UPDATE: This giveaway is now over. The winner was chosen using Random.org. Congratulations to Jenny Holdgrafer, who has won her choice of either Heaven is For Real or Same Kind of Different As Me.
Below is an entry written by Lee Hough: believer, fighter of cancer, and literary agent. Lee is among that select group of American literary agents to have three collaborative books simultaneously on the prestigious New York Times bestseller list. Two of which are Heaven Is for Real and Same Kind of Different As Me. He is an agent for Alive Communications.
His words touched my heart, and I wanted to share them with you.
By Lee Hough ~
My friends, you and I have had a lot to thank God for in my battle with brain cancer.
Thanks that the original brain tumor could be removed via surgery.
Thanks that surgery was successful without physical or mental collateral damage.
And someone said, “God is good!”
Thanks for getting through months of chemo and radiation last year.
And someone said, “God is faithful!”
Thanks for being able to give praise to Him on top of Pikes Peak.
And someone said, “God is loving!”
Thanks for four post-surgery MRI’s of the brain showing that I was cancer free for over 10 months.
And someone said, “God is merciful!”
Beautiful praise. Worshipful. And right.
But.
The cancer is back. Now what?
Before I find out on February 15th whether the cyber knife and chemo have killed this new cancer or not, I want to answer that question.
So, again, the cancer is back. Now what?
Whether I’m healed of cancer in this life or not – God is good.
Whether I’m healed of cancer in this life or not – God is faithful.
Whether I’m healed of cancer in this life or not – God is merciful.
Whether I’m healed of cancer in this life or not – God is loving.
That is what I believe, this is my confession. This is the true north of Paula’s and my faith.
In that moment when their lives were turned upside down, Job’s traumatized wife advised him to “Curse God and die.” Satan was betting on it.
Job, however, responded saying, “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” And kept on believing. And there have been so many others like him.
The Christ followers mentioned in Hebrews 11:36 – 37 experienced
- mockings and scourgings
- chains and imprisonment
- they were stoned, they were sawn in two
- they were put to death with the sword
They could have cursed God and died. But they didn’t. Poor Satan probably lost another bet.
For various reasons I’ve always felt closer to these nameless “others” as they are described in 11:36 than the top billing group of Moses and Samson. Not because I’ve faced anything like the persecution those Christians went through for their faith. Rather, because they received no miraculous deliverance from their horrible circumstances – and yet they still believed. That, my friends, is faith. Just as much of a “miracle” to me as any of the flashier ones listed in Hebrews 11.
Trusting in God no matter the outcome, even when it feels as if you’re being sawn in two. Jesus understood that. He was never more “human” to me than when he was in Garden of Gethsemane agony. Sweat pouring off his face in dread of what was about to come. Much like the experience of those early believers described in verses 36-37, Christ knew He was about to face chains and imprisonment, mocking, scourging, and a horrible death to pay the penalty for our sin. Once again Satan was probably laying down bets. But remember Christ’s prayer? “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” [Matt. 26:39] Trusting, no matter what.
My cancer is back. Now what? Curse God and die? Don’t bet on it, Satan. I’ve got another “Now What? for you. Trusting – no matter what. That’s what. Why?
Because whether I’m healed in this life or in the everlasting life to come, God is good. He is faithful. He is merciful and loving.
Amen?
Book Giveaway
Last week, I offered a giveaway of two copies of Plain Wisdom. That giveaway ends tomorrow, February 6, at noon. If you have not yet entered, you may do so by clicking here: When Amish Children Get Bored.
Today, I’d like to offer a special giveaway. This new giveaway will also run until tomorrow, February 6, but it will last until 11:59 p.m. (so basically midnight). More details can be found below.
The winners of both giveaways will be announced on Thursday.
If you would like to enter for a chance to win your choice of one of the above two books, simply leave a comment at the bottom of this post on my website.
If you are reading this anywhere other than my website, such as on Facebook, in an email, or on Goodreads, please hop on over to my website (https://www.cindywoodsmall.com/2013/02/05/words-of-faith/) and leave a comment at the bottom of my post to enter the giveaway.
Only comments left on this post will be entered into the giveaway.
The deadline for this contest is tomorrow, February 6, at 11:59 p.m. The winner will be chosen using Random.org and will be contacted privately, as well as announced on Thursday’s blog post.
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