Blog Post 8

Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he,

I am he who will sustain you.

I have made you and I will carry you;

I will sustain you and I will rescue you. 

                                               Isaiah 46:4 NIV

Our God continues to reveal Himself as our Great Sustainer.  Countless times over these last few years He has proven Himself more than capable of bearing our burdens without showing the least bit of fatigue.  Only our omnipotent Lord has the capability to do that.  Pam and I have learned the difference it makes when we give our concerns to Him rather than trying to bear them on our own.  He is ever faithful to bear us up and give us rest.  On many days that is exactly what we need.

But that’s not all.  The writer of Hebrews penned these words: The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.  Hebrews 1:3. Thinking about that verse, I recalled these words from a recent David Jeremiah devotion: If Christ can sustain the entire universe, holding it up and holding it together, He will have no trouble caring for you.  Take comfort in that truth when life’s burdens overwhelm you.

Admittedly this season we’re in has had many overwhelming challenges, but none greater than what we are currently facing.  Earlier this week the decision was made to place Pam on Comfort Care.  Based on many prayers, sound medical guidance, and knowing what we do about PSP, I am confident that this is the best decision for Pam given the tremendous amount of debilitating pain she has been dealing with over the last several weeks.  The best we can do for her right now is to keep her as pain free as possible.  Having said that, I’m convinced there can be no more difficult decision than this.

Granted there has been a tendency to allow anxious thoughts and doubts to creep in. But the Lord continues to remind me that He is ever-present in our circumstances.  Here are just a few of the things He has brought to mind in recent days:  He is carrying us through every moment of every day, and every day He is providing an opportunity to walk by faith (see Hebrews 11:1).  Only He knows the end of this challenge, and He can be trusted with it because His plan is best.  His word promises that we have His instruction, guidance, protection and His steadfast love.  Best of all, we have His promise of eternity with Him. 

We can be confident, as Paul wrote, that our God ultimately works all things for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (see Romans 8:28).  While we may not always understand why we find ourselves in difficult situations that does not make that verse any less true.  Our God is good – all the time.

With regard to my ongoing battle with cancer, the past couple of weeks have brought some very welcome good news.  The latest CT-Scan shows that the growth of the cancer has been stopped and my oncologist stated that he could not be more pleased with where I am.  My body has tolerated the chemo treatments for the past year and the treatments will continue going forward.

No question we’re walking through a difficult season of life, but I continue to hold fast to these words from James as he informs us about the different trials we will face in this life:  "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. "James 1:12 NIV.  Reflecting on this verse, it seems obvious that the Lord intends to use the trials of this life as a means to help us become more like Jesus. He continues to be faithful to His promise to never abandon or leave us, but to walk alongside us through trials.

We can and we should thank God for His faithfulness and love in our lives.  Pam and I have been greatly blessed by our family, our church family, and so many friends who have come alongside us in this season.  We trust that you will continue to pray for us, always with gratitude for what He has done, even as you ask Him to do what only He can do in the days ahead.