Wow… what a story…
We often hear encouraging, inspiring stories of faith. People speak of what God has done in their life… how He’s been at work… some absolute amazing, jaw dropping stories.
The testimonies come from near and far… from those we know and those we don’t. They come from people in every demographic. God does not discriminate.
We hear these stories, too, from so many athletes and celebrities, thanking God routinely, publicly…
Justin Bieber…
Coco Gauff…
Dolly Parton…
Chris Pratt…
Denzel Washington…
So many speak of their faith and what God has done.
This past weekend, I was struck by something profoundly new. I was encouraged and inspired not by someone sharing what God has done. Rather, by someone sharing what God is currently doing.
A friend shared her story as to how she sees God at work in her life. It’s not because she is a cancer survivor. She has cancer now.
She calmly articulated how only two short years ago, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer in her bones and her blood. Not only is the cancer aggressive, it’s also incurable. Her life expectancy is notably shorter. She’ll stay with her current treatment plan until it’s deemed ineffective and perhaps they can find another approach.
Soon after being diagnosed, she lost all ability to walk.
With treatment, therapy and prayer, she has begun to walk again.
Not only does my friend share calmly, she shares hopefully. Peacefully. And joyfully. To call her sharing encouraging and inspiring is an obvious understatement. She isn’t sharing some past story of healing and success; healing may never come. She is sharing the inner strength she has now — amidst the disease. That is the work that God is doing. To have peace, to not be rattled, and to exercise trust in the middle of circumstances that are potentially dire and indeed hard.
After my friend shared publicly via video, she sat on a stool on platform with a mic in her hand. The keys and acoustic guitar played lightly in the background. And then she sang this…
When did I start to forget
All of the great things You did?
When did I throw away faith for the impossible?
How did I start to believe
You weren’t sufficient for me?
Why do I talk myself out of seeing miracles?
You are more than able…
Who am I to deny what the Lord can do?…
Oh, I’ve got my confidence back
I’ll put my trust in the One who still does miracles… You are more than able…
After a break in her song, just time to acknowledge God and give him thanks, my friend had one more thing to sing…
We’ve come this far by faith — Oh, yes, we have
And I just can’t turn back
‘Cause He’s not done with me yet…
There’s so much more to this story
You’re not done with me yet…
Who am I to deny what the Lord can do?…
God is more than able
What a story… that peace, hope and joy in the midst of the hard… what a miracle now.
Sweetly…
AR