Today I got home from Durham, showered, and took this smiling pic of me.
It had been an interesting 4 weeks, to say the least.
Week 1: Excising and biopsy.
Week 2: Pathology report (skin cancer)
Week 3: Surgery.
Week 4 (today): Stitches removed.
A reminder: We must trust in God's promises even when the path is filled with thorns. Like the apostle Paul, I try to thank God for the thorns that build our character while increasing our reliance upon him. I wouldn't trade my closeness with God for anything. If that means being in the valley, then I am thankful for those times when I cling to the Savior. Sure, we have to watch our steps, but the best approach is to keep on looking up. God is with me in the valley, on the mountain top, and even on the cliff. He alone is strong enough to get me through.
We have to be careful not to miss God's plan for us, especially if it is something unwelcome in our lives. I often picture myself clinging to Jesus like a ledge where I've struggled to understand the way things were going. You are pushed to the brink and barely hanging on. There is nowhere else to go when you are on a cliff. You are barely hanging on by your fingertips. You just hang on, even when it seems darkest. He is helping you hold on. He will pull you up to where you need to be. Our only hope is to reach out to Jesus, who can pull us up to where we feel safe and secure again.
For 4 weeks, that is exactly what he did. It has to be one step (or week) at a time, with God leading the way. We have to trust that God is leading us on the correct path even when it doesn't feel like it. God is omniscient and understands even when we do not. He creates open paths even when we see only obstacles and detours. Times of health issues afford us time to spend with God and really focus on being still and knowing him. He is trying to pull us into a deeper place, to know him better. You could have no better guide.
May God be the honored companion and guide on your mountain, whatever that is!