Friday, April 2: God Heard Jesus; He Hears Us, Too

Psalm 40 (focus: verses 1-3)

“Jennifer, I’m sorry, it is NOT benign.” I dropped the phone, struggling to breathe. Is this happening? I’m 41! I have a husband and three little boys! I have a life full of plans, things to do! I have CANCER?!? I melted to my knees, sobbing. “What do I do now? OH, LORD JESUS, GOD OF MERCY!! Help me Lord! Please, I can’t do this — let it be a mistake! But oh, God, if this is real, get me through quickly. I‘m no good at waiting! I need answers!”

The Lord turned to me and heard my cry. Within hours, I was wrapped in the prayers of sisters and brothers. The next day, specialists explained with confidence what I had and how they would treat it. God gave us instant clarity on what could have been a hard decision, and a surgery date much sooner than we expected. A mere seventeen days after that heart-stopping phone call, and the tumor was out! THANK YOU LORD!!!
I was not supposed to need chemotherapy, but tests proved otherwise. The treatments took my hair, appetite, energy, time, and there were no shortcuts around it. But the Lord brought me through that too – using the prayers, help, and encouragement of people we knew, and of some we didn’t, but He wanted us to know. And, in His “just-like-God” way, He surprised us all with how much I, a former champion of the ponytail, relished the freedom of my bald head.

But more astounding than the ways God answered my plea for swift passage through the fire, was the joy and peace He filled me with on the way. God’s perfect love really did drive out all fear (1 John 4:18), and he let me see — beyond the hypothetical — that I did not fear death. He lifted me from the pit, and gave me a firm place to stand. And now I stand on that rock with a new song in my mouth – a hymn of pure praise to the Ever-Faithful, All-Merciful, Almighty God, who loves us so much that He gave His only Son.

Thank you Lord, that as you heard and knew the pain of Jesus on the cross, and brought him to the fullness and joy of your everlasting life, so you hear us, and know our pain, and do not forsake us when we cry out, but come to lead us, too, into everlasting life. Amen.

Jennifer London