not send me courage as a last minute answer to prayer as he suddenly realized I was headed for a biopsy. No,.on the contrary " All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." {Psalm 139:16} Why should i pull away from what God has allowed to be? Couldn't he have changed my situation at any moment along the way? If He loves me and He is also sovereign then I am in this situation either to be taught something or to be used by God to teach someone else. Why should I recoil at what God has chosen to do in my life?
This is principle number three. We must rest in every situation, since God has allowed us to be in it with his glory and our good in mind. In his hands, every situation can become a good gift.
If I seem to have weathered my bouts of cancer well, do not put me on a different spiritual plane than yourself. If you start to say, 'I could never handle cancer as well as Joanie Doe has,' swallow your words. God's grace is always sufficient, but he gives grace to each of us for our own 'story,' not for someone else's. Give praise only to our Lord, who gives grace through the principles found in his Word. Take heart when other believers find grace in those principles. Rejoice with them. since grace is a treasure that belongs to all of our Father's children."
I do hope that this is my last surgery. Whether or not the future holds more trips to the hospital one thing is certain. My loving father will use all the ups and downs of life for my good and his glory.
Beautiful truthful words
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