Today, my wife and I are travelling to Duke University for an appointment at the Brain Tumor Center. As I shared with you in a previous post, my wife has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. The type of tumor is a stage 4 Glioblastoma Multiforme. This is an aggressive tumor. We are going today for another MRI and evaluation of the initial round of radiation and chemotherapy. Around 2 p.m. today, we will find out how effective the treatment has been. In other words we will find out what God has been doing since Ruth’s surgery last April.
What we don’t know and what we will find out in a few hours is the impact of the treatment on the tumor. In addition, to the treatment many people from places all around the world have been praying for healing for Ruth. What we do know is that God is a good and faithful God. We do know that he is loving and compassionate. We do know that God has chosen to answer the prayers of his people in a way that will bring glory to him and good for Ruth.
From the perspective of human experience, we don’t know what the next few hours will bring. From God’s perspective, revealed in his word, we know that God is committed to caring for Ruth. That is a given. Whatever news the doctor’s visit may bring, that truth is bedrock.
Hebrews 11 says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” What I hope for Ruth this God’s love and care. Of this, both she and I are certain. This brings peace. Our prayer has been for Ruth’s complete healing. God will answer with the same love and faithfulness that has always marked his covenant commitment to his people. The psalmist reminds us that our days were numbered by God before the world began. Nothing can change this blessed reality.
We tend to fret about what might or might not happen to us. But God is good to his people. God has promised that he works for the good of his people in all things. Nothing that happens in this fallen world can change this. What is God doing? On one level, the human one, we don’t know. But what we do know is that God is acting in human history to bring my wife to this point so that his name will be honored. That is a good thing. We have been challenged and comforted by the faith of three men from long ago:
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18