Deuteronomy 31:8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. “
To honor Aunt Laura, I will use pink,” I thought while searching for the perfect fabric. I couldn’t wait to get started and present the project to my friends at church. Memories of the scarves my late aunt wore while battling cancer flooded my heart when I came across a pattern for chemo caps. I knew it was the perfect project for our group. While showing off the pink cap, I excitedly explained how we could make more caps and deliver them to the local cancer centers. Everyone agreed and plans were made to do just that after the summer break.
With the cap safely tucked away, I busied myself with all the summer things like swimming, family time and a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. The project didn’t cross my mind again until a mid-summer visit to the doctor prompted the phone call that would change my world. Soon after, I learned, I would be the one wearing that little pink cap.
It took a while for my heart to realize that my making a chemo cap two months before being diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer was not a coincidence. The bible says, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” This was certainly no coincidence. When we face difficult circumstances or life altering changes, the Lord is with us. When the Israelites were wandering through the wilderness on their way to the promised land, the Lord was with them. He went before them in the form of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He prepared the way for them long before they ever stepped foot on their journey by preparing their hearts and raising up a leader to serve them. Even though they complained. Even though they faltered. Even though they were impatient. He remained steady, faithful and true.
He went before them. He went with them. He never left them.
Looking back, I can see the many ways the Lord paved the path of preparation for the struggle that lay ahead. Long before the diagnosis, He gave me a husband who could write the book on caregiving. He placed us with a loving church family. He burdened my heart for the plight of the cancer fighter. He sent me to another country to witness a foreign culture full of women learning to trust Him through horrible life circumstances. None of that was by chance. He prepared the way for me long before I ever stepped foot in the doctor’s office. Even though I was scared. Even though I faltered. Even though I was impatient. He remained steady, faithful and true.
He went before me. He went with me. He never left me.
When you are walking through the wilderness, I pray you will heed the last words of our key verse, “Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.” God remains ever faithful and true.
He will go before you. He will go with you. He will never leave you.
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