His Encouragement: The Lord of peace

A cheery and warm welcome, dearest friends, to His Encouragement: Biblical Inspiration for Your Thursday. Every Thursday, a few blogging friends and I will each bring you a Bible passage and a little hope-filled discussion. We pray that these Thursday posts help you end your week strong in God’s love and purpose for you. We also welcome you to join the conversation by commenting with your thoughts. God bless!

Today’s Encouragement

“Now the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.” — 2 Thessalonians 3:16, KJV

It is hard when you cry out to the Lord and it seems as if — at least for the moment — the Lord is slow in answering your plea. It can be discouraging and confusing, especially if you are in the midst of a turbulent trial.

Earlier this week, we received the official confirmation regarding my mom’s health crisis. It is, indeed, advanced Stage IV Breast Cancer that has metastasized to bones in her spine. The doctors were grim, implying without actually saying it, that really all they can do at this late stage is to make Mom as “comfortable” as possible.

My mom just turned 57 in March. Six months ago, she was living a vibrant, active life. She loves to go hiking with my dad, and not short little things but long hikes along the various desert trails within an hour’s drive of the Phoenix metropolitan area. She is also healthy and has been living a well-balanced plant-based diet since 2010. Two years ago, she completed certification to be a wellness coach and a very prestigious plant-based cooking course.

She is a godly woman and very active in her church: director of the Pathfinders Club, juniors Sabbath School teacher, playing the flute for a small ensemble, and singing in the choir. Over the years, she has given one-on-one Bible studies and she has lead out in powerful prayer sessions. She and my dad together are the spiritual rock of our family.

There is no history of cancer of any kind in our family. Heart problems… sure. Dementia… Yeah. Cancer? Nope. Not a trace. The last three weeks since Mom’s visit to the ER has been a whirlwind. We have prayed like we have never prayed before, and we trust the Lord completely.

But there is still the heart-wrenching question: “Why, God? Why?”

Sometimes we might find ourselves asking the same question the disciples asked Jesus: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Only, in our case, it goes more like: “Lord, who sinned that s/he has developed cancer?”

And I imagine the Lord Jesus looking at us with sad eyes and saying: “No one specifically sinned. Cancer is a symptom of a world contaminated with sin. This is not how it was intended to be.”

It is not fair. Cancer is never fair. It is not fair that a friend’s precious six-year-old is battling an aggressive form of a rare cancer. It is not fair that another friend’s dad has stage III cancer. It is not fair that my husband lost a childhood friend to this horrid disease in their mid-twenties. There is hardly a person today who has not known someone or knows someone who knows someone who has been touched by it.

If you are struggling with a devastating diagnosis, of yourself or a loved one, I know what it is like to cry your heart out to the Lord and feel that He is not answering or, even worse, His answer is “No, my precious one.”

We cannot see with the eyes of God. We do not know the end from the beginning. He is more than able to heal, but perhaps there is something much greater than us going on. A bigger picture that only God can see.

And it hurts. Yes. It is tears your heart up into pieces. You may say: “Lord, I just don’t understand.” And there will be things this side of heaven we will not understand.

But know that in the midst of your storm — even if the answer to your prayers is the dreaded “no” — the Lord offers a peace. This peace does not mean it does not hurt. This peace does not mean you won’t cry and grieve. This peace means that even so, Lord Jesus, I trust in You.

Beloved, may you have this peace. The Lord be with you.

Now it is your turn! How does today’s verse encourage you? What verse or passage is blessing you today?

Be sure to also visit my fellow bloggers and read their encouragement for your Thursday as well:

• Trisha of Joy of Reading
• Nicole of The Christian Fiction Girl
• Jessica of A Baker’s Perspective
• Becca of The Becca Files

Are you a blogger? If you would like to join us every Thursday, please contact Trisha or Nicole.