“Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.” (Psalm 73:25-26 NLT)

The worship service was over—the third night of revival. When I headed for the exit, I ran into Oscar, a good friend of mine. I asked about his back, and he shared details of his continuing struggles with intense pain and of a recent MRI. He chuckled and then added that he had held up the procedure until he prayed for the technicians. “Humm,” I mused to myself. “I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve never thought to openly pray for the doctors and nurses when I go to their offices. I always pray–just not out loud. I think I’ll try it tomorrow when I go for my needle biopsy.”

As I walked into the doctor’s office the following morning, I was overwhelmed with a sense of peace. The thoughts of a needle biopsy and possible breast cancer had been mind-boggling, but I was surprised by the calm reassurance that embraced me.

I knew there were prayer warriors lifting me up, and I felt it. The ultrasound technician came to welcome me and direct me to the exam room. She situated me on the table in her gentle, reassuring way and proceeded to explain what would happen.

Not a fan of needles, I had psyched myself up for several days. I kept telling myself that through the power of the Lord, I could do this.

Before we began, though, I decided to follow Oscar’s suggestion and asked if I could pray for her. To my surprise, she seemed delighted, and we both prayed fervently. I recognized her Pentecostal roots immediately. She blessed me, I think, more than I blessed her!

Then the doctor came into the room to perform the procedure. I asked him as well if I could pray for him. “Certainly,” he said. “I always pray for my patients every morning.” As he proceeded to perform the biopsy, he shared that his son is a student at a well-know Christian university. We enjoyed a pleasant conversation, and my mind was diverted from the procedure. Another blessing!

He had already told me previously at the time of my mammogram that the mass seemed suspicious. I asked him again if that was still his opinion. He answered, “I am sorry to say, but I think it is. We will talk on Friday when you come to get your results.”

Even though the news was not what I wanted to hear, I accepted it with surprising peace. Those prayer warriors were obviously very busy on my behalf!

When I returned home, I picked up my devotional books for the day and read a meditation from Guideposts. One of the verses associated with it was Psalm 4:8:

“In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.”

Then I picked up Ann Graham Lotz’ book, Fixing My Eyes on Jesus. The title of the day’s devotional thought: “Sleep in Peace.” To my amazement, the scripture passage was exactly what I had already read: Psalm 4:8.

What are the chances that I would read the same scripture passage only minutes apart from two different sources? “Thank you, Lord,” I prayed, “that I can indeed lie down and  sleep tonight even though the news was not good.” Since I sometimes have trouble sleeping, this was particularly good news.

Before I headed to bed, the Casting Crowns song I’ll Praise You in the Storm came to mind, and I began to hum it:

“And I’ll praise you in this storm
And I will lift my hands
That you are who you are
No matter where I am
And every tear I’ve cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise you in this storm.”

As I turned down my bed and prepared to crawl between the sheets, the words of Job and Simon Peter also came to mind:

“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” (Job 13:15 NLT)

“Simon Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, who else can we go to? You have words that give life that lasts forever.’” (John 6:68 NLV)

I knew with full confidence that I could rest in his sweet care!

The following morning, I got up after a great night of sleep—no nightmares, no anxiety– and picked up my Bible and devotional books.

Several of my favorite passages greeted me!

“Suit up” in the armor of God. (Ephesians 6:10)

Leave your anxieties behind and let the Lord fight the battle (Luke 12:22-26)

“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

And then the one that jumped off the page:

“Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)

Such reassurance that everything is going to be o.k., regardless of the test results.

The days’ Guidepost devotional really hit home. Author Karen Valentin who had won an award for her book about grief—The Mother God Made Me to Be—said in her acceptance speech: “This moment is filled with incredible joy but know that this moment was born from incredible pain. I wouldn’t be accepting this award without first experiencing the hard stuff. So I dedicate this award to anyone who is in the midst of pain, because joy is on the way.”

Joy is on the way! That’s what Jesus seemed to be saying! Whatever I may go through, I can be assured that joy is on the way!

The focal Bible passage for the meditation? Jeremiah 29:11.

“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)

Wow! The Lord was reassuring me through his word over and over and over again that everything is going to be o.k.!

Tomorrow I go for the biopsy results, but I am resting in his promises. Even if I have cancer, He’s Got This!

Challenge: What about you? Are you facing big problems, serious illness, grief, emotional pain? Trust Him! He is there to comfort and reassure you. Pray for his intervention and trust him regardless of the outcome.

Holy God, Creator and Divine Healer, we pray for healing and comfort. May we remember that You are God and see beyond anything we can see with our finite minds. May we trust in YOU without reservation.

 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT)