Where is God on an oncology floor?
That’s a pretty intense question to start out a blog post subject line huh? One that has come to mind many times this week. Not in a shaking my fist in a where are you God kind of questioning way because I know God could handle that if I needed to that (and who knows I may get to that point and the awesome things about our God is that we can do that with Him.. we can share our full hearts and He just says I am with you, crawl up here and sit in my presence!) but I have not felt like I needed to shake my fist at God. Right now actually I instead have feel like honestly God is personally holding my hand.. my parents hands.. He is so true to what He says
fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
No the reason I am asking the question Where is God on the oncology floor is because I have to look for Him… I have to know He has us on this journey for a reason- to show us parts of Who He is and who we are in Him that I never knew. I am coming to know God is deep parts of me I did not even know were there. Where is God on the oncology floor? Holding us in His hands.. and Holding our hand!
On the oncology floor God is in the Be still and KNOWING that He is God. You don’t really have control. All you can do is BE still and watch God fight for you. Believing that He is faithful. And asking Him to make you His missionary in the midst. Life has stopped for us, but God hasn’t. Today was a very hard day watching my Dad suffer– hearing the doc talk about how long this journey will be.. thinking I so wish I could fix this, make it better, do something– reverse time.. crawl up in the bed and take the pain from my Daddy who I love more then I can express… but God says in the midst.. Be STILL and know I am God.
On the oncology floor you learn to take life moment by moment instead of watching it fly by. To appreciate the little things.
On the oncology floor I have seen God in the:
Beautiful body of Christ who shows up at just the right moment. Always. If God tells you to go minister to someone do it.. because you never know how much it means. God has sent His body to pray right when we needed a hand of prayer. To bring the practical things. To pour out Gods word on us. To carry us. I have seen God in you!
way that my Dad has preached a 1,000 sermons about the goodness of God here.. Some spoken, some not. Him and my mom are teaching me much.
God is in the fellowship you have with others who are suffering. Everyone on this floor is suffering. We share each others burdens in the little dining area. Perfect strangers loving each other through suffering. How can I pray for you is often out of my mouth. Hugging a perfect stranger and helping them catch their tears.. God is there.
Moments where God shows up. Like this morning. Every morning my dad gives His oncologist a different scripture card.. and then His awesome Dr, Dr. Graham reads it outloud. Today’s was Psalms 46 how God is our refuge and strength and how we need not fear! That was a God moment. God took our hands again and said I’ll give you strength for this day, again.
Moments of worship where friends come and we sing. There is something about singing those words that you sing in church that are so much deeper, so much truer, so much more life-changing. Songs like Revelation Song where you sing about the holiness and majesty of God that you see it come right into the room and turn the brown walls shining with His glory, the beeping of the IV’s dim.
I have God in the eyes of the people that need encouragement in the hospital.
I have seen God in the nurses, the doctors, the precious cleaning lady Pat who comes in and praises the Lord with us.
I have seen God meet me in the few quiet moments i get alone at night where my heart feels like it is breaking into 1,000 pieces- both for the pain of watching what my Dad is going through and the joy of the way it has brought me so close to the heart of my heavenly Father. How I know the heartbeat of God because He has carried me.
So where is God on the oncology floor? . Right there. Holding us. Going before us. Going behind us. Shining around us. Saying it may be hard, but you wont walk alone.
Where is God in your life? He is THERE!
Where is God in Erlanger on Oncology floor: In Mike Hands room
Beautiful sweet Jenn praying
Wow .. no words.. you are meant to write !!! :):). What a perfect example Jenn. I love you .
"Right there. Holding us. Going before us. Going behind us. Shining around us. Saying it may be hard, but you wont walk alone."
Such comfort that He is always there! Beautiful! Your pictures make me smile! Surely His presence is there.
Continuing to pray, sweet friend! Sending love and (((hugs))).
Praying for your dad, Jenn, praying. May we all follow his glorious example and shine Jesus to those in our circle of influence.
And also? That gorgeous picture of you in your header? Radiant and youthful!
Praying for you and so inspired by his and your example of faith through this terribly difficult time. May you feel God's peace in every way!!