“Things I Know For Sure” Thursday
In recent weeks, I’ve “met” more and more of you through the kind comments you’ve left on my posts. And I’ve now reached the point that most of my followers are people who don’t actually know me personally. You don’t know that I have a slight southern accent. (My in-laws may think it’s more than just “slight”!) You don’t know that I wear flip flops almost everyday from April to September. And you don’t know that everyday for the past 7 years, I’ve prayed for my dad to be healed of cancer. But God hasn’t decided to do that so far. These past 7 years have held a lot of ups and downs for my family. This week has been a very hard & painful week for my dad. Which means it’s been a hard & painful week for all of us. But one thing I know for sure is that trials will come, but God has not forgotten us. He has never left us, and I know He never will. I’m quite certain that everyone reading this has known someone close to them who has been through a trial such as cancer or some other hardship. Maybe it was you personally. This week, another member of my family is starting cancer treatment as well, and I’ve been busy praying for her, too. I’ve seen God’s grace at work in people’s lives during tragedy, such as when he brought some of our best friends’ little boy through Leukemia & a bone marrow transplant just a few years ago. And I’ve experienced His presence in my own life time after time. Trials like these will teach lessons that cannot be learned any other way. And the grace of God that we experience during these times is something that cannot be explained. We do not know what the future holds. Only God knows that. But it is the desire of my family that our lives not be defined by cancer or any other trials we may experience. But rather, we want our lives to be defined by the grace that God has demonstrated toward us during our trials. That’s something I know for sure.
luvtodecorate
April 22, 2010 @ 12:38 pm
I will be very much in prayer for your dad and your family.I love this saying."If he brought you to it, he will bring you through it". God bless you Julie.
Woodard Gang
April 22, 2010 @ 12:45 pm
My best friend just finished her cancer treatment and my sweet Bible study leader and mentor just received the news that she has cancer, so I will add your dad to my prayers as I continue to pray for the people I love so dearly…it's so hard for us to see people we love so much go through such sickness, but through my BF's struggle, it's amazing to see how God was glorified and how she just clung on to Jesus for strength, comfort and peace…such an example for me!
Jolyn
April 22, 2010 @ 3:34 pm
Wow Julie how beautiful the words you posted. Our God is a good God and through rough times we may not always understand, but we can find peace through our Lord. Prayers from me and others are being sent up for you and your family.
Blessings and Hugs,
Jolyn
Angie
April 22, 2010 @ 3:43 pm
God IS good! My family will add your father and family to our prayers.
Beth
April 22, 2010 @ 4:48 pm
Very well said! I'm glad to serve a God who will never leave me nor forsake me. Oh, and there is not a thing in the world wrong with a Southern accent! Ask me how I know this 😉
Stef
April 22, 2010 @ 9:55 pm
How beautifully written. I, too, will keep your family in my prayers.
Patti
April 23, 2010 @ 1:08 am
Julie…Congrats – you are the winner of the giveaway (the black and white lampshade) at Pandora's Box – stop over and leave me an email with your home address – patti
Melissa
April 23, 2010 @ 4:16 pm
What a beautiful and meaningful post…to let God be God even when he doesn't answer your prayers the way you would like Him to is a sign of mature Christian.
Anonymous
April 24, 2010 @ 2:17 pm
I appreciate your words so much, because they come from someone who is walking the walk, not just talking the talk. Praising God in the midst of the trial is something I struggle with, and your example is one I will take to heart. Thank you for your post. I will join with the others in praying for your family.
Diane
Jilly
May 23, 2010 @ 10:34 pm
Hi Julie, I read this page on your blog this morning and was so blessed by it thankyou for sharing. You and yours are in my prayers!
oxoxo