Oh to trust my Heavenly Father the way this little boy trusts his dad. This is what total trust looks like.
Psalm 103
Bless the Lord, my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, my soul,
And do not forget any of His benefits;
Psalm 103 is one of favorite Psalms. From the depths of soul, I give Him praise to God for blessing me this week. We had scary news at the start of the week that my platelet levels were low, around 100. My cancer shows some genetic markers that it might be receptive to chemo treatment, but if my platelets get too low, my body will not tolerate chemo. My cancer really needs to be aggressively treated with both chemo and radiation. God has been so good to me. I have healed quickly from brain surgery just a short few weeks ago, and I have no deficits from the surgery and removal of 70% of the glioblastoma. My mind and all my parts work, and I am so thankful for God’s mercy and grace. I am able.to take care of myself and not be a burden to my wife and kids. I am so thankful for TeamPhelps and how they have all pulled together and been there for me and one another. I am so thankful for each and every one of you who follows along and prays faithfully for me and my family!
I don’t know that I have reached the place that I experience joy in this cancer trial:
James 1:2-4 Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing..
Romans 5:3-5 And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
James and Romans set a high bar on responding to trials, tribulation and suffering. Trials do reveal our truest selves and show us the reality of the depths of our faith. I think 1 Peter 1:6-8 is about self-revelation to us about the strength of our faith. God knows what our faith condition is.
1 Peter 1:6-8 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various]trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
I want to found faithful in this trial and give God glory in and through it all.
I’m praising God for great results from my 2nd platelets blood test on Wednesday.
What gets me through this trial is my suffering savior has gone before me. What blows me away is that he willing chose to suffer.
Philippians 2:6 who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
He willingly gave up his status in heaven and came to earth to become one of us and to suffer with us and for us.
Hebrews 12:2 Looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Are there anymore radical word than “joy set before Him” when he looked at the cross? Wow!
Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin.
He sympathizes because he has suffered before me. I’m so thankful for my compassionate, caring Savior who knows suffering. Because of his example and the Holy Spirit, I can walk out Psalm 103.
Bless the Lord, my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, my soul,
And do not forget any of His benefits;