Praying For You

This morning Alice woke me up in pain and she joined me while I spent time reading my Bible and journaling. 

As she laid next to me on the sofa I read Zephaniah 3:17 to her “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” 

A smile came over her face… “God loves me!”

“He sure does – so much!”

“As big as this house?”

“More than that!”

“As big as this world?”

“More than that!”

I then spent time praying these verses over her… how much I long for her to understand in the depths of her soul – the immeasurable love Jesus has for her.

God’s Word is full of so many beautiful promises, and descriptions of God’s faithfulness, goodness, and love. And we are reading and re-reading them over here. They sustain us. They give us hope. They remind us that God is way bigger than cancer. And that He is carrying for us through this dark season. 

I know it’s easy to ask “why?” right now. Why does cancer exist? Why does God let children get cancer? Why did Alice get cancer? And it’s ok to wrestle through those. God is big enough to handle our questions and our doubts. And I totally understand why people would say “I’m not going to believe in a God who would allow these types of horrible things to happen.” 

But to those of you wondering how I can possibly believe in a loving God in the midst of this… I believe because I have experienced His goodness. I have a peace in my heart that makes no sense apart from being a gift from the One who made me. I have seen so many miracles and answered prayers. I have felt the overwhelming relief of forgiveness. I have seen beauty rise from horrible situations. I have experienced the sacrificial love and care of others who have been changed by Jesus. Yes, this world is broken and sick and hurting. But in the midst of it… God is renewing, restoring, and healing. 

Isaiah 61:1-3 are some of my most favorite verses… verses I clung to after our miscarriage, and in other dark seasons… God’s promise – through Jesus – to redeem the brokenness of this world:

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;[a]
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;[b]
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
    and the day of vengeance of our God;
    to comfort all who mourn;
3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
    to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

I am praying fiercely for God to heal Alice – to limit the side effects of the chemo – to equip our family as we transition to a new “normal”… but I am also praying fiercely for you! I want our friends and family to know God’s goodness the way we know it. I want you to be overwhelmed by His love. 

Because He loves you. More than you know.
-marissa