Last Wednesday I received a text from a dear friend of mine in Phoenix. He said that his 15 year old daughter Katie was going in for some tests to determine the reasons for some health issues she was having. I went to bed without knowing the results. I woke up the next morning and I had a text from Steve, Katie’s dad. All it said was Stage IV Cancer. I have enclosed a picture of Katie and her dad Steve at the top of this devotional.
Katie started chemo yesterday and is in for a huge battle. Steve wrote on his Facebook page
“Thank u everyone... Kk (Katie) is fine. She said she's ready for this. She wanted to do a mission trip w her best friend Ally. I told them that their wish came true. WOW and did it ever. Stay tuned in because these girls are unbelievable. They love God and they love you. This could be the best thing that ever happened to you because you are gonna know what God is all about. Your world may be rocked soon, so YOU BETTER BE READY.”
The entire Wagner family is a family of believers with a strong faith in God. So why did this happen to a family that loves the Lord? In John Chapter 9 the disciples ask Jesus who sinned that this man was born blind. What Jesus says next is some of the most comforting verses in the Bible to cling onto when things seem at their worst and when no hope seems to be found.
John 9:3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
But this cancer happened to Katie so that the work of God might be displayed in her life. Katie’s Caring Bridge site is http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/katiewagner and her Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/#!/katielovessummer . I send the Facebook site to make this personal to you also. Now I know that many of you are in the same circumstances with a loved one or it may even be you that has been given a grim diagnosis of your future. I have enclosed a song from Matthew West that I would like you to listen to at the end called “Strong Enough. Katie is never going to be strong enough to get through this but the God whom she serves and believes in IS more than able, AMEN!!!!
Enclosed are some of the lyrics to the song “Strong Enough”.
“You must think I'm strong To give me what I'm going through
Well, forgive me, Forgive me if I'm wrong. But this looks like more than I can do On my own”
Yes, many times in life we have things that are just beyond what we think we can ever get through but “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in your life.
“I know I'm not strong enough to be everything that I'm supposed to be. I give up I'm not strong enough”
The world puts high expectations on us. But we need to get to the point in our lives when we finally realize that we are not strong enough in our own power. But we are saved by One who is. We can doubt and ask questions why “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in your life.”
“Cause I'm broken Down to nothing But I'm still holding on to the one thing You are God”
Those of you fighting through the pain, nausea and doubt of chemo, cancer, a terminal illness are “Broken Down” some of you broken down to nothing. But PLEASE do not ever give up hope. Jesus is still there maybe now more clearer than ever. And if you start to doubt stop and know that
“but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in your life.”
Please pray for Katie, the entire Wagner family and all those today who are in a battle that is raging. Hope seems a far way off but God is the only One to bring hope. Please find a quiet place and listen to this song. I pray that it gives you hope knowing that in order for God to be strong in our lives we need to be weak. Can you be weak today letting God take over? Please pray for all those who are hurting today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1LZ5dzCY9M&feature=related
Brad
