on cancer and other afflictions

I had the delight of chatting with my friend, Yu, recently on Facebook's instant message.  Yu has worked with our team since the early years and she has been a faithful servant of the Lord.  I asked her how our other Thai sister, Tang, is doing.  Tang was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in late November.  She did some radiation treatments in December and two weeks ago she was to start her third round of chemo treatments.  Those treatments were never started.  They have said she is too weak to go through with another round and are giving her natural medications to help ease the pain.  We also found out recently that she has bone marrow cancer.  To say that all of this was a shock is a huge understatement.  Tang isn't even 30 years old and she and her husband, Pramot, just had their first baby in early November, her name is Peace.  It's hard when people you love are on the other side of the world, hurting.  It's hard whether I am in Thailand and our American family is hurting or whether I am here and our Thai family is hurting.  It's times like this that you wish you lived A LOT closer!  So, in answer to my question, Yu said that Tang is getting weaker and weaker.  Of course tears rolled down my cheeks thinking about this sister and the pain, both physical and emotional, that she is walking through right now.

I am sure some might think what I am about to say is crazy, but I look at this scene of hardship, affliction and grief and see a child deeply loved by her Savior.  In a day when the Joel Osteens and Joyce Myers of this world are shouting "have more faith and you will be healed!" it's refreshing to be reminded of what the Scriptures teach, that Jesus never promised a rose garden, in fact, quit the opposite.  In our Americanized, Western worldview we have been taught that a pain free life is the one worth living, that's when you're truly blessed.  But, if we compare that to Scripture, it doesn't hold much water.  Over and over again in the Psalms the Psalmist cries out, "why do the wicked prosper?"  Why are they wealthy and healthy while the righteous are poor and needy?  And, if you read those Psalms, you will also notice that each time the Psalmist asks this question, he always comes around to the fact through the Spirit's leading that they will not prosper forever, that God's righteous judgment and wrath will come upon the wicked.  Be sure of it.  So, I see this trial that Tang and Pramot are walking through as a testament to their love and devotion to Christ and more importantly His love and devotion to them.  He loves them so much that He has allowed them to walk through the furnace, to be purified and brought to a greater dependence on their Savior.  The wonderful hope for them is that their Savior knows exactly how they are being tempted as He has walked the same road of affliction.  He can comfort them and grant them strength.  And make no mistake, whether the Lord sees fit to heal Tang's body of this vicious disease that is causing her physically to waste away or whether He sees fit to welcome her into His glorious presence, He is good.  That's the bottom line.  Do you doubt His goodness? Do you doubt that God works all these afflictions out for His glory and for your ultimate good?  If you do, spend some time with your Lord, in the Scriptures, calling out to Him to show you His goodness and to help your unbelief.  He is good, all the time, good or bad, He is good. Trust Him and rest in Him alone.

Pictured from left to right is Pramot, Peace, and Tang. Please keep this sweet family in your prayers.