Being Equipped Through Trials
Acceptance of your circumstances is an important thing to wrap your mind and heart around. Believing that God has a purpose for all things has really helped us get through this time. It's not fun or easy, but we put one foot in front of the other trusting that God has our best interests in mind. It was so great to finish this leg of our journey. . .
March 1, 2011
Here we are again at the final week of a treatment cycle. Hallelujah! With the last round of chemo, Dennis woke up Thursday morning feeling good. This continued into Friday morning. But by Friday evening he was feeling bad; worse than he had felt yet. It stayed with him well into Sunday and even Monday. We are praying that he will not have a worse time this round. Although we are not looking forward to tomorrow and the rest of this week, we can’t help but be relieved knowing it’s the last one for now.
February 18th marked six months since we found out Dennis had cancer. I spent some time reflecting on all we’d done in that time. Dennis has met with or seen at least ten different doctors, had about eight different scans or procedures, had a trip to the ER, has been on disability since mid-October, completed six weeks of chemotherapy/radiation and is now finishing up another six weeks of chemotherapy. And with all of that we’ve logged over 1,000 miles on our van. Dennis has experienced a variety of symptoms and side effects; some merely uncomfortable, some quite painful. We’ve struggled with fatigue, feeling overwhelmed, fear, discouragement and anxiety. But at every turn along the way, the Lord has met us where we were. He has provided for our financial needs above and beyond what we could have asked. He has supplied us with encouragement through His Word, music, books we’ve been reading, by those who have served our family and by the thoughts, notes and prayers shared with us by you who have followed us on this journey. God indeed is good.
As I was cleaning up the desktop on one of our computers the other day, I found some notes I had typed up when studying 1 Peter. Chapter one of course is all about trials. There were several verse on why we experience trials: so our faith may be proved genuine (1 Peter 1:7); to help us obey God (Psalm 119:67); to produce fruit in our lives (John 15:2); to help others see the hope we have in Christ (2 Corinthians 4:8-10); to keep us humble (2 Corinthians 12:7) and to have a close relationship with Christ (Philippians 1:29 & 3:10). I have to admit that many of these things are indeed being worked out in us; thankfully!
My notes went on talk about how sometimes we know that trials are for specific purposes and other times we simply do not understand. Trials come in all shapes and sizes. Some we will be able to overcome quickly and others will be a struggle. But all trials we face have one thing in common; they are an indication of God’s loving plan to shape our character and conform us into the image of Christ. They are part of the course He has set for us. While human nature looks at trouble and sees all hope drain away, God’s Word tells us that trials are building blocks that will lead to hope.
I’ve been reading “The Mystery of God’s Will” by Charles Swindoll.. I recently read something that went along with this idea of shaping and conforming us. Swindoll wrote that we shouldn’t see our trials as a sign that God is through with us, but rather that “He is equipping (us).” He shared a quote from A.W. Tozer: “It’s doubtful God can use anyone greatly till he’s hurt him deeply.” He ended the chapter by stating that “wherever you are in this journey called life, . . . God may be preparing you for a great surprise in order to find you faithful. Rather than running from Him, let me suggest the opposite: Run toward Him. . . Look heavenward and realize this arrangement is sovereignty put together for your good and for His glory. It’s a wonderful thing when we learn how to turn His surprises into opportunities to surrender whatever we’ve been clinging to these many years.”
The more I learn about God’s will, the less I understand it! But I am learning to trust Him more and to surrender things. I can see how God has equipped me for “such a time as this”. And I believe that this experience will be used to equip me for something to come in the future.
If you would please join us in prayer this week for Dennis for:
-a timely schedule tomorrow
-more mild side effects; specifically a calm stomach
-for strength and energy
-for restful sleep
-for safety in traveling on Wednesday and Friday
Thank you again for your continued prayers. We see the power of them being worked out in Dennis response to treatment so far. We are grateful for each of you
Resting in God’s plan,
Carolyn
March 1, 2011
Here we are again at the final week of a treatment cycle. Hallelujah! With the last round of chemo, Dennis woke up Thursday morning feeling good. This continued into Friday morning. But by Friday evening he was feeling bad; worse than he had felt yet. It stayed with him well into Sunday and even Monday. We are praying that he will not have a worse time this round. Although we are not looking forward to tomorrow and the rest of this week, we can’t help but be relieved knowing it’s the last one for now.
February 18th marked six months since we found out Dennis had cancer. I spent some time reflecting on all we’d done in that time. Dennis has met with or seen at least ten different doctors, had about eight different scans or procedures, had a trip to the ER, has been on disability since mid-October, completed six weeks of chemotherapy/radiation and is now finishing up another six weeks of chemotherapy. And with all of that we’ve logged over 1,000 miles on our van. Dennis has experienced a variety of symptoms and side effects; some merely uncomfortable, some quite painful. We’ve struggled with fatigue, feeling overwhelmed, fear, discouragement and anxiety. But at every turn along the way, the Lord has met us where we were. He has provided for our financial needs above and beyond what we could have asked. He has supplied us with encouragement through His Word, music, books we’ve been reading, by those who have served our family and by the thoughts, notes and prayers shared with us by you who have followed us on this journey. God indeed is good.
As I was cleaning up the desktop on one of our computers the other day, I found some notes I had typed up when studying 1 Peter. Chapter one of course is all about trials. There were several verse on why we experience trials: so our faith may be proved genuine (1 Peter 1:7); to help us obey God (Psalm 119:67); to produce fruit in our lives (John 15:2); to help others see the hope we have in Christ (2 Corinthians 4:8-10); to keep us humble (2 Corinthians 12:7) and to have a close relationship with Christ (Philippians 1:29 & 3:10). I have to admit that many of these things are indeed being worked out in us; thankfully!
My notes went on talk about how sometimes we know that trials are for specific purposes and other times we simply do not understand. Trials come in all shapes and sizes. Some we will be able to overcome quickly and others will be a struggle. But all trials we face have one thing in common; they are an indication of God’s loving plan to shape our character and conform us into the image of Christ. They are part of the course He has set for us. While human nature looks at trouble and sees all hope drain away, God’s Word tells us that trials are building blocks that will lead to hope.
I’ve been reading “The Mystery of God’s Will” by Charles Swindoll.. I recently read something that went along with this idea of shaping and conforming us. Swindoll wrote that we shouldn’t see our trials as a sign that God is through with us, but rather that “He is equipping (us).” He shared a quote from A.W. Tozer: “It’s doubtful God can use anyone greatly till he’s hurt him deeply.” He ended the chapter by stating that “wherever you are in this journey called life, . . . God may be preparing you for a great surprise in order to find you faithful. Rather than running from Him, let me suggest the opposite: Run toward Him. . . Look heavenward and realize this arrangement is sovereignty put together for your good and for His glory. It’s a wonderful thing when we learn how to turn His surprises into opportunities to surrender whatever we’ve been clinging to these many years.”
The more I learn about God’s will, the less I understand it! But I am learning to trust Him more and to surrender things. I can see how God has equipped me for “such a time as this”. And I believe that this experience will be used to equip me for something to come in the future.
If you would please join us in prayer this week for Dennis for:
-a timely schedule tomorrow
-more mild side effects; specifically a calm stomach
-for strength and energy
-for restful sleep
-for safety in traveling on Wednesday and Friday
Thank you again for your continued prayers. We see the power of them being worked out in Dennis response to treatment so far. We are grateful for each of you
Resting in God’s plan,
Carolyn
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