Brandon & Kristin

Brandon & Kristin

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Plead With Me

It has been a rough summer for us and it looks like it will continue to be rough for a while. Kristin and I received news this past Wednesday that my dad has cancer. We do not know how severe it is but it appears to be fairly concerning. So, what do I do with such heavy news so soon after the heartache of losing our baby girl?

I have been in prayer more over the past few days than probably any other time in my life. I have thought often of the lessons that I have been learning about God through the life and death of Addie. I know that God is good and that he is sovereign and I know that life belongs to Him. I have also been thinking about a couple of verses in II Corinthians 12. Paul was given a "thorn in his flesh" and here is what he had to say about it.

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, to that Christ's power may rest on me.

I noticed that Paul pleaded with the Lord to remove this thing that was so painful. He was open and honest with His God and asked Him to remove this thorn from his life. God responded and the thorn was not removed. Paul heard the Lord and his perspective changed. He no longer pleaded but boasted gladly of his weakness.

So, I think it is ok to plead with the Lord. It is ok to beg for healing or whatever the "thorn in the flesh" may be. And if the thing we are pleading for does not line up with His will, He will let us know. He will tell us what we need to hear and it is at that point that our perspective needs to change.

Please join with me in pleading with God that He would heal my dad.

6 comments:

Grandma G said...

Dear Brandon and Kristin,

I am so sorry to hear the news about your dad. How heavy your hearts must be.

I certainly will join you in pleading with God for your dad's healing. And may He lift your spirits and give you hope.....

Love 'n hugs,
Candy

Anonymous said...

Brandon and Kristin,
Of course I will plead with you and our Lord to heal your father, and I will also ask others to plead with Him as well. My heart is with you both! Keep praising and praying.
Love,
Lauren

Anonymous said...

hi brandon & kristin,

james and i prayed and cried together over your dad the other day - we are praying for you and love you very much. i wish i could hug you more often! i miss your faces... keep us updated.

love,
liz

Sarah said...

Brandon & Kristin---
You are very much in my prayers; thank you for continuing to share your story and processing. I am praying that God will heal and make Himself known more every day. Press on...
love you both--
Sarah

Anonymous said...

We are pleading with you on behalf of your father. We were also thinking about you as we found out that John Piper lost his newborn grandaughter, Felicity this last weekend. On desiringgod.org they posted a chapter from a book (suffering and the sovereignty of God) where a man write s of the grieving process he went through after his newborn son died after thirty minutes of life.

Joshua D. White said...

Plead with you we will...