Good morning…
I was on an elliptical machine in the hotel fitness room in Asheville, N.C. when my phone signaled her group text. Throughout the day, five of us Bible study friends had been texting support, encouraging our friend whose ten year old daughter was undergoing her six month scans for the cancer she has battled for the past five years. As always, we prayed that the scans would reveal three sweet letters: N.E.D. (No Evidence of Disease).
“Really bad news. They found 2 large bumps.” Instead of three sweet letters, these eight frightening words broke our heart. We all quickly texted back loving words. “Let this be a bump in your road, not a bolder.” “Love and big prayers are coming your way.” “Praying for you and wishing I could give you a big hug.” “We are your prayer warriors.” “Sweet friend, leave it in God’s hands.”
“Coincidentally,” Susan Anderson Yates, beloved Christian writer, had just sent me a copy of her new book Risky Faith. Right before the group text came in, I read the following words on page 14. “I had let my concern for this child grow and grow. It had become so big in my heart that the problem itself became my focus. Perspective was lost. Instead I was overwhelmed by this current issue. I finally realized I had forgotten who God was. I had forgotten how very much He loved my child and me. I had forgotten He knew my child much better than I did. I had forgotten He was working in ways I could not see. He was in this issue, totally involved, and His love was perfect. He was so much bigger than I gave Him credit for. It wasn’t that these concepts were new to me. It was more that I wasn’t living day in and day out in the assurance and knowledge of how BIG He is. I was missing out, and the result was anxiety, loss of perspective, and an anemic understanding of God’s personal love.”
In that scary moment when I stopped working out and started looking in, searching for the right words to text to my friend, I translated the wisdom I had just read into intimate words of encouragement. “I am so sorry. I know this is so frightening and so overwhelming. Remember our God is bigger than cancer, bigger than any circumstances, and the LORD shares His power freely with us. Crumble before Him, sweet friend. Let His loving strength take over for a while. Please call if you want to talk or text until your fingers are tired. We are here for you in any way you need us.”
My friend’s final text that tearful night reads: “I am asking you, my most faithful friends, to pray that the lymph nodes are just way overreacting to anything but cancer and that the MiBG scan will show that she remains N.E.D.”
Today at 11:30 am, the MiBG scans will take place. Please join me in praying for my friend’s young daughter. Pray that the lymph nodes are just “way overreacting” to anything but cancer. Pray that today’s scan reveals that she remains N.E.D. Pray that all of us remember to access God’s power, peace, and perspective when scary circumstances shock our lives.
But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do (James 1:25, NIV).
…Sue…
