Rest
Under His Reign
By Karen D’Amore
“…My purpose will be
established, and I will accomplish all my good pleasure.”
Isaiah
46:10b (NIV)
The
symptoms mimicked those of the previous tumors. With the new lump being in
close proximity to the last surgically-removed tumor, a biopsy was inevitable. The
first available appointment with my doctor, or any other in the network, was
months away. With my cancer history dictating a sense of urgency, I was added
to a waiting list while I waited for my scheduled appointment. To add to the
lengthy wait, a scheduling error by the doctor’s office delayed my appointment another
week longer than originally scheduled.
Aware
of my reoccurring cancer and the lengthy wait for a medical diagnosis, my
friends and family were frustrated. I worked to maintain an utmost trust in my
sovereign God. With a heart filled with peace that only comes from Him, I was
neither anxious nor fearful. My prayer requests were specific: I desired to see
God’s hand in the medical delays and that He be glorified in the
process…regardless of the outcome. God had allowed the scenario to play out exactly as it did.
Though the reasons were unclear to me at the time, I wanted to trust Him. “Logic”
continued to dictate a strong sense of urgency with my family and friends. And
though my “logic” initially wrestled with the same concern, faith overrode
logic. Confident in God’s sovereignty over every detail of my circumstances, I continued
to work on trusting Him and choosing His peace.
The
doctor visit played out exactly as I suspected with the lump being biopsied and
my being sent home to wait another week for the results. Moments after leaving
the medical facility, my attention was drawn to a lake alongside the
interstate. Sitting atop the snow-encased lake was an elegant white swan,
basking in the frigid winter sun. The oddly displaced creature and the
unlikeliness of such a sighting drew me to sense the consuming presence of God.
With
the biopsy disclosing no malignancy, my immediate future remained cancer-free! Though
I was elated with the news, I was in greater awe of my Lord. He knew the
diagnosis before the process began, and every delay had been held purposely in
God’s hands. He already knew there was no cancer urgency!
When
we trust in God’s sovereignty, peace and joy can reign over our bleakest of
circumstances. We can rest secure in the assurance that no matter what we’re
facing, our God reigns. And while He is using God-allowed circumstances to
accomplish His will in our lives…we can rest peacefully under His reign!
GOING DEEPER:
1.
Are you fretting or resting under God’s reign?
FURTHER READING:
Married
to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at
Craig Berns Salon and Foot Care Specialist at Shorehaven Senior Facility. She’s
on the Oakwood Women’s Ministry Special Events planning team.
