Does God Give Cancer? Or Suffering?

(Last June 2020, I began this post, however was unable to finish it. Before that month ended my very precious sister in Christ went to be with the Lord and I was in hospital, the cardio care unit, with a heart attack. The main part of this post was written before that event, but for many months it was not the right time to publish. God’s  ways are never our ways, as Isaiah wisely opined.)

(An illumination of Psalm 118:8, middle verse in the bible - to read the post on it look HERE!). Truly it’s better to trust in God rather than man!

This part of post below was begun June 2020.

Recently I was asked this question:

“Why did God give mum cancer?”

 

  A similar question I’ve asked my God for many years - from when saved at 12 years, till finally dealt with at 25yrs (some are slow learners! 😁).

My questioning was not because of cancer, like our dear sister in the LORD, but a life-threatening condition none the less. I've nearly died through medical mismanagement of my complex condition 6 times (now 7). The last was in 2016 (+ 26 June 2020, since this post was begun). I shared briefly then on my craft blog (here, 2016).

This is the answer the Lord gave me, and I gave to that dear one, in answer to our question..

“First of all God did not GIVE mum cancer.

As part of fall of Genesis 3 and the disobedience of Adam and Eve, sickness, sorrow, pain are now part of the curse on earth. 

We are the offspring of Adam and Eve, and hence we suffer from the results of that sinful disobedience.

God ALLOWED your darling mum to have cancer.
THAT is a very big difference!
God is love.

He does not willingly afflict us.
"For He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men."
 Lam. 3:33

In Job 1 (read here), a very godly man, had all, everything but life, including health taken from him by Satan.

Satan is our Adversary, not God!

This was allowed by God. 

Why does suffering bring good?

“Because only one short life will soon be past,

Only what is done for Christ will last.”

Until cancer, your dear mum had salvation, but she admitted that she had little treasure laid up in heaven.

Now she has, through her faithfulness in suffering, great treasure laid up in heaven.. 

1 Cor 3. 11-15 see this important passage here

Not the previous wood, hay, stubble, but now silver, gold, precious stones as Paul shared in Corinthians..

Your darling, faithful and true mum will now hear her Heavenly Father's great welcome into glory:

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant, 

enter thou into the joy of the Lord ".

And all who do not know our Lord Jesus?
... they will hear:

Matthew 25:41

Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, 

prepared for the devil and his angels: 

For I never knew you."

How much better to come while we can!?

 

Speaking personally now, I remember saying, as regained consciousness in ICU in 2016, "Well, I seem to collect these close calls, one of these days I won't make it! I guess God isn't finished with me yet." 😊

I said afterwards to the Lord that the severe pain and suffering was worth it all, as my relationship with the LORD was sooo much deeper and richer.

 
*****

A book I am currently reading prompted this addition to this post..

"Surely He hath borne our sorrows and carried our griefs." Is 53.4

As believers, we are Christ's disciples. 

So suffering, false accusations, etc. are part of the walk as followers of Christ.

A devotional I'm reading, called "Music at Midnight" by A. Donald Miller, is about lepers, who through extreme suffering  become believers, in an Indian Leprosy mission.

Lepers who are now truly alive eternally, in spite of their outwardly dying, decaying body. 

They thank God for their leprosy! 

.....

This grabbed me two days ago! 

The quote from the book begins with a Bengali saying: 

" 'Cheer up brother, 

suffering is God's gift.' 

It is a testing part of Christian discipleship to commend God's love to those who wilfully hurt us, even when we are trying to help them. 

Often they themselves are people hurt and frustrated in spirit. 

The quality of the response to the suffering they inflict can help them to perceive their own suffering as a gift of God.

 'The cross as a dogma is painless speculation; 

the cross lived as suffering is anguish and glory,' 

writes Thomas Kelly in his Testament of Devotion.  

'Yet God, out of the pattern of His own heart, has planted the Cross along the road of holy obedience.

 And He enacts in the hearts of those He loves the miracle of willingness to welcome suffering and to know it for what it is 

- the final seal of His gracious love." 

Phew! 

Yes! Hard it is, but the road to the cross was hard!

 

 We believe in a SUFFERING SAVIOUR, a suffering God - Isaiah 53 

Indeed, we are so privileged as believers to suffer as Christ did, bearing His cross. (see Gal 2:20)

With unbelieving ones, God allows it to save hearts souls for eternity, as with the lepers (if you want to know Who or What is a Christian, please read this post HERE 😊).

 I wish you could read the glory of those leper’s testimonies, but then we see it day by day around us, don’t we?

 If only we look with the eye of faith. 

 

Another aspect of suffering, is at Paul said  in 2 Cor. 12: 7

..."lest I be exalted above measure, there was given unto me a thorn in the flesh"... (see passage here). 

It's a humbling purpose.

It brings us closer to God - to realise our inadequacy and God's ALL sufficiency.

"My grace is sufficient for thee, 

My Strength is made perfect in weakness..." 1 Cor.12:9

As our Saviour learned obedience through suffering, so do we!!

 

For it became Him, for Whom are all things, 

and by Whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, 

to make the Captain of their Salvation perfect through sufferings. Heb 2:10

Though he were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; Heb 5:8

It’s ALL for His glory and His purpose. 

There is an ETERNITY in view. 

We count the cost now, for the glory that is to come.

The world often frets that time is passing swiftly, that its desires are not accomplished.

I'm so grateful I have a Loving Heavenly Father, Who is All-Wise and only ALLOWS what is best  for me. 

It was best for our dear sister to have cancer, best for me to have a heart attack, etc., our omniscient God sees what we cannot!

No ease is promised ..(video here if not showing).

GOD HATH NOT PROMISED

God hath not promised skies always blue, Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through; God hath not promised sun without rain, Joy without sorrow, peace without pain. But God hath promised strength for the day, Rest for the labor, light for the way, Grace for the trials, help from above,   Unfailing sympathy, undying love. God hath not promised we shall not know Toil and temptation, trouble and woe; He hath not told us we shall not bear Many a burden, many a care. God hath not promised smooth roads and wide, Swift, easy travel, needing no guide; Never a mountain, rocky and steep, Never a river, turbid and deep. But God hath promised strength for the day, Rest for the labor, light for the way, Grace for the trials, help from above,   Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

	All this God does promise us *an eternal home, by faith in Jesus *with a new glorious body, and *He will never leave or forsake us.

Grace for the day,

Strength for the way!

Thanks to all who pop across to read this blog and Thank YOU, too if you’re able to leave some love and encouragement.

Prayer hugs,🙏🤗

Shaz in Oz. X

PS If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager of this blog ...  link HERE.  Thank YOU to those who have done so already. It really encourages me to keep on. 😊

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He said, “Except I Shall See... I will NOT Believe. “

  Hi dear friends... well, it the happiest day of the year today! 

Today is Sunday, or in reality the Lord’s Resurrection Day... as it was on this day almost 2,000 years ago the Lord Jesus Christ was miraculously raised from the dead, a giant stone rolled away and He was seen in the next 40 days by many hundreds of people. There was among these folk, one of the very disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, who would not believe He was risen, as He said! 

Are we like that, I wonder!?

Let’s take a look at this passage.. from John 20: 1 - 21 , 24, 25

The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 

 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 

So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 

Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 

Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. 

Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 

And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.  But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, 

Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

Thomas, today, is of course known as “Doubting Thomas”, and as we read these verses, it is not without good reason.

No doubt at that time, Thomas watched on in great horror at the slaying in the most brutal fashion of his Lord and Master. He was thus weak in faith and unbelieving. There is a verse Paul wrote, which often comes to mind when I look upon the sins of others..

It’s often paraphrased “There but for the grace of God, go I ..” or more properly, “..by the grace of God, I am what I am”  1 Cor 15:10

 We are but frail, human flesh, God sees this frailty, and God does not judge us in the same fashion which we judge others. 

“.. for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but God looketh upon the heart” 1 Sam 16:8

But Thomas came to see and thus believe. 

I think Thomas here is a living example to us all; for in some ways, all of us walk in doubt, despair and unbelief in different parts of our lives. Our loving Father God, He sees and understands.. and forgives us, WHEN we come to Him for forgiveness, as Thomas did. 

Notice though below ... he was left in unbelief for EIGHT DAYS! Oh, may we not be thus in unbelief, unnecessarily. I wonder how Thomas felt in those 8 troubled, heart breaking days? .. what loss for us likewise when we wander in varying degrees of doubt, fear,  anger and unbelief.

“And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 

Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” John 20:26 - 29

Are we able to say like Thomas: MY LORD, and MY GOD?!

I pray so - “LET US BE NOT FAITHLESS, BUT BELIEVING”.

Especially today, as we celebrate OUR risen Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

“For He is not here, He is risen AS HE SAID”!

Praising Him, the Lord of Glory, Jesus Christ!
On this day when we remember the greatest gift of all, when the Lord Jesus laid down His life on the cross, shed His blood for our sin, and on the third day rose AGAIN!

... that we might by faith in Him, have life for an eternity in heaven. 

Hallelujah! What a Saviour! (link here if not showing)

How rich are we in Him! IF we know Him as our own Saviour! And one glorious day, HE IS COMING AGAIN.

To learn more, please click on this post here.

Every blessing of the LORD, dear friends upon you and your dear ones on such a special day, Resurrection Day.

Shaz in Oz.x

PS If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager of this blog ...  link HERE.  Thank YOU to those who have done so already. It really encourages me to keep on. 😊

If you'd like these posts in your inbox, you can add your email to email link option on side bar. If you're on a mobile device on which there is no sidebar, then scroll down and select "View Web Version" at very bottom of post. This will bring up sidebar and "follow by email" link. 

Thank YOU! 

LOVE ~ Sent Jesus to the Cross!.

Greetings dear folks on this Good Friday.. we remember the ONE Who gave the greatest gift of all!

It amazes me the changeability of human nature, with the days leading up to trial and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. On the first day of that week (we now call it Palm Sunday) they are crying to Jesus a Kingly welcome:

..... and then all but a five days later, that same crowd are crying when Pilate, in an attempt to let Jesus go, asked : 
"What should we do with Jesus? and they cried "Crucify Him!" 

 
Yet we too are changeable - often we may blow with the wind, or go with flow, as it is easer than swimming against the tide of public opinion. 
Instead - let us be Praising Him, the Lord of Glory, our Saviour Jesus.

However on that Friday all those years ago, God had a greater end in view though! God sees what we cannot, and He saw that man needed a way of salvation from their sin. 
When we are bowed down with care and trouble there is ONE Who cares and wants to bear it for us... that is why the Father sent His Son, the LORD Jesus!

It was LOVE - LOVE that sent Jesus to the cross
LOVE that held Him there till redemption was finished, ..” He said, “It is finished!” John 19:30 
And..

"And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit: and having said thus, He gave up the ghost." Luke 23:46

Notice that .. He gave up His life ... it was not taken from Him. 

Jesus, God in the flesh, came down to earth to live among men. 

As Hebrews say : " He was tested in all points as we are, yet without sin." 

He was sinless perfect BUT He knows our struggles.. our cares, sorrows. 

Surely he hath born our sorrows and our grief"

LOOK! This chapter in Isaiah 53 written so many, many centuries before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah  drew the picture of the very death Jesus would suffer for our sin, on the tree .. read and be amazed at the detail, and be oh, so very grateful too - see here.

Satan thought He had won a victory on the cross. He thought  wrongly though - for it was God's way of Salvation and Satan's defeat.
It was on the cruel cross that the first prophecy about Satan's defeat was fulfilled, one of many. See Genesis 3:15  

As this verse above says - GREATER is He that is in YOU -  by faith if we have trusted in the LORD Jesus as Saviour we receive the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts and lives.. 
God's spirit is great than any power, with which Satan might to seek to deceive us.

This is the verse that led to my salvation many years ago.
Read about it here and it summarises what Good Friday means, and really WHY GOOD FRIDAY IS GOOD - for it was when the LORD gave up His life for us, and so bought our salvation. Satan’s hold on death was defeated! His blood is the cleansing power for sin.. but salvation is gift.
It is NEVER ours unless it is taken..

Praising Him, the Lord of Glory, Jesus!
On this day when we remember the greatest gift of all, when the Lord Jesus laid down His life on the cross, shed His blood for our sin, that we might by faith in Him have life for an eternity in heaven. 

Hallelujah!
How rich are we in Him! if we know Him as out our own Saviour!

To learn more, do please click on this post here.

Every blessing of the LORD, dear friends upon you and your dear ones on such a special day.

Shaz in Oz.x

PS If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager of this blog ...  link HERE.  Thank YOU to those who have done so already. It really encourages me to keep on. 😊

If you'd like these posts in your inbox, you can add your email to email link option on side bar. If you're on a mobile device on which there is no sidebar, then scroll down and select "View Web Version" at very bottom of post. This will bring up sidebar and "follow by email" link. 

Thank YOU!