To My Sister Who Has Cancer
Dear Sister,
Tonight you told me you have breast cancer and I had no words. I'm really sorry that I didn't have the right words to share with you. When we hung up (from Skype because we live across the globe) I cried. And then I shared with the Hubs what I really wanted to say to you.
Sis, Can I tell you what we talked about at Bible study tonight? I think it is quite appropriate.
Our new Bible study is studying 1 Peter. We only got through verses 1-13 but it was good Biblical discussion. You probably know that 1 Peter is a letter to Christians displaced from their country, needing encouragement in their hardships. I know this is just the beginning, sister, and this is hard. You are displaced from the country where you followed God to serve. And I want to give you this encouragement: God knows what he is doing. He sent you there and he sent you home for a reason. He's still got you. He's got you.
It the first 9 verses there was encouragement to remember our joy. How ironic that the topic of "Joy in the Lord" has been a huge theme in my own study time this entire summer. Remember, our joy is not in our circumstances but in the hope of salvation we have in Jesus Christ. That's immense joy! That's the joy that called you into the mission field! That joy is not practical. That joy does not fit in with human lives. But I know you have that joy.
Verses 10-12 continue to point out that the prophets, who were trying to hear from the Holy Spirit about the coming of Christ, didn't even know what the future would hold. They prophesied about His coming, and at some point it was revealed to them that they in particular would not see that coming of Christ, but they kept prophesying. Not because they could change anything but because their prophecies would help millions of people understand the validity of the life of Jesus. By the way, the life of Jesus is incredible and stands on it's own two feet. But with the prophecies from hundreds of years prior to his birth, it adds so much credibility. (The Bible is amazing!)
So to wrap it together--We have hope in salvation and we have no idea what is to come next. Even the angels in heaven with God don't know what is to come next, so why should humans. These circumstances are here, now, for a reason and we don't have to know what that reason is to still have joy.
Sis, I encourage you to believe these words are written for you in this present time. You have the opportunity to shine in the darkness like no other. And there are certainly going to be all eyes on you. Your journey to Africa has been long but focused and now everyone is going to ask "Why her? What does this mean?" You were NOT taken away from the mission field and I believe you now have an even bigger audience to influence! This cancer sucks. Leaving Africa sucks. It's not a happy time. I pray it doesn't suck away your joy in the Lord but only brings you closer to him. He's got you.
I love you sis and we're praying with you.
https://youtu.be/CSp-3kvKQZs
Tonight you told me you have breast cancer and I had no words. I'm really sorry that I didn't have the right words to share with you. When we hung up (from Skype because we live across the globe) I cried. And then I shared with the Hubs what I really wanted to say to you.
Sis, Can I tell you what we talked about at Bible study tonight? I think it is quite appropriate.
Our new Bible study is studying 1 Peter. We only got through verses 1-13 but it was good Biblical discussion. You probably know that 1 Peter is a letter to Christians displaced from their country, needing encouragement in their hardships. I know this is just the beginning, sister, and this is hard. You are displaced from the country where you followed God to serve. And I want to give you this encouragement: God knows what he is doing. He sent you there and he sent you home for a reason. He's still got you. He's got you.
It the first 9 verses there was encouragement to remember our joy. How ironic that the topic of "Joy in the Lord" has been a huge theme in my own study time this entire summer. Remember, our joy is not in our circumstances but in the hope of salvation we have in Jesus Christ. That's immense joy! That's the joy that called you into the mission field! That joy is not practical. That joy does not fit in with human lives. But I know you have that joy.
Verses 10-12 continue to point out that the prophets, who were trying to hear from the Holy Spirit about the coming of Christ, didn't even know what the future would hold. They prophesied about His coming, and at some point it was revealed to them that they in particular would not see that coming of Christ, but they kept prophesying. Not because they could change anything but because their prophecies would help millions of people understand the validity of the life of Jesus. By the way, the life of Jesus is incredible and stands on it's own two feet. But with the prophecies from hundreds of years prior to his birth, it adds so much credibility. (The Bible is amazing!)
So to wrap it together--We have hope in salvation and we have no idea what is to come next. Even the angels in heaven with God don't know what is to come next, so why should humans. These circumstances are here, now, for a reason and we don't have to know what that reason is to still have joy.
Sis, I encourage you to believe these words are written for you in this present time. You have the opportunity to shine in the darkness like no other. And there are certainly going to be all eyes on you. Your journey to Africa has been long but focused and now everyone is going to ask "Why her? What does this mean?" You were NOT taken away from the mission field and I believe you now have an even bigger audience to influence! This cancer sucks. Leaving Africa sucks. It's not a happy time. I pray it doesn't suck away your joy in the Lord but only brings you closer to him. He's got you.
I love you sis and we're praying with you.
https://youtu.be/CSp-3kvKQZs
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