Miracles that seem so personal often arise from within the circle of multiple hands clasped one to another, bonds that God forges as hearts and hopes link together in faith. I experienced such a miracle this week. Our family stared the threat of cancer in the face as our daughter received an unfavorable diagnosis. Facts, fears, and unknowns spread out before us like picture books on a coffee table. All were eager to be picked up, handled, and perused, but our fingers failed to grip these things fully because our hands were otherwise held. Grasped in the palms of encouragement, we were lifted above the visible to a realm of peace. God was in charge, and the way He chose to work His victory was beautiful to behold.
If you’ve ever faced something that threatens to paralyze you with fear, you know what numbness and denial can do. Then, the freeze thaws, and you attempt to process the unknown. Finally, you settle on the reality. You stand there, situation in hand. Part of you wants to invite the world into your pain while the other wants to isolate. My mind jumped through this process rapidly, and when I reached the point of choice, a third option arose. “Treat it as sacred.” I settled into the peace of knowing God was in charge.
I asked God to gather the people around me who would pray, not talk about praying. I didn’t want to engage negativity in repetitious retelling of the doctor’s report, so I remained silent, choosing to simply focus on Him instead of the words the doctor had spoken. Circumstances dictated my sharing the news with a handful of friends. And though I didn’t advertise, I began to see how beautifully God put support around our family. A friend of my daughter’s called a day of fasting and took her to the front of the church to be anointed with oil (See James 5: 14-16 for a biblical explanation of this action.) A neighbor gathered me in a gentle hug at the threshold of my door and prayed for God to be with us. A friend who’d gone through cancer treatment offered practical support as I canceled a luncheon with her. Another, who called to share her cancer diagnosis as we were getting home from the emergency room, spoke life and faith over her situation and ours. My husband’s buddy “just happened” to stop by the office, where he and my husband agreed for a miracle as he offered a shoulder to lean on. Not knowing the specifics, our son’s friend extended compassion and an promise of prayer. Two of my very dear mentors rose for early morning intercession on the day we traveled to MD Anderson hospital. And though they were clueless to the goings on in our family, two young women “out of the blue” sent me words of encouragement via social media and texts, a third shared a faith-filled YouTube message to our group, and another friend shot a simple “if you ever need anything, I’m here for you” to my phone. Our family was surrounded with care as God nestled us in a cluster of His making.
Of all the things I experienced over the string of days that led from the local doctor’s report to our visit with cancer specialists, the most predominate feelings I had were certainty and peace. Without doubt, I knew God was working FOR us. I didn’t know outcome. I wasn’t worried about it. I just knew God was doing something for our family. As the puzzle pieces of the people in our lives began to fit around us, I could see the evidence of what I knew in my heart: we were seen of God, and we were known of Him.
While others thought they were just stopping by or just sending a message or just praying a prayer, or just sharing their hearts, I saw God fitting the pieces of our miracle together. And what a miracle it was. As the doctor wheeled around on this stool, a smile lit his face. “Well, I believe you’re going to have to get ready to break up with me,” he said. “It looks like our relationship is going to be a very short one.” Without cancer, our daughter wouldn’t be needing treatment. We and our God-woven community will be enjoying our miracle instead.
Tip/Tidbit: Whatever your trial is today, God has a support system for you. Ask God to place you in a circle of His making.
Never underestimate your small contribution to someone else's miracle. Your nothing may be the something God uses greatly.
If you’ve ever faced something that threatens to paralyze you with fear, you know what numbness and denial can do. Then, the freeze thaws, and you attempt to process the unknown. Finally, you settle on the reality. You stand there, situation in hand. Part of you wants to invite the world into your pain while the other wants to isolate. My mind jumped through this process rapidly, and when I reached the point of choice, a third option arose. “Treat it as sacred.” I settled into the peace of knowing God was in charge.
I asked God to gather the people around me who would pray, not talk about praying. I didn’t want to engage negativity in repetitious retelling of the doctor’s report, so I remained silent, choosing to simply focus on Him instead of the words the doctor had spoken. Circumstances dictated my sharing the news with a handful of friends. And though I didn’t advertise, I began to see how beautifully God put support around our family. A friend of my daughter’s called a day of fasting and took her to the front of the church to be anointed with oil (See James 5: 14-16 for a biblical explanation of this action.) A neighbor gathered me in a gentle hug at the threshold of my door and prayed for God to be with us. A friend who’d gone through cancer treatment offered practical support as I canceled a luncheon with her. Another, who called to share her cancer diagnosis as we were getting home from the emergency room, spoke life and faith over her situation and ours. My husband’s buddy “just happened” to stop by the office, where he and my husband agreed for a miracle as he offered a shoulder to lean on. Not knowing the specifics, our son’s friend extended compassion and an promise of prayer. Two of my very dear mentors rose for early morning intercession on the day we traveled to MD Anderson hospital. And though they were clueless to the goings on in our family, two young women “out of the blue” sent me words of encouragement via social media and texts, a third shared a faith-filled YouTube message to our group, and another friend shot a simple “if you ever need anything, I’m here for you” to my phone. Our family was surrounded with care as God nestled us in a cluster of His making.
Of all the things I experienced over the string of days that led from the local doctor’s report to our visit with cancer specialists, the most predominate feelings I had were certainty and peace. Without doubt, I knew God was working FOR us. I didn’t know outcome. I wasn’t worried about it. I just knew God was doing something for our family. As the puzzle pieces of the people in our lives began to fit around us, I could see the evidence of what I knew in my heart: we were seen of God, and we were known of Him.
While others thought they were just stopping by or just sending a message or just praying a prayer, or just sharing their hearts, I saw God fitting the pieces of our miracle together. And what a miracle it was. As the doctor wheeled around on this stool, a smile lit his face. “Well, I believe you’re going to have to get ready to break up with me,” he said. “It looks like our relationship is going to be a very short one.” Without cancer, our daughter wouldn’t be needing treatment. We and our God-woven community will be enjoying our miracle instead.
Tip/Tidbit: Whatever your trial is today, God has a support system for you. Ask God to place you in a circle of His making.
Never underestimate your small contribution to someone else's miracle. Your nothing may be the something God uses greatly.
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