Real-Time Deliverance

Updates: 

• I have an enlarged lymph node in my lung that is difficult to diagnose.
• Once my doctors can determine why my lymph node is behaving abnormally, they will be able to update my treatment plan. I need more testing to be done.  

Prayer Requests and Praises:

• Please pray for the upcoming tests and their results. Pray that tests would be conducted quickly and would come back clear. 
• Please pray for me that God would deliver me from all cancer and increase my faith in him. 

What I am Learning: 

• I am learning two truths simultaneously. First, I am learning to pray (as the Psalms do) for real physical deliverance. Second, I am learning to trust God as my rock even when it feels like deliverance is far off or not coming. The Psalms articulate both important lessons repeatedly.
• I have found myself praying for deliverance and learning to entrust myself to God, no matter what happens. These two realities might feel like they are in tension, but they are not in conflict. Notice how Psalm 31 captures both a real prayer for physical deliverance and a demonstration of trust in God’s sovereignty over our days. 

For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, (God saving in real time) for you are my refuge. Into your hand I commit my spirit; (David trusting God no matter what) you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. (Psalm 31:3–5)

 But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand; (David trusting God’s sovereignty) rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! (David asking for real time deliverance) Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love! (Psalm 31:14–16)

What Has Been Encouraging: 

• Some of the testing has made me physically weak, but there are “good days” to be had even during weakness. It is important to seize every good day for the glory of God and not let the looming future (of tests and results) corrupt it. 
• For example, there are good days in which I’m able to come into the office and participate in meetings like normal. It is also a good day when I’m able to go to the hospital and get a test done because I have no other underlying conditions which prevent me. Even though the test might be difficult, I am still able to do it! 
• One great day this week was Jenny’s birthday. On the way home from work, I was able to stop by Publix and get her some flowers, balloons, and a cake. We celebrated and watched part of a movie together. What a great day to celebrate the best wife of all the times! Jenny is such a servant, and she serves our family with extraordinary excellence from Jesus. I’m so thankful Jesus saved her and let us get married!