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The telephone rang, “Hello,” I said. “Hey, it’s Dana,” a shaky voice replied on the other end of the line. I immediately knew something was wrong, “What is it?” “Oh, nothing,” she said, trying to convince me. “Tell me, Dana.” She informed me that the doctor found a growth on her thyroid. He thought that everything was fine with it. “Dana,” I begged, “You’ve got to get that thing checked. You need a second opinion.” Her husband had been in quality control at a fabric plant. His company shut down and he was out of a stable job for a year, working at different places to make ends meet. They had been praying about God’s direction for them, but with the finances and emotions, it was hard to see through the fog.
Only one month before, Dana had spoken with me about letting her insurance lapse. There wasn’t money to pay for it. She had been selling cosmetics to help with the bills. I had advised her to continue with the insurance. She is like a sister to me, my best friend since seventh grade. There isn’t much we have not weathered together. We were roommates at college, recorded a Christian album together, in each other’s weddings, you name it, we were in it together. Somehow I knew that she must seek a second opinion and fast.
I urged her to go to the best facility for diagnosis and possible treatment. The couple was moving from just north of Memphis to Cleveland, Tennessee. I recommended Vanderbilt Hospital as their reputation speaks for itself. “Mitzi,” she said, calling with the results. “I have thyroid cancer. The doctor said that it is the biggest tumor that he has ever seen of its kind.” The praying began! “Dana, your faith is so strong. It will get you through this. Daddy God will carry you through this storm. He is not finished with you,” I assured my friend.
“The Lord will guide you continually. He will satisfy your needs in dry places and make your bones strong. You’ll be like a well watered garden whose waters never fail” (Is. 58:11). God was teaching us both a lesson in what it means to be satisfied. He wanted us to take one day at a time, and to trust Him. Satisfy means to supply fully with what is desired; to free from doubt or anxiety; to convince. Another meaning of satisfy is to fill. He was continually filling us with security, peace and faith in Him. His filling is not a one time event, but a continuous flowing.
Dana went through two separate surgeries to remove the malignant growth. The first surgery removed the growth itself, and the second removed the thyroid gland. Dana had a rough day during the first surgery. The second surgery was harder to face with the expectations that she would have complications from the anesthesia, as in the first operation. Through prayer and encouragement, the second part of the trial was much easier, although she was tired and weak. God supplied or satisfied her need for peace and strength through the whole ordeal.
Later, Dana received radioactive therapy to attack any cancer cells that might have remained in her body. God was faithful as her remaining thyroid cells were repressed in order to apply radioactive therapy. This repressing made her extremely tired. After only one minimal dose of therapy, the cancer level was within normal range.
Dana was convinced or satisfied that her Savior is on the throne of her life, completely in control of everything. He was looking out for her health and needs, and the needs of her family. He satisfied her needs by filling her with peace, strength and encouragement to walk through uncertainty trusting Him.
Nearly two years later, Dana is cancer free and focusing on the Lord and His will for her family. She remains as close as a sister to me. As iron sharpens iron, she is my friend.
We are grateful to God for satisfying our needs in the dry places of life.
“When I look at the sky and see the works of your fingers-the moon and the stars that you have set in place-what are mortals that you should think of us, and mere humans that you should care for us?” (Psalms 8:3-4)
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