By Miriam Rossow
We walk by faith and not by sight. That is a phrase from 2 Corinthians 5:7 that as a follower of Jesus I have thought often, sang often, heard in Bible and Sunday School classes. It is an idea that I know and believe.
Recently my father was diagnosed with cancer. About a year ago, he had surgery for the same kind of cancer in his jaw bone. In the surgery they took out extra jaw bone and lymph nodes. And all of it was clear. They did radiation to help prevent any stray cell from forming again. We thought we were in the clear.
Dad was starting to be able to enjoy his life again. He was starting to feel human again. And then he found a lump on his neck. And we started all over again with the cancer.
He was starting to feel human again. And then he found a lump on his neck.
The prognosis was not great from the get go since the cancer was in his neck very near the carotid artery. We had ups and downs as we listened to doctors tell us our options. Surgery was out, then in, and then out again. Radiation is a possibility and then not. Chemotherapy is the plan and it seems to be working and then no it isn’t working. Infections and open wounds, bleeding, blood clots, and blood thinner have also been part of our roller coaster.
All the while we have been on this roller coaster my parents have been very sure of God’s love and promise and hand in everything. And even in this sure hope, we have wonders and regrets with how things were done or not done.
As we ride this roller coaster we are walking by faith and not by sight in a way that I have never done before. There are so many questions as to why my dad should be required to walk this path. It is so hard to see God’s plan in having this man walk this path.
As we ride this roller coaster we are walking by faith and not by sight in a way that I have never done before.
He is one of the kindest men I know. He has served his Lord for his entire career, through trials and going over seas. He has an open and giving heart and is always willing to share what he has been given. So why him?
This is a question I can not answer. All I can do is trust and know that God loves my dad and me even more than I can imagine. Jesus has felt the loss of death and the pain of sickness as He walked on this earth. He has placed people in my life who have walked this path and are able to support me and give me and my family comfort.
In these times of uncertainty and times when things are so unclear and unknown I can only walk by faith and know that the God of my past is the God of my future. Jesus walks next to me and reminds me that the promises that He will never leave nor forsake me are true still.
In these times of uncertainty and times when things are so unclear and unknown I can only walk by faith and know that the God of my past is the God of my future.
In these times when so much is unknown and there is so much news that is unwelcome I walk by faith and not by sight. I walk knowing that no matter what news we receive next, Jesus walks next to us even when I am unsure and can’t quite find Him in the news.
