Recently I shared the second in a three-part series on the enCourage blog, a blog for the women’s ministry of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Here’s a preview . . .

In part one of this series, I shared my experience of battling a rare form of cancer as a young mom and how I saw God’s faithfulness on display. As we continue to consider Habakkuk 3 and God’s gifts of faithfulness in suffering, let’s focus on God’s gift of wellness in our winter seasons. When I talk about God’s gift of wellness, I don’t mean physical health or personal safety. We may not always have those things, but we can have a wellness in our souls because of the unshakeable promises and presence of our heavenly Father.

Some of you may have read the first post in this series about the ways I witnessed God’s faithfulness and thought, “Well good for her, but that’s not my story.” Maybe today you can’t see how God is at work in your circumstances. Maybe you feel like God isn’t showing up or you don’t understand why He would allow this to happen. Maybe there can’t be a happy ending in your winter season as you grieve the loss of someone or something you’ll never get back. How is God faithful in those moments?

Habakkuk was in a similar situation. He had no expectation that his circumstances were going to improve. In fact, God had assured him that things were only going to get worse (Hab.1:5-11). And yet Habakkuk rejoiced in the God of his salvation (Hab. 3:18).

Even if Habakkuk had nothing else, he had God’s promised salvation. Habakkuk didn’t understand why God was using the Babylonians to judge Judah, but he knew God’s character (Hab.1:12-13). He knew he could trust the Lord in any situation. The Lord was his deliverer and his salvation (Hab. 3:13).

You can read the rest of the article here at enCourage. I hope it encourages you if you’re in a winter season today.

Recently I shared the first in a three-part series on the enCourage blog, a blog for the women’s ministry of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Here’s a preview . . .

Have you ever found yourself in a winter season of suffering, when your world feels dark and cold? My winter season started 14 years ago when I found a lump in my breast. The lump led to tests, which led to a biopsy, which led to a phone call on the day before my 34^th birthday.

The doctor said the biopsy revealed a rare and aggressive cancer in the lining of my blood vessels called angiosarcoma. A quick internet search informed me that I was statistically unlikely to live to see my three young children reach adolescence.

I started a treatment plan of high doses of chemotherapy, covered by the prayers of thousands of people and supported by the most amazing community of family and friends. After two rounds of chemo, my situation got even worse. My platelets were dangerously low from the chemo, and the only way for me to continue treatment was to start a clinical trial at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, 700 miles from my home in Arkansas.

I thought the angiosarcoma diagnosis was devastating, but this news was even worse. I didn’t know if I’d live long enough for my one-year-old daughter to remember me. I didn’t want to spend time away from my family, receiving treatment in Houston for several weeks. But I didn’t have any other options.

I think this experience is why Habakkuk is one of my favorite books of the Bible. Habakkuk had a similar experience of suffering that kept getting worse. And yet, at the end of this short book, Habakkuk proclaims his trust in the Lord. As we look at Habakkuk’s prayer in chapter 3, we find a beautiful example of how to look for God’s gifts, even in the midst of suffering.

You can read the rest of the article here at enCourage. I hope it encourages you if you’re in a winter season today.