Times like these...

A very dear friend of mine was given some terrible news yesterday. Although as of right now there is now actual prognosis, she was told that she had what appeared to be breast cancer. This absolutely breaks me.

My mother died 9 years ago from cancer. And it always seems to be the people who don't smoke, don't drink, live "normal" healthy lives that get stuff like this. This friend (who will remain nameless until I get her permission to post it) is a wonderful, caring, compassionate, and loving human being. She is also a great example of someone who worships God through her life, not just on Sunday morning.

Times like these make you question things, make you have doubts, make you re-examine who you are and what you believe. They also make you notice that you take your own health for granted. Times like these make you wonder how a "compassionate and loving" God could allow such things to happen.

The only thing I can come up with is that God does not bring such pain and suffering on His people. Satan does. But God still binds Satan, so in some way, God has control over what Satan dishes out to us. Why would God allow it?

These are only limited to my own experience, but this is what I think I know:
1) God allows such things to happen in order to wake us up and draw closer to Him.
2) God allows such things in order to show others the testimony of your life.
3) God allows such things to happen because although our bodies are temporary, or spirits are eternal.
4) God allows such things because often when our bodies are broken, our spirits become stronger.

I'm no theologian, but these have been seen in my family. I am the disciple I am today because of the struggles and eventual death of my mother. The fact that she hung on to hope, to the promises of God up to the very end ignited a flame in me.

I'm positive that my friend will overcome this hardship with the blessings of God and the gift of healing, but it's times like these that make you ask the tough questions.

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