God never gives you more than you can handle.” This popular phrase has been shared with me countless times as I battled cancer in the past. Knowing it was intended as love and encouragement, I would stay quiet and hug my friend. Well, today I am releasing with passion the words I always wanted to say in response… IT’S NOT TRUE! Whew, that felt good! Allow me to explain. God is pure love. He does not create evil, sadness or disease. Those are all manifestations of this world. God’s desire is for us to have a relationship with Him. He wants us to submit to Him through our free-will. We need to stop thinking we can handle everything bad this world throws at us. We don’t have to be superheroes. What a relief! It’s not only OK to admit you can’t handle it all, admission of weakness is part of the process. When we remove our ego, admit weakness, drop to our knees and give it all to God, only then can we get out of God’s way so He can pour His grace and mercy all over our storms. Sorrow born from tragedy is often more than we can handle, but it is never more than God can handle. I thought I was alone in my dislike of the phrase, but the explanation in the book, The Shack stated it perfectly in a chapter where God speaking to the protagonist says, “Just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn’t mean I orchestrate the tragedies. Don’t ever assume that my using something bad in your life means I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes. That will only lead you to false notions about me. Grace doesn’t depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors.” Today Tom and I want to share with you, I have been diagnosed for a 5th time with cancer. I am not Wonder Woman and I am not strong enough, BUT MY GOD IS. This month’s prayer letter is not about me and my prognosis. Suffering knows no color, creed, age, gender or religion. Tom and I are blessed by the friendship and partnership we have with you. Recently, in conversation you shared battles you face as well; multiple bouts with heart disease, pancreatic cancer, parents with esophageal cancer, divorce, vision loss, impending knee surgery, job loss, addiction of many forms, thyroid cancer, diabetes, those who are home-bound, Crohn’s disease, arthritis, family members incarceration, torn vocal chord, and the death of a spouse or parent. We all face challenges and are working to find our way. This I know for sure, Jesus Christ is my way. Like you, I am called to help fulfill the great commission. Discipleship is not a part-time gig. As I wake each day I know His call upon my life is not complete. While I fight this horrific disease, and fight I will, the ministry we share with you will not just continue, it will thrive. I may be battle-weary, but I will not be deterred. As St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed… For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that His life may also be revealed in our mortal body.” 2 Cor 4:7-9,11, God doesn’t give us what we can handle, He helps us handle what we are given. Each of my previous battles left me with physical damage. I would cry to God, “Why must I be tumbled in these waves over and over?” He answered, “Because your enemies cannot swim.” In those dark moments where my tears were the only prayers I could muster, it is then I found His healing. It was not always a healing as defined by this world, yet I surrender continually to His will, even if it may mean more anguish in the short term. Surrendering to Him means I choose for His plan to take precedence in my life. In closing, Nelson Mandela was asked how he survived his years of imprisonment. He answered, “I wasn’t surviving, I was preparing.” Imprisoned by cancer in this mortal body, I wake each morning filled with gratitude as I prepare for the blessing of another day in service to Him. We thank you for your continued partnership as we stay the course bringing scripture to life for others, even through hardship. Remembering our Saviors words, “And He said to them, “Why do you seek me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?” |
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