The next morning her 35 year-old husband had a seizure, collapsed, and was rushed to the hospital, where doctors found a hefty-sized tumor on his frontal lobe.
How does a person, a wife, a mother, a Christian respond to this?
Lauren Chandler said, "Whom have I in heaven but you + earth has nothing I desire besides you--though my heart + flesh may fail--You are the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
That's, to me, mind boggling. That doesn't come in a moment. It is based on something big, something strong, something deep--a foundation of rock that can and will withstand howling winds and crashing waves. When you come to hard times, going to Scripture is the best idea. But the very, very bestest idea is to go to Scripture before the hard time and during the hard time.
Four days after her husband Matt's seizure and diagnosis, Lauren blogged,
"The Sunday before the "event," I opened my Bible intending to study a specific text in John. When the pages fell open, the title page of the book of Job stared me squarely in the face. I'm not normally one to play the magic eight ball game with the Bible but I'm also not one to believe in mere coincidence. The Lord--in His sure presence--was readying my heart. He was reminding me that nothing, absolutely nothing, can happen to Matt, the kids, other loved ones, or me without first passing through His hands. Satan had to ask permission to sift Job. The prince of this world is but a pawn in the Lord's plan.
This mass, tumor, whatever it is, is but an agent to bring Him greater glory and us greater joy. "
Wimpy theology makes wimpy women, John Piper says. Lauren Chandler is not a wimpy woman. The day before Matt's brain surgery, when he could have lived or died on the table, she tweeted, "Hoping in God. He is good and does good."
An amazing example of godliness in action. It is, I almost hate to phrase it this way, a privilege to watch Christians suffer, to see them declare as the world watches, "Jesus you are my great reward...your Kingdom come your will be done."
May God grant us the grace to endure joyfully, willingly, and patiently when our turn comes.
1 comments:
Most excellent example you have placed before us, sister.
And as always, supremely written (in my non-biased opinion...;)
Yes, the Chandler's have been such a blessing to watch suffer--isn't that ironic? Yet, God has chosen them as choice instruments in the edification and building up of the church.
What a reminder that we are never 'out of the realm' of suffering. As we've both heard Chandler say, "God is never indebted to us."
The Lord gives and the Lord takes away--Blessed be the name of the Lord!
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