Many times when someone experiences a blessing in their life, we hear the words "God is Good!" Someone who was very sick is healed and we hear "God is Good". An answer to prayer that we wanted brings a response of "God is Good. " An unexpected check comes in the mail and we say "God is so Good."
I love to think of God as a parent and I the child because it is so easy for me to relate to. When my children were small I wanted nothing more than to give them everything they asked for. But there were times when the answer just could not be "yes." When they wanted to go outside and play in the rain whilst lightning lit up the sky, my answer was no.
When they wanted to run the lawn mower before they were tall enough to see over the handle, the answer was "not now."
When they wanted to run the lawn mower before they were tall enough to see over the handle, the answer was "not now."
I certainly made more than my share of mistakes along the way as a parent. But one thing I know, I love my children with all of my being. And my love for them doesn't begin to compare to the Father's love for us. "If you then, who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him." (Matt: 7:11)
Jer. 29:11 tells us "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Just as I had a small plan for my children's lives, God has an even bigger plan for my life. When I ask Him to take this cancer away and He says not now, HE IS STILL GOOD. For He Has a plan for my life. One day I will know and understand the plan, but for now I can rest in the fact that "He has begun a good work in me and will be faithful to carry it on until completion." (Phillipians 1:6)
Yes, God is good all the time. He is good through hurt, through pain, through loss, through cancer, through chemo, even through death. He chooses to heal or not heal for His own reasons. All of His decisions come from His love for us and His love and goodness remain constant. He cannot love us any more or any less than He does at this very moment. He is Good and Faithful through every single obstacle we face!
GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME AND ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD!
Roxanne, I think your post today is such an important one, especially for those of us who have heard God say "no" or "not now" when we have asked Him to take our cancers away. To look into His face through our tears and hear Him say, "Can you trust me with this?" can be the hardest thing we have to do in life -- even harder than going through the cancer itself. I know my faith has been tested, but I can truly say that yes, He IS good ALL of the time. I cannot look back and say His choices were not right for me. Left to my own wisdom, I would have chosen another way. . . but then. . . I would never have met YOU, would I?????
ReplyDeleteCora
Last Sunday, we were asked what God had done for us. I said, "Well. I had cancer, and cancer is a bad thing. But what God did was used that cancer. Every good thing in my life became better...my marriage, my faith, my relationships within the church, my children, all of it, every single good thing that I can think of. God has plans to prosper us, not harm us. Even with cancer.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment on my blog.Glad to hear people are enjoying the pictures posted there.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was first dxed with stage4 lymphoma they told me three months,I like to think that was what the doctors know scientifically. However to I know God gave the doctors the knowledge to treat my cancer.
I had to think all things work for the good.
Romans 8:29
And we know that in all good things God works for the good of those who love Him,who have been called according to his purpose.
Now three times later and just about 12 yrs and now stable not cured but as good as I can get. The statistical predictions of the who lives and dies are meaningless and miracles possible.
*Jesus looked at them and said,"With Man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.*Matthew (I think) 19:26
Somewhere along the way I decided that, it might be Gods will to over come cancer.But then also one other thing accepting (the tough part)Gods whether it means life and death.
I also think through cancer have a opportunity to share with people what our faith in God is. When you decide to fight
that's when your motivation glorify God through your fight. Its funny but but as humans we always think of our will.Mircales are for Gods will not ours. Accepting His will
was hard for me. Very hard. But I m still here and turn it over to Him.
I think to He in some cases set a few of my doctors on there ear..Cause I am proof that He is in charge not them.
I also began at certain point no matter what happened It was a win win situation.
I also to when things were the worst us to think about how Christ suffered.
I 've also thought the only thing worse then dying of cancer is often being cured from it.Treatment and all that goes with it. I use to think He assured us of eternal salvation,so suffering was the main hardship left. Never easy. God is always near us and with us no matter what.
* Not only so,but we also rejoice in our suffering. Because we know that suffering, produces:Perservance, character,,hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God had poured out his LOve into our hearts by the Holy Spirit he has given us* Romans 5:3.5
I think to that Psalm 23.
Any one if you think about it can react well to good things. Character is dealing with adversity and God works on that through our challenges. Suffering to helps build strength we don't realize that as we are going though cancer. But after whew,,,you look back and think wow * There is no way I could of done that with out Gods help.No way.*
I agree with Debby that Cancer is a really bad thing. It takes all we have to deal with it. But God really does changed things for the better. For His Good.:)
Will be back to read your story.
Powerful, you amaze me how you come up daily with such great inspiration!! You truly have a gift!!! Thank you for sharing that gift!!
ReplyDelete