Meditation

Read Proverbs 3:1-10

Jeremiah wrote, “Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save and I will be saved.”

—Jeremiah 17:14 (NIV)

In the winter of 2016, the doctor gave the results to my wife and me: the lesions in my bones indicated multiple myeloma. Yet, no fear came over me. Instead, I was filled with the certainty that I was in God’s hands and that God had a plan. For the 40 years of my Christian life, I had lived by these words from the Bible: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5-6, NIV). This was the time I would need those verses the most.

After two stem-cell transplants in six months, I was in remission and facing eight months of chemotherapy maintenance. Through this battle, God has done amazing things—including reaching people around the world online through two blogs which I update daily, and 1,000 poems and songs. My body is strong and getting stronger. God has been very merciful to me.

When facing trials that we do not understand, we can lean on a God who understands, whom we can trust in everything that comes our way. We can acknowledge God’s power and strength through the good things and the bad. Our merciful God can walk us through anything.

Prayer—Dear God, help us always to see your mercy that surrounds us each day. When we are afraid, help us to lean on you and trust you to do your work in us. Amen.

Thought for the Day—God has been merciful to me.

—Peter T. Gardner, Iowa