God in the Valley (English translation of Chinese post on 1/1/2014)

At the beginning of September when I had just returned from a week-long short-term-mission trip in Poland, Sue told me that the back pain she had been experiencing may be due to lung cancer.  My world seemed to be turned upside-down overnight.  The next entire month was spent in and out of the hospital for various testing.  Brothers and sisters prayed fervently, as we did, that God would spare us of this trial.  However, we received one bad news after another; the right lung contained a 3cm-sized tumor, cancer cells have affected the lymph, spreading to the head, including the brain.  There was a month during which Sue was in so much pain that she could only sleep sitting up.  From the top of the hill, we have entered life’s deep valley.  Many people questioned God with “Why?”  And we also questioned, “Lord, what are you doing?  What do you want us to learn?”

During this time, the deacons and coworkers at Central Campus took up much of the pastoral and administrative work: the 40 days of prayer for those who are ill was echoed and participated by all CBC campuses; meal deliveries from brothers and sisters from various CBC campuses; greeting cards, videos and emails to tell us that we are not alone!  There were also brothers and sisters who told that through prayer, the Lord told that He will be using Sue’s sickness to bless many people!  We witnessed with our eyes how the Lord had stirred the church’s loving kindness and faithful prayers through Sue’s sickness.  But, what will become of Sue’s health?  The future was completely unknown…

In mid-October, Sue started taking a cancer-targeting drug and her condition started to stabilize.  We prayed and asked God for a “significant improvement” by the end of the year.  Thank God that at the beginning of December, the CT reported the words “significant improvement.” In addition, the brain MRI and blood tests revealed that the tumor in the right lung “…is not visible” (this is a miracle!).  Only God knows how much we can bear!

Actually, the most difficult battle during sickness is not from the physical pain, but the lurking shadow of death.  The doctors  reminded us repeatedly that this sickness is treatable, but not curable.  When facing death, our faith   flickers like a smoldering wick, and we appear weak and pale.  But, even a smoldering wick God does not blow out!  At every valley, we can only come to the cross, trust in God and hold onto His love; we come to God’s word  for comfort and hope !  The most amazing thing is that during the most difficult times, through the countless prayers offered by everyone,  God’s face is clearer to us  and we come to a deeper realization of the importance and blessing of living in God’s community!

Recently, God gave us the command to “Be confident in God’s love and be hopeful in God’s power.”  We hope for God’s complete healing (He is Jehovah Rophi- God who heals us!), and we also pray that through this journey, God would allow us to experience His love even greater.  Lynda Randle wrote in her song “God on the Mountain” the following:

For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley.

When things go wrong, He’ll make it right.

The God of the day, is still God in the night.

Amen, God is also God in the valley!  Dear prayer warriors, may we all receive great blessings in Christ and deeper experience his love and power in this New Year!