It feels like we’ve dodged what could have been a grim bullet.
Still, the last few weeks have been menacing enough. Three days into January, my college son clocked out of his last day of work, excited for plans to head out the next day and start classes at the university.
Driving home, a dull pain in his back grew worse and worse and by the time he got home, he was in searing pain. He couldn’t sit, laying down was out of the question and walking was excruciating.
I grabbed my keys, made phone calls to cover my younger kids and drove him as gingerly as possible to the ER. We were sent home with pain medication and the advice to follow with our primary.
Maybe it was a terrible muscle spasm from those 3 hours of basketball the night before? Maybe his golf swing was way off or, more likely, he had a herniated disc that would need some good physical therapy.
An early Saturday morning call brought news: he had a lemon-sized tumor on his lower spine.
The weekend became all about trying, inadequately, to manage his pain and checking for symptoms that meant an immediate ER admission.
By Monday, we saw a neurosurgeon and Tuesday morning – through God’s providential working – Seth was wheeled into surgery. We learned the tumor had hemorrhaged causing the acute pain. The very welcome news was confirmation that the tumor was benign.
The worst of waiting and surgery and recovery is now behind us. Seth is young, eager to get back to college life and doing well.
As life has eased back into a familiar rhythm and I’ve turned to all that was on hold the past three weeks, I’ve breathed a near-constant thanks to God for a situation that could have been so different.
Exchanging details with a friend at church, whose children dodged their own harrowing bullet of a whole different kind, she said she’d gotten some pushback.
“What about others?” folks were saying. “What about the ones where it didn’t end so well?”
I understand those sentiments. Goodness knows I understand praying your heart out for an outcome that never comes.
But in every situation, we have to know this: God is Lord of all outcomes.
If He is God at all, He is God on the mountain and God in the valley.
He is God over plenty and God over the lean.
He is God in the fullness and God in the desert.
He is God for the rejoicing and God for the suffering.
Maybe we think our circumstances are a yardstick of God’s love? That God’s love is reflected by whether things turn out well?
But God’s love has been proved — not by giving us an outcome but by giving us the cross.
And God’s power has been proved — not by giving us a result but by giving us His resurrection.
We will never be guaranteed an always-sunny outcome just because we follow Christ. We don’t get a pass on the hard. In fact, Jesus told us the opposite.
“I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” John 16:33 {MSG}
Trusting Him we can have unshakable peace.
In the valley. In the barrenness. In the suffering.
Because God walks with us in it.
Because God cloaks us with infinite and intimate comfort.
And because God has given us an eternal hope that supersedes all earthly outcomes.
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God sees the end from the beginning! God promises us He will be with us in every situation. He, yes He collects our tears! He simply wants us to trust Him in every situation. If we could only grasp that rather than that of what others go through. He deals with us individually. The outcome for each of us exactly His plan! Oh what a Savior!!
Amen!!! We must always trust in our loving God. Have a blessed weekend.
Thank you…to you as well!
Well said 😊
Blessings to you, Susan.
And that it’s part of a plan — not random. Never a misstep. Yes. So true.
Another good one Lisa!
So many lessons and opportunities to see God, yes? xoxo to you, Terissa.
Such deep and true words. This is where worship really happens–when circumstances DON’T result in good experiences and yet we choose to praise Him regardless. John 16:33 has spoken to me so very much in the past couple of months. Do you and your family like Seeds Family Worship? Here’s a link to the song they created for John 16:33.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGAEr9xaPiM
Thank you for linking that, Allison. We’ve listened to some of Seeds Family, but I need to bump it toward the top of the list. I’m playing it now. 🙂
Thank you!
Good to hear from you, Brinly!
So true, Lisa! Thanks for using your voice to share the heart of our Savior. ❤
I love proclaiming God’s goodness and His truths.
Lisa, I think this is my favorite of everything you have written. I have shared with so many people that our faith means nothing if we can’t trust God in the valleys of life. You know that better or as well as anyone. Thank you for using your gifts to articulate God’s truths. ❤️
Patty, I love what you shared. And faith is trusting Him right IN the valley — as I see you doing — now when we’re through it and looking back.
“God is Lord of all outcomes.” Wow. This post has blessed me this morning more than I can say, Lisa. <3
Thank you, Kristine. xoxo
Thank you Lisa for the wonderful reminder of God’s presence and power over any and all situations, even those we don’t want or end the way we wish. Blessings to you and your family!
And to see His hand in all of it, right? Thank you, Jill.
I’m so glad things have worked out for Seth. I had similar thoughts to you when I went through six weeks of non-stop testing for umpteen kinds of cancer two years ago, and it turned out I didn’t have it. I thought about others…but I love the truth you’re sharing here, friend. Especially this:
“But God’s love has been proved — not by giving us an outcome but by giving us the cross.
And God’s power has been proved — not by giving us a result but by giving us His resurrection.”
Amen to this.
That’s a long wait to process all of these kinds of thoughts. I remember that, Betsy, and I’m so glad it was ruled out.
I’m so grateful everything turned out well and I love your words, Lisa. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Tammy!
So true! Thank you for your encouraging words.
Thankful that GOD’s plans are not necessarily our plans, but so much better! So thankful too that our GOD is never ever taken by surprise. HE knew exactly what was going on, and HE is in control.
Beautiful friend. Praising God for this outcome!
So, so good, Lisa! Praising the Lord with you!
Thank you, Lynn. We have so much to praise Him for.