Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Control (01/30/06)
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TITLE: Who is in Control of a Crisis? | Previous Challenge Entry
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02/04/06 -
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When my wife, Jo Ann was diagnosed recently with having a very severe brain tumor, it was almost as if I were going to lose control. But something kept me holding on when the fierceness of “rushing” thoughts, and a tremendous fear of losing my wife attempted to slam into my soul. At that point, it felt as if I were going to die from the distress that tried to weigh me down.
The good news of this scenario is that I didn’t give in to the painful emotions of my horrendous circumstance. I had to get a hold of the fact that God is in control, even in the face of what APPEARS to be certain doom for the one you love. I made my way out of the little counseling room where the doctor had given our family the dreaded prognosis. But something in me just couldn’t accept it, because after all, they had been wrong about this sort of thing before!
Anyhow, I made my way out of the room, and made a decision to grab hold of faith. I’d be lying to say it was easy. The first thing I did is I went out of the room and provided a word of encouragement to my wife’s youngest daughter, who became very emotionally distraught at the dreaded word from the doctor, “A major brain tumor!”
I went over to my wife’s daughter and wrapped my arms around her and said these words with all the compassion I could muster, “Have faith in God.” Then I went to the hospital chapel and wept before the Lord, and said, “Lord, don’t let me go through this, yet even now my soul magnifies you. Even in this will I praise You! I refuse to charge you foolishly.” Then I made a commitment to the Lord that I’d not give up. I told the Lord that I don’t believe it’s His will for my wife to die. I knew in my heart this wasn’t denial. I knew enough about God’s Word, and the promises He’d made to my wife and me to know it just isn’t her time. And you know what? Even if it were the time for Jo Ann’s departure, my soul would still magnify the Lord, because He’s the author of life, not the destroyer of it.
You may be asking, “How can you know for certain that it’s not her time.” Well for one thing, “religious” rationalization can’t help one figure out these things. My friend, it’s faith: faith in what Jesus did at Calvary. I know there is those who say miracles have passed away, or aren’t relevant today. Again, that’s religion talking, and not the truth of God’s Word. There no proof in the Bible, without twisting scripture, nor is there sufficient proof in church history to support such a notion. Well you may ask, “Why doesn’t God heal every believer?” I don’t know! I just know that faith works; even faith to see a loved one raised up off their death bed. Jo Ann is not on her deathbed, but she was as much as given a death sentence.
To date, all of Jo Ann’s symptoms have disappeared, and we have radically changed our lifestyle. Jo Ann’s and my commitment to Christ and God are stronger than it ever was, because outside of Christ and the cross of Calvary, there is nothing to turn too. My strength is not in my own ability to cope, it is God’s ability in me. He is my comfort and my strong tower. I know if we hold on to Him, He will come into the midst of any horrible crisis and take total control.
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