Hope Heals In The Midst Of Sufferingናሙና

"Forging hope as new fears and suffering arise"

{JAY} When Katherine had her stroke, God graciously provided one of the top neurosurgeons in the world, Dr. Nestor Gonzalez, to perform her surgery. Every year after her stroke, we had a follow-up brain scan. Two years out as life was finding its new normal, we received bad news.

“Katherine, I’m so sorry to tell you this,” Dr. Gonzalez began, “but you have an aneurysm behind your left eye.” As he went on to explain details, I began to choke up. We had spent so much of the past year focusing on Katherine’s eyes, having multiple surgeries to correct her double vision in her left eye, and trying to protect her impaired right eye. This aneurysm behind her “good eye” was like a punch in the gut, putting her whole vision at risk.

I thought we had a deal! I wanted to scream at God. Though Katherine and I had a new peace and trust in God after her stroke, this moment revealed my unspoken agreement: No further suffering will be required.

Dr. Gonzalez continued. “I want you to remember that aneurysms are my specialty, and our hospital actually pioneered the most highly regarded, least invasive technique for aneurysm removal.” We felt his empathy, and it was clear he hated delivering this news as much as we hated hearing it.

Over time one thing became very clear. God never promises us that suffering will cease in this life. And he invites us into a deeper relationship with him based on trust, not built on what He will give us or keep from happening to us. What he promises us is Himself: the one who gives His son to forgive our sins, resurrect our bodies, and grant us an eternal life with him.

After Joseph’s brothers and their families settle into their new normal in Egypt, they are thankful for food and land. When their father dies, however, old fears resurface. “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil we did to him.”

They ask for forgiveness again, but Joseph weeps. “Do not fear… As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive…. Do not fear. I will provide for you and your little ones.”

God carries us through weakness and weeping to places of new strength. When new crises come, we can hope in His promise to never leave us or forsake us.