A few months ago I found out that a friend of mine whom I went to seminary with and worked with has cancer- specifically non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
As I’ve read his online journal I have been floored by the magnitude of what he is going through. It makes my trials look very insignificant.
I would strongly encourage you to read some of his journal entries. Will is honest, thoughtful, and serious about exalting Christ through this trial. The link above will take you to the welcome page where the latest entry is listed. From there you can go to the journal archives, photos, a guest book, and a short summary of his story.
I am hoping that I can gain some of the maturity that he is gaining through this trial as I read and keep up with his journey (James 1:2-4).
Below is Will’s latest journal entry.
My wife was exemplary today. Today was the first anniversary of my being a pastor of Berean Community Church. That is our local church whom we love. Well, I woke up to the affliction that I have been trying to remedy through everything the doctors say do and then prayer for over a week. One of the beasts was no smaller and may cause for surgery. We had to cancel our plans for the weekend. We have been praying for God to deliver me from these by today, but they are still here. One of the events was a gathering for men in our church. Haven’t been to one yet and this one looked like it was going to fall right into the window of strength in my chemo program. I’ve been looking forward to this night of ministry for weeks. The next event we cancelled was a diner date with our dear friends and fellow churchmen, Jake and Christie Reynolds. This has been on the docket for a month. We were going to take them to a great restaurant in a neighboring town before Jake goes to Iraq in August and Christie has their baby in June so this looked like the only time until then. I viewed these both as eternally profitable evenings. How did the pastor respond? Not well. I was downcast and melancholy for the morning and much of the afternoon on my cot.
But praise be to God for my wife. She, too, was disappointed by the cancelation of these events but took them with trust in God. Not only that but she sought to serve me me with joy through the day. This has been a hard week for both of us and her renewed joy in serving me was encouraging. She ministered to my needs in the morning, which is falls under the category of “for worse” as opposed to “for better.” She had to run errands but was clearly willing to change her plans to accommodate what I thought I might need her for. When I confessed my downcast condition to her she responded with the godly and wise answer “Lets’ pray.” She served the most kind and needed rebuke to me in a way that was full of grace and respect towards me. I genuinely told her about the true state of perspective, which lacked thanksgiving and trust in the Lord. She gently responded with a kind tone, “Belinda Ottinger just sent me a quote in the mail and I believe you need to hear it.” She read,
Once we agree with God that we exist for His pleasure and His glory, we can except whatever comes into our lives as part of His sovereign will and purpose.We will not resent, resist, or reject the ‘hard things,’ but embrace them as friends, sovereignly designed by God to make us like Jesus and to bring to bring glory to Himself.” Nancy Leigh DeMossIt was like a spiritual spinal tap, she got to the center of my sin - I did not agree that I exist for God’s glory and pleasure. That is why I resented and resisted this ‘hard thing.’ Melia has been to me today a picture of how I should respond to others in love an service. By God’s grace He lead me to repentance and refreshment in Christ in part by using her.
Boys, if you can get a godly wife, at all costs obtain her.
Will