A popular female television personality in our city was afflicted with a cancer-like complication of the throat. Her voice was gone. Not a good development for an accomplished newscaster. She submitted to demanding treatments for over a year. Experienced a roller-coaster ride of swelling, weight changes, set-backs and small victories. But gradually the blue sky re-appeared. Part-time, light-duty assignments were allowed off-camera, and voice exercises.
There were some people of faith at the TV station and a multitude of friends and concerned viewers who got under her burden with prayer. My Sunday morning coffee club buddies and I were among that number.
Her recovery was remarkable, and again she appears with the local news and community events. Many have said that she is one of the “lucky ones”, but for them the Big C (cancer) remains an indomitable force. The inference is that the twin-cities have a quota on supernatural blessing or lucky breaks.
But listen up! We are told in the scriptures that our Heavenly Father is “plenteous in mercy”. A rousing Gospel tune which has brought me to tears proclaims, “He’ll do it again”. It is ours to plead for mercy, to undergird the afflicted one, to thank God for His unfailing loving-kindness, to watch our confession and to await His timing. John Wesley went as far as to suggest that God does not move on this planet except in agreement with the sincere prayers of his children.
I might venture to add that in Jesus’ ministry sincere compassion preceded every miracle or blessing. He operated by the “finger of God”, the Holy Spirit. So may we.
