Great Expectations

I have been praying so much for my friend Daniel over this past month...he has been experiencing muscle weakness, weight loss, difficulty breathing and swallowing and has been in the hospital a couple of times. He has been diagnosed with LEMS and has tried a couple of different things to help his condition. I have really been wrestling and struggling a lot with this. I know that God is sovereign and has a plan and purpose in all of this. But I have had a hard time believing it sometimes. How can this be good and what is best for him? Why wouldn't God choose to heal him? I was teaching Sunday school a couple of weeks ago and the theme of the lesson was "God wants the best for us"...as I sat down to prepare the lesson I was overwhelmed with emotions....how is Daniel's condition really what is best for him? I have been asking for more faith and more trust...I do not understand what God is doing and can only trust and have faith in Him, that is what gets me through each day and when I am feeling emotional.

My dad shared some verses with me and as I read them, they gave me strength and helped to increase my faith and trust...

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 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. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly." Romans 5:1-6

"In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" 1 Peter 1:6-7

I found this one as I was searching the Scriptures for some peace and comfort in the midst of my tears:

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away. Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." James 1:2-12

The following was a key verse from my Sunday school lesson:

"'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

As I read this verse I kept thinking how could what Daniel has be a part of God's plan when it says that His plans are for welfare and not for calamity...how is LEMS not camality and how is it welfare? Then I have to remember that in God's eyes and in God's plan it is. In my humanness, I can't fathom how any of this is good. I know God has a plan and a purpose for all of this...so many wonderful things have come of this...I have drawn closer to God, clung to Him more than I ever have. I know others are being touched by this, also. I will not know all that will come as a result of this until eternity, but I must remember that God is good all the time and that He has Daniel in His loving arms.

God gives and takes away, but His name is blessed and worthy of praise. I am praying for and expecting miracles...I have to trust that His miracles are what is best. The miracle I am praying for is complete healing and restoration, that may or may not happen here on earth and I have to trust God to do His work. It isn't always easy and I have cried many tears over this. This is a journey God has me on and I am thankful for the work He is doing in me during this time.

If you would like to support Daniel in prayer, please see the following groups on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=115050268521825&ref=ts

and http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=126609167353986&ref=ts