Someone in my family is suffering badly from cancer. Someone in my family of in-laws is suffering badly from cancer. Someone in my circle of friends is struggling with an aggressive cancer.

I woke early and prayed for all of them.

I don’t know if I would’ve been able to deal with it. The treatments are hard. One person is at the start of a six-month journey. One has just completed the second last session, and is completely drained.

The other one has progressed a little way on the 20 weeks’ journey, at one treatment a week. Every time down on the ground, and just when he is up again, it’s time for the next appointment.

At times like these you don’t really know what to say. You’re so afraid that the verse you want to give them is simply too small to cover the hurt. It’s at times like these that we humans become aware of helpless we are. Even when we support our loved ones, we have nothing to say.

One of my friends come and sit with me at the table and as he is drinking his cold tea, he tells me about the hardship in his life. He talks about the people around him who smash his dreams one by one. He describes how he is doing everything possible to keep his head above water.

He cannot see into the future, but in human terms, he has no future. He wonders what he can do next. He is a planner and a doer and will leave no stone unturned to find a solution.

He says he would like to sit around the table with one of the role-players to discuss all the issues one by one. He knows it will help. He believes it will promote his case a lot.

But he is not getting the green light.

Then he stops speaking: “I think the Lord is telling me to leave it in His hands. I must stop struggling along on my own.”

Every street looks like a dead end, but from God’s perspective there is always a way. A way through the hardship. A way to freedom. A way towards peace. God promises this in His Word.

Maybe we should more often and again put the package in God’s hands and leave it there. 12… Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them.

They got the prize! Why? Because they waited patiently for God who will do what He does. They kept on trusting, not wrestling and struggling, but trusting that God would be there for them. Kept on trusting that He would touch them.

May you also wait patiently – even if this is not typical of you. May you keep trusting that God will keep His promises.

Scripture

Hebrews 6:9-11

Reflection

What does your patience look like?

What does your faith look like?

What do God’s promises look like?

Prayer

Lord, all glory to You. You know best. You have a heap of promises for me. Now is the time that they are coming true, Lord. Please help me keep on believing and trusting patiently. In Jesus’ Name, amen.