So, what am I to feel about the recent medical news? For months, thousands of you, from every corner of the globe, have been praying for me and for my healing. And then, last Thursday and Friday, several hundred of you were involved in a twenty-four prayer vigil. You were praying at the very time that I was having an MRI to determine the effectiveness of my three months of chemotherapy.
When the word came, it was not good. The cancer continues to grow. The chemotherapy, with all the ravages it caused, was not effective. But what about prayer? Did God not hear — or did He choose not to respond?
I read an article yesterday in which the writer says that the Scripture promises us the same miracles that happened in Jesus’ day. Then he gives an example of praying for his wife’s healing from cancer and how God answered his prayer and his wife is cancer-free, nine years later. He also prayed for God to give them another child, after being told by doctors that his wife couldn’t conceive. But God heard and answered his prayer and they had a child.
If it were only that easy. Or maybe God has it in for me. Or maybe it is all wishful thinking. What are we to do about unanswered prayer? How are you supposed to feel when heaven is silent?
First of all, I’m not willing to state that God didn’t hear or respond to our prayers. Who knows the kind of healing that is taking place — for me and for you —mental, spiritual, and physical healing. Do we really know enough to say that God hasn’t responded to our prayers?
Go back and read the Psalms. Listen as the writers struggle with this whole issue of unanswered prayer and a God who seems distant, whose face seems to be hidden just when they need Him the most. But read on and listen as they gain confidence in the promises of God.
Lest you think I sound too pious, that I’m implying that I have resolved the problem of unanswered prayer, let me assure you differently. I struggle mightily with the issue. I am disappointed, not just for me, but for all of you who have prayed so diligently and fervently, only to face a silent heaven.
My experience over the years, along with the experience of millions of God’s children through the ages, assures me that God is a God of love who hears and responds to our prayers. God will not grant every request or take away every pain or struggle. But He will always be there to wrap us in His arms of love, to wipe away every tear, and to give us to strength to face another day.
Keep praying. Don’t give up. God hears and is responding to our prayers in ways we can’t understand. I believe this with all my life!
2 comments:
We're blessed by being able to follow your updates, even when they aren't as "good" as we've hoped. Just read your Easter posting of "Along the Journey" and wanted you to know how it's blessed us. Thank you for your transparency and honesty, allowing your feelings and even fears to show through. Most of us have those same fears of the unknown, but feel they shouldn't be there if we're "real Christians". There's no doubt in any of our minds that you're a "real Christian", as the impact of your life on so many others attests.
We're continuing to pray that you'll be free from pain without medication that impacts your lucidity and personality. We treasure both. Like you, we don't know why bad things happen to good people, but we know they do, just as we know God uses them for good. I believe your journey is caused by the fallen natural world we inhabit. I don't know why our sovereign God doesn't answer our prayers for healing, but if He always did, He wouldn't be sovereign.
Enough of my musing, your "Journey" says it so much better, and we appreciate your time and energy in writing it. Our prayer is for you and your family, that both will continue to bless so many others.
Ted & Judy
Jack- again and again you continue to be a blessing to us with your openness in the face of your illness. For you to be able to say "I believe. I don't understand- I am hurting, and I am afraid- but I still believe" is one of the most amazing statements of faith that I could imagine.
I was among the many that were part of the prayer vigil- I took the 3:45AM slot for many reasons. I took it because of the hours you sat waiting with Mom & Daddy during my scoliosis surgery. I was as grateful at the time as any 11 year old could be-- but I didn't really understand how meaningful that was to my own parents until I had a child of my own and had the added knowledge as a nurse of just what they signed to send me to surgery in the first place.
I took it because the love and concern you showed in calling us when Daddy's father died while you were on sabbatical in England. I was 22 at that point and was amazed and touched that you, even on vacation, took the time to keep up with your congregation and to call us.
I took it because you officiated my marriage... and then provided words of comfort, grace, and wisdom when that same marriage failed.
I took it because of the 72 hrs worth of people hwo prayed for me and other pilgrims on a weekend spiritual retreat.
It is the broken world we live in that results in cancers and other terrible illnesses... and God's grace is visible through those in others that make sure that we do not have to walk through those valleys alone.
You continue to have my prayers,those of Rhianna, and of many many others for pain relief and comfort. I especially pray for Anita that somewhere & somehow she will be given the strength to be able to carry on through this.
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