Cheer up! It Could Get Worse
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Cheer up, it could get worse. So, I cheered up and sure enough it got worse!”
For the last year, my husband and I have been wading through the emotions and fears that come with finding out that he had cancer. Finally, after surgery and radiation, he received his first hopeful blood test. Sighing a huge sigh of relief at this good news was short lived. Our son, who is a missionary in New Guinea called and said that he was going for tests. He was feeling a pressure in his throat and chest area, so they were going to do a non- intrusive look at his throat. They discovered something but were unsure what it was, so they had to go back and do another surgery to get more biopsies. A month has passed now, and they finally gave him the news that he has b-cell lymphoma and will need six months of chemotherapy. Wait! This is God’s warrior! This isn’t supposed to be happening. This is our son that pioneered a work in New Guinea, has a beautiful family, gives his life in a dangerous place to fly in medical supplies and rescue a forgotten people.
As we went to prayer, all I could think about is that God is in control. God will get the glory out of this somehow, even though we don’t understand. The scriptures gave me strength. I thought about Abraham. In Romans 4:18-21 (NKJV) it says, speaking of Abraham:
“…who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.”
Ok, I know I’m not Abraham, but he was one of God’s champions and is used as an example to teach us lessons about serving God. In our world today, we are also trying to be an example of what it means to be a Christ follower. I notice that contrary to hope - he hoped, that he wasn’t weak in faith, and that he did not waver at the promise, because he was convinced that God keeps His word.
Contrary means the opposite of. So, despite the opposite of hope, he hoped anyway. Living and seeing God’s faithfulness through the years, Abraham was not weak in faith. He refused to look at the physical circumstances that made his hope impossible. Not staggering or wavering in his faith, Abraham could be strengthened in faith and give God the glory. Being fully convinced, “brought to a belief or consent, or a course of action,” (Webster online Dictionary) that God was able; Abraham received God’s promise.
In every circumstance of life, God will help us to hope when it looks impossible and be strengthened in our faith. I am convinced that He is in control; the credit and the outcome are His. I want to walk in faith as God works in this chapter in my life. I choose to hope, not waver, and give Him the glory! Cheer up, it could get worse 😊
Dr. Sandra L. Palm, NBC Faculty and Director of General Education Core Program
Published: 11/18/2019
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