Facing Life’s Trials: Serious Illness

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2. (NIV) 

I have a new friend. Her name is Kathy. She joined my Sunday Morning Bible Study Class a few months ago, rapidly becoming a faithful and contributing member. She was always prepared and had many worthwhile comments about our lessons that indicated that she had carefully studied our Bible lesson each week. She rapidly became a class favorite.

Then she got unexpectedly bad news. She was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer and had to have immediate surgery and follow-up care. I will tell you about this with Kathy’s own words:

The battles we fight are lonely because no one can fight them for us. But the paths God choses for our lives to take are filled with blessings of those individuals He chooses to use in His service to bring us comfort and support through our battles to reach the summit of our paths.

You (our class) have been those blessings for me. Your service brings nourishment to my soul, comfort to my pain and light in my darkness. My strength has been drained. But in my weakness He is made strong for His glory. I have experienced only His peace and love.

God has prepared me for this cup I now drink all my life and He has guided me back to Tyler to bless me with a SMBS class that has filed me with love and devotion like I have never known in my lifetime except from my Lord and Savior.

I want everyone that is suffering a burden of their own to know that time is a trainer, teaching you to wait upon our loving Father to trust Him in the darkness of your pain. The more extreme your circumstances, the more likely we are to sense His power and Glory at work.

Psalms 18:2 assures us that the Lord is our Rock, our Fortress and our Deliverer, our God is our Rock in whom we can take refuge. He is our Shield and the Horn of our salvation, our Stronghold. I don’t have the strength to get through the next day but He does and will in His mercy help me walk my path with blessings like each member of our class. Praise to our compassionate, merciful Father for His great love.

Thank you Father, for each person whom You are using for your purpose and for each person that has helped me make it through each day. May you receive all the Glory and Honor.


Pat Eppler