Lessons from the Scary Place3

I’ve recently shared two of the life lessons God has been teaching me the last months as I faced several medical issues; here is the third.

When I was told I may have thyroid cancer spread to the lungs, I was at first frightened and numb, totally helpless to do anything about it. It was clear that this is one problem I wouldn’t be able to solve on my own. My desperate need for God’s touch, prayer from family and friends, and of medical understanding took over my emotions. It was possible that I might be facing the end of my life. However, in a matter of hours people started praying. My former churches spread the word to pray. My family, friends, friends of friends, and coworkers got on their knees. I learned later that hundreds of people were praying for me . . . and I was no longer afraid. God’s peace rained on me like cool refreshing water. During the entire 3 weeks that I underwent tests, poking, blood draws, x-rays and needle biopsies, and as I awaited the results, I felt pure joy, not an ounce of fear (well, that’s not exactly true…I had fear of pain during the lung biopsy). It was evident to me as I went about my daily routine like nothing was wrong, that I was experiencing Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” I am confident that your prayers of faith on my behalf kept the fear at bay. I was in a bubble of peace while others agonized in prayer for my healing. God was answering your intercessory prayers on my behalf.

During those weeks of waiting, God reminded me of the dozens of serious problems in which he had intervened and overcome in the course of my life; the protection He gave and still gives; the healing and hope He has wrought in my soul; and most of all, the promise of eternal life through His Son. In my heart, it boiled down to this: If He were to take me “home,” would that be such a bad thing? When it comes right down to it, isn’t that our ultimate goal—eternity with our God and Savior?

While you were interceding for me, I was meditating on God’s promises; His promise to provide peace as we trust in Him. He promise that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. He vows that if we trust Him, He will give us the desires of our hearts. There are hundreds of passages we can claim as God’s promises. Not in a flippant, name it and claim it sort of way, but as a result of spending time with God everyday, praying His Word back to Him, adjusting our thinking to His, getting to know Him, interceding on behalf of others, and believing that every Word of scripture pertains to us personally.

Just before I entered the potential medical malaise, I was reading a book by Donna Partow in which she writes, “While sometimes God does say No, the clear teaching and example of scripture is that He much prefers to say Yes. Yet too often, we give up praying before we get to Yes!….God did not create prayer as an exercise in futility. He created prayer as a tool to bring heaven’s power to bear upon the affairs of the earth.”

My third lesson in the Scary Place? Never underestimate the power of prayer. One Christian praying has more power to move the hand of God, than a million unbelievers doing the same. The faith-filled prayers of Christ-followers reach His “ears” in a powerful way. Whether one lone voice or a stadium full; whether one alone in her home, or in a group of 3 or 4, heartfelt and faithful prayer was powerful enough to grab the attention of the Creator of the universe for the healing of one insignificant grandmother (me). Amazing. Although I think most of your prayers were said for my healing, God took your heart’s cries and created in me unbelievable peace and joy as a result. When we pray, our part is to have faith…believe in God’s promises. His part is to be true to His Word in response to that faith and those prayers. He will be…and He was! Four days have passed since having had my thyroid and parathyroid partially removed. The diagnosis? No cancer! (Now the question is this: Did He heal the cancer because you prayed, or were your prayers the instrument He used to bring us peace even though I did not have cancer?). There is no such thing as a futile prayer. Whatever God’s purposes in this ordeal, He is getting the glory because your prayers were powerful and effective! My heart is in awe of Him and grateful to you. I will never again believe that my lone prayer doesn’t matter. Because I know from experience it does!

Read
Psalm 32:1-5
Matthew 10:29
Matthew 17:20-21
Acts 4:32-35
James 5:15-18
Reflect
*Are you weary of praying for the same thing over and over?
*Do you believe God wants to say Yes?
*Find a passage of scripture on prayer, memorize it, and claim is a promise from God
*Who can you begin praying for on a regular basis?
*How can you draw nearer to God daily in order to strengthen your faith?

Respond
Our great and glorious God, how powerful you are. In our weakness you give us your strength. I am so blessed by friends who love me enough to bow the knee on my behalf. Never let me be unaware or uncompassionate when my awareness and compassion might cause me to pray on behalf of one of your children. Your love is beyond what I can fathom; for that I am so in awe of you.

June 20, 2010