Last week my friend Mary sent me the song video My Redeemer is Faithful and True, by Steven Curtis Chapman.  I am familiar with the song but had not heard it for many, many  years.  It has a sort of melancholy resonance to it and when I sat down to listen the words reached right into my soul. It felt like it was a word from God given to me…through my friend.

The songwriter, Steven Curtis Chapman, had a tragic situation occur in his family.  Many years ago his teenage son was driving into the driveway in a large SUV and unbeknownst to him, his little sister ran out to greet him. The car ran over her and she was killed. The family was in a deep despair on so many levels…yet…Steven Curtis Chapman can still sing the words of this song with confidence and assurance.

So, yesterday I completed my radation  treatment and held my breath like a champion.  (I forgot to mention that it ISN’T A TUBE!!  Cha! Cha! Cha!  The set  up for radiation was in the tube but not the actual rads!) Such good news for me.

After radiation I felt pretty accomplished and ran out in the cold to my car and turned on the radio.  And wouldn’t you know… the very first song that played was the very same song that Mary had sent me just days before.  It gave me full body shivers.

Now, some might think that was sheer coincidence but not me.  These are how my days are going lately. I mean  – what are the odds that I would hear a song that I hadn’t heard for maybe a decade  – two times in the same week?  Slim to none. 

 I sat in the sanctuary of my car and listened to every word again – and it felt like God was giving me a personal message. I felt His heavenly arms wrapped around me in love…and I treasured and agreed with each word that was sung.

”May you believe with your whole heart that you are positioned right where you are, for such a time as this…”

Another coincidence? I think not.  I believe it was God’s word to me again.

I cannot help but wonder if before my diagnosis maybe I missed a lot of these treasures from heaven.  Maybe God revealed Himself every day just as He has been doing the past few weeks and I just didn’t notice.  Yes, I think maybe there was some of that.  Maybe I wasn’t looking for Him in the same way that I am right now.

But I also know that the Lord draws even closer during our trials.  And honestly, it makes the trial not nearly as bad.  My trial is overwhelmed by His presence.

Even though I know that God has been right beside me, and above me, and behind me through my entire life…I stand amazed.

My Redeemer is faithful and true.

”The Lord is close to the broken-hearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”  – Psalm 34:18

Until next time,