Saturday, December 30, 2017

I Love You Lord My Strength, Finding Strength for Troubled Times



 Psalm 18:1 "I love you Lord, my strength." 

  I've spoken to a lot of patients while at the cancer center. Even though our circumstances are different, we've been attacked by the same enemy—cancer and all the terrible things that go with—it including a riot of emotions. 

  Cancer is a terrible thing. If I dwell on it, it can pull me down quickly. It's not that I'm afraid of dying, it's that the chemo, surgery, and radiation are hard things to go through, not to mention the long-term therapies.

  You or someone you love may be facing a health challenge or even a health crisis. Maybe it's not your health, maybe it's a financial crisis or just long-term financial pressure. Maybe it's a relationship problem or a loved one going through a hard time. All these things can seem just as devastating when you're going through them. What you're going through now, whatever it is, may feel like the hardest thing. What I like to remind myself is that I am, indeed, going through. There will be an end to these troubles.

We will prevail by relying on God. (2 Chronicles 13:8) You can do this. You've got Holy Spirit to help you. You can talk to God, Jesus, Holy Spirit just like you would your husband, your mama, or a dear friend. 

  Oh how I wish I were there to hold your hand, give you a hug, or make you a cup of tea. You will make it through this, whatever your this is. I'll make it through this next step—radiation. We're not alone. I am sure you've read or heard Isaiah 41:10. 

      "Fear not, for I am with you;
      Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
      I will strengthen you,
      Yes, I will help you,
      I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

  I've always focused on the first part, "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God." Recently, when I was feeling weak both physically and emotionally, I noticed the second part.  "I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."  

  When I add to that, Hebrews 13:6, "So that we may boldly say, The LORD is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.", I know God is going to take care of me.  If you put your trust in Him, He will take  care of you, too. 
   
  I need to trust God on a whole new level. What about you?

Just a bit of something to think about....
Laura



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16 comments:

  1. Your faith makes you brave and so very strong - I admire you, as I continue to pray for you. May God bless you abundantly as we enter the new year. Sending love your way.......

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  2. Praying that your 2018 will be easier and that God will bring you to good health again. Cancer free will be my prayer. My daughter is three years cancer free and God held our hands for a long while and through many radiation and hyperbaric treatments as well as several surgeries. He is faithful.

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  3. Thank you for continuing to offer hope in the midst of your trial. Happy New Year!

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  4. Laura, I was just reading John G. Lake quotes. I thought these might encourage you:

    “God always was the healer. He is the healer still, and will ever remain the Healer. Healing is for you. Jesus healed, "all that came to Him." He never turned any one away. He never said, "It is not God's will to heal you," or that it was better for the individual to remain sick, or that they were being perfected in character through the sickness. He healed them all.
    Thereby demonstrating forever God's unchangeable will concerning sickness.”

    -John G. Lake, The Collected Works of John G. Lake


    "When I saw for the first time by the Word of God that sickness was not the Will of God, everything in my nature rose up to defeat the will of the devil."

    -John G. Lake


    “Jesus did not heal the sick in order to coax them to be Christians.
    He healed because it was His nature to heal.”

    -John G. Lake


    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  5. Certainly much to ponder on.
    "Trusting God on a whole new level"
    I was just sharing with a dear friend this morning of this very thing.
    What we are going through with mom's health has certainly been a time of testing my faith and has brought me to a much deeper level of trust but also RESTING in that trust. Resting in my trust of God has made everything so much sweeter. It's easy to say we trust God, but are we really and sincerely resting in the truth we are claiming? It's been an amazing growth spurt for me and I'm praising God all the way! :-)
    Thank you for this beautiful reminder laced with perfect Scripture verses.
    Your testimony of your faith through your own situation is a glory to God.

    May this New Year find you with abundant blessings from God as you faithfully walk with Him~

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  6. Hello, my friend.
    You are sooo inspiring.
    Always looking on the bright side.
    I learn from you.
    And I continue to pray for you.
    Happy New Year!!!!

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  7. Amen, Laura...I sure do...keeping you in prayer, sweet friend

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  8. Hi Sweet Laura,
    What a wonderful post.. Just knowing God is with us, gives us the courage and strength to go forward, and He will be with us, through it all.
    Praying for you. Praying for the radiation treatments, and the emotions that go with this 'ugly cancer".
    hope you and family had a wonderful Christmas. We did.. I am doing ok, Going to the specialist on the 11th.. hugs.

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  9. Hoping you remain well and happy in the coming year. I've a feeling it is going to be a great one!

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  10. You will be such an inspiration to many my friend.

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  11. Of course I don't know why God has given you this trial, but I do know that YOU can help others through theirs. Your experience may be necessary to help someone else down the road. You are such an inspiration and I will continue to keep you in my prayers.

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  12. Thank you! I enjoyed reading this. You are such a strong lady and and an encouragement to others. I also enjoyed your last post and how you sang in Walmart. That's so sweet!

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  13. I continue to pray for you. I remember last year when my husband was in CCU in the coma. Most days I was so aware of being so incredibly weak but also of being carried through all I needed to do. I knew He was there for everything, big and small. What a wonderful, awesome God He is to care for us in such a way! I have been so blessed by the way you continue to encourage us all and instill truth into our hearts. I would love to make you a cup of tea and have a talk and pray with you. What a blessed time that would be!

    Last week was a roller coaster of emotions and realizations. The anniversary of the heart attack came and went and also the job termination. Now comes readjusting to the thought that he will not return to work when we thought he would for so long. Everything in our budget was set up as temporary just until he was back to work but he will not be going back so it is time to live in the moment.

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  14. This was a good post for me to read today. 2017 was an icky year for us in many ways. I've been in a hopeful dread position in looking to this year! Hopeful in that the changes we know we will be making will be good and
    Dread in that I'm such a big wimp when it comes to big changes! I've woken up in the middle of the night for the past few days with all this weighing on my mind. The Lord has been hearing from me more than normal...and he hears from me a lot already lol.

    I wish you a very blessed & healthy 2018, Laura!

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    1. Oh Debbie, I pray you will be able to make those changes and that God will bring miraculous healing to you. God does still work miracles. I've been reading a book by Kenneth Hagin called Bible Faith. It's been so encouraging to me and has helped me trust God for healing.
      Hugs,
      Laura

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  15. Thank you for this post.. I will pray for you.
    Last year for me was two surgeries, countless scans, several delays for treatment and finally radiation at the end of the year.

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Your blog friend,
Laura Lane
5 Year Cancer Survivor