The Power of Faith

Painting courtesy of Ruth Palmer

“Dear Friends, do not be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.” (1 Peter 4:12) 

The news about my husband’s cancer rocked my world.  It triggered a fear of loss so deep, I couldn’t breathe. Only once before in my life have I experienced a comparable blow, the kind that makes your head throb and your legs stagger like a drunk’s, and that was at the sudden death of my mother when I was 12.  After her fatal accident, neither my life nor my family’s was ever the same, and despite professional successes and achievements over the years, I often felt aimless inside and unable to trust any happiness along the journey for fear it would be ripped away.

“We don’t know what our faith is truly made of until it is tested,” said a friend recently.  The Bible says that all trials are tests to reveal where our trust really lies– whether in God, ourselves, or doctors, medicine, education, status, career, power, money, or an endless list of other false gods.

Elisha Raising the Son of the Shunammite by Leighton Frederic

This trial drove me to God with a desperation, much like the Old Testament Shunammite woman who clung to the prophet Elisha’s feet in the deepest distress when her only son, the treasure of her heart, had died (read her story in 2 Kings 4:18-38).  God’s power, working through Elisha brought the boy back to life and restored him to his grateful mother.

“Some trust in chariots, others in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” (Psalm 20:7)

I am trusting God to heal my husband not only of this present episode of cancer, but also any future one.  In fact, we already believe it has happened.  God has given both of us the faith to believe for this.  We thank him daily in our prayers and we have healing Scriptures to encourage our hearts.  Family and friends who also are praying have been given the same faith to believe.  Together with natural therapies and medical directives that we are following, we both feel physically and spiritually strong, trusting in the kindness and compassion of our sovereign God as we move towards a surgical procedure a couple of months from now that we believe will confirm the good news.

If you’d like to comment, share about your own journey or need prayer for a trial you are currently going through, please use the comment box below.  We pray that you will experience God’s healing touch and comfort in your hour of need.

“The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves;
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.”  (Zephaniah 3:17)