God is Faithful

"God is faithful."

I heard this response frequently in response to my cancer updates. God has been extremely kind and good and loving as He has led me through this journey.

Yet, when I that my good news was connected to God being faithful, I couldn't help but cringe. 

If God is faithful to me because I caught my cancer early enough, or the chemo and radiation were effective, what does that say to people who don't hear good news?

Was God not faithful to my friend whose cancer broke through her lymph nodes and has a 50% chance of showing up somewhere else in her body? Or what about my friends who are diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer from the start and will always be in treatment, their life most likely shortened and always filled with some kind of pain?  

For that matter, what about the godly parents whose children are sick or wayward? What about those who have lost homes in a flood or a fire? Or lost their jobs unexpectedly or unfairly? Or are waiting in the desert, not hearing from God, longing for something good, like bringing their teenage son home from Africa who has been bound up in governmental red tape and procrastination? 

Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; (Deut 7:9)

I always connected God's faithfulness with keeping His promises. God promises eternal life (John 3:16), always providing a way out of temptation (1 Cor 10:13), that the elderly, childless Abraham would have descendents as numerous as the stars (Gen 15:5). The many promises in the bible include His provision, refuge, rest, salvation. 

A small snapshot of what the bible says about faithfulness

He never promised a cancer-free, easy life. So my being free of cancer wasn't because He is faithful, but because of His kindness, right?

Yet as I studied and prayed, I'm beginning to see where my picture of faithfulness falls short. 

Psalm 111:7 states "The works of his hands are faithful and just..."  God's works are faithful. His character is faithful. His plan for each of us is faithful. 

In fact, He promises, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) 

Yes, we are promised trouble and hardship in this world. But, we are also promised that God has overcome the world. I think this could mean in this moment or in the end.  My view to the eternal, knowing God wins in the end, that whatever I am facing is temporary when lined up with forever, helps keep my struggles in perspective. Yet, leaning on His faithfulness means we can trust His plan today, too. That somehow this struggle, this pain, this difficulty will make sense. That He who began this work, will complete it in Christ Jesus. (Phil 1:6)

I can be confident that today, God's plan leads me to the good news of clear tests during my six-month screenings. I'm so incredibly thankful that I'm cancer-free. 

However, my message of God's faithfulness would have more teeth had I received bad news. Sure, it's easy to be thankful for God's plan that is easy and hopeful.

Here is a better example. A few years ago I listened in tears at a retreat as a young wife and mother told the story of her husband's tragic accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. She said, that despite everything she walked through and will continue to walk, she wouldn't change anything. From her blog, Healing for Thomas, she writes,  "Although this event was tragic and traumatic and completely changed the course of our lives, it has lead us straight into the arms of Jesus and we have found true intimacy with Him there! We would not change these events in our lives because only now do we see and know God in a way we only drempt (sic) of before…He has given us real and lasting hope."
Sometimes, our faithful God, pushes us to the ledge of all we can manage on our own, wanting us to let go and trust Him to work out His plan, to connect with Him in a way that is more intimate and real than ever before. 
In Daniel 3:16, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stood before the burning furnace because they chose faith in God over worshipping idols. They knew "the God we serve is able to deliver us from it... but even if He does not, we will not serve your gods." 
They put their lives into the hands of the God they trusted who could choose to save them in the furnace or save them in eternity. As those of you who have read the story know, the three men were tied up and thrown into the blazing furnace, ordered seven times hotter than usual. It was so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who were near the open door. Then, King Nebuchadnezzar saw four people in the furnace, walking around, unbound. When he ordered them out, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire completely unharmed. Not a hair on their head was singed, their robes completely untouched.
This is an incredible story. In this case, God chose to go with the men into the fire (or at least I assume the fourth figure in the fire was Him). In other situations, His plan may be to prevent someone from going into the fire, or walking them completely through it into eternity. In all situations, God is always faithful to His plan.


Those who lean into God during the fire, will experience Him in ways they couldn't before. As much as I enjoy health and activity, I sometimes miss those days when I lay helpless from the effects of chemo, worshiping God with my tears.  I never felt more loved and cared for than in those quiet, hard moments. 

The kids, Sugar and I taken Christmas Eve, shortly after finishing treatment in 2012

This picture, taken this summer, shows how much the kids and my hair have grown

So is God faithful in my good news? Absolutely. He is faithful no matter what circumstance, whether a scary trial or the sweet relief of good health. He is always faithful to His character, a God of immeasurable love, goodness, and refuge. 

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (Deut 31:8)

As I am posting this on election day, I can't help to remind myself that no matter the results, God is still faithful. He is still God, in control, unsurprised, almighty King.

Steven Curtis Chapman, the Christian singer and songwriter, posted a video on his facebook page with a song he wrote. He has an amazing way of nailing the truth:

He is faithful and true, 

everything He says He'll do,

And everything we go through, 

He will go with us.

All the kingdoms of man 

are in the palm of His hand

So I will not fear, I'll say it loud and clear, so my own heart can hear it

God is on the throne.

 Steven Curtis Chapman video