(Hello Friends. Below are some thoughts from my sweet wife Laura. Our boys are blessed to have her as their mother.)
“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1) As I read this verse I think, “but…God is not a Santa Claus figure who rewards us for believing by simply giving us whatever we ask for.” The Bible does not support this kind of ‘name it, claim it’ philosophy. As much as I wish that me being “certain” that Luke won’t die young from cancer would be the key to healing him on earth, I don’t believe that’s true. At the same time, when I ask for God’s healing for Luke, I do pray specifically for his healing in this life. I pray this way in confidence because I do have faith that Luke’s body will be healed and whole again (i.e. he will have both legs) after his life on earth has ended and he has passed on to spend eternity with Jesus Christ in Heaven. Hebrews 11:6 helps me more fully understand what is written in Hebrews 11:1: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who come to Him, must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” The notes in my study Bible further explains that, “faith must have an object.” So I chose to place my ultimate faith in God over medical treatment or health or happiness or comfort. And after this life has ended, my reward will be spending eternity with my Father in Heaven. What I am realizing as I walk this cancer journey with Luke is how little I focus on, and live for, God’s eternal future, and how tightly I hold onto this finite, imperfect, sin-stained life on earth. It’s all I know. The Bible shows me a different perspective: “All these people (Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Moses) were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country – a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” (Hebrews 11:13-16) All these people who are mentioned in Hebrews 11 (sometimes known as the ‘Hall of Faith’) lived by faith, placing their confidence in the future God had promised them, even when they did not see these promises fulfilled in their lifetime on Earth. My hope and prayer is for God to help me “live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Lord, please help me to be thankful for every blessing You give me here on Earth, but not to cling so tightly to this life that I lose sight of the unimaginable future You’ve prepared for me and my family in Heaven for eternity.
7 Comments
Tom woodward
2/22/2016 08:51:52 pm
Wow , that really helped me put a right perspective on sone "stuff" in my life. God Bless and thanks for sharing this
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Kristen Stotera
2/23/2016 04:53:52 am
Beautiful and so challenging! Thanks for your wisdom Laura! Won't stop praying!
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Vickie
2/23/2016 06:07:27 am
Wow Laura. Thank you for ministering to us. Praying for you and your family. Love you.
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Linda Nienaber
2/23/2016 01:39:23 pm
Oh, wow, Laura, that was powerful! What you wrote has applications for any struggle of life. My continued prayer is that God will see fit to heal Luke here, but oh how sweet that we have that blessed hope of complete healing in that place where our true citizenship lies!
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jill rumohr
2/23/2016 05:34:17 pm
Thank you for your thoughts, Laura. Love you all, won't stop praying for precious Luke as well as your entire family.
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Sue anker
2/24/2016 02:21:29 pm
Praying for you Laura. Would love to take you to lunch. Thanks for your courage.
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Michelle Gilsdorf
2/27/2016 06:18:53 am
Hey there. As we get caught up in our own daily lives it is easy to forget what others are going through around us. God is truly with you and speaking to your heart. I pray for strength for you and your family. I can relate to Jay as I had a sister with cancer when I was young. The bonus for your family is you have an intimate relationship with God and he will sustain you. God uses all things for his Glory and he is using you. Thank you for sharing a piece of what you are going through with us. Please continue to let us know your needs whatever they may be.
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