Today a community of writers will take the prompt that Kate Motaung has given and write for five minutes (or sometimes a little longer). I enjoy linking up with Five Minute Friday and seeing where the word takes us. Today’s prompt is: SURRENDER
Every morning my husband and I read a daily devotion from God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life by Tim Keller. The verse for this morning comes from Proverbs 3:11-12
My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
My thoughts go back to the time that our son was battling leukemia. It has been almost 30 years ago. Steven’s illness was not a punishment—it was suffering that God allowed. God loved us during that difficult time; we experienced it through scripture and the community of friends that stood by us.
My husband and I fought for the life of our son with every means possible. We did research. We eventually accompanied Steven to the Cancer Research Center in Seattle where he had a bone marrow transplant. We provided his care at home.
Throughout this time we were praying. I talked with God during the long nights. I wept and cried out to him in the shower (so Steven would not see my anguish). As the cancer progressed and eventually took Steven’s life I surrendered to God in prayer.
Now, when I look back I can see how that time period refined my faith. I was talking to God, speaking to him about my pain. I saw the way Steven trusted God as we spent time in God’s word. God guided our family through a period of suffering. Steven’s sisters have grown in their faith and are now ministering to their own families.
If you are in a period of suffering the best thing you can do is pray. Lay your pain and suffering before the Lord and trust that He will carry you through, building your faith.
Your testimony sounds so very much like my mother-in-love’s. She too, lost a son to leukemia. And like you, through it all she found her faith strengthened and has been an inspiration to me and many others. You surrendered the unimaginable and I’m so sorry. Thank you for sharing in such a personal way. Your post has touched me. Joining you today at #fmf, Cindy
God is faithful. Praise is his name. Thank-you for visiting, Cindy!
That sounds like the most difficult surrender, but I love your testimony of being able to look back and see God’s faithfulness and how he was at work in your family even in the midst of such a painful time. Thanks for sharing part of your story here!
Thank-you for your comment, Lesley. I really benefited from keeping a journal. Sometimes we don’t realize that God is present and helping when we are in the middle of suffering. But as I read through my journal could see God’s hand.