God’s Perfect Ways

　　By Cindi McMenamin

　　Bible Reading:

　　“This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.” – Psalm 18:30 ESV

　　This passage of Scripture tells us all God’s ways are perfect.

　　I understand if there are times you question that. How can a delay, a diagnosis, or a disappointment be perfect?

　　Last year, I discovered a 5-cm mass on my right thyroid lobe, and although I was relieved it wasn’t cancer, it was still considered atypical, and I was concerned at the risks of surgical removal, because of its possible implications to my voice.

　　My doctor told me, “Most of these growths take years to develop in the first place,” and she assured me I could live with a lump in my neck if it weren’t dangerous to me. After much prayer, the only peace I had was to not rush into a surgery, but to instead take the doctor’s recommendation and have the mass monitored a couple times a year for any changes in size. I truly believed God wanted me to have faith that He would heal me of that growth.

　　“Perhaps this is my faith test,” I remember telling my husband. “How can I say I believe

　　God will heal, but then not give Him a chance to do it?”

　　Over the next couple of months, I was confident that God, being perfect in all His ways, would completely eliminate the mass.

　　Yet after just three months, I was devastated to discover through an MRI that the mass was not eliminated. It hadn’t even shrunk. Instead, it had grown in every direction!

　　I remember my prayer that day:

　　God, did I hear You wrong when I believed You were leading me to wait on surgery and monitor the growth instead? God, if I’d had it removed months ago, it wouldn’t be this large now!

　　So much of what I felt in that moment couldn’t even be verbalized. Just silent prayer to the God whom I was convinced had whispered “Just wait and trust Me.” And I experienced that deep disappointment that God hadn’t answered my prayer the way I hoped.

　　The next day my doctor called and told me I needed to have the lump removed immediately because even though it tested benign, it was very likely a mutation of an aggressive form of thyroid cancer. “Immediately” turned into another two-month wait, this time for a surgery date, during my busiest speaking time of the year. The risk to my voice still remained if I were to have the surgery. But the risk to my health was now determined to be greater if the mass remained in me.

　　During those remaining months of waiting and uncertainty, there was one thing that was absolutely certain. Although doctors had no idea what was growing on my thyroid lobe, God knew exactly what it was. And I could trust Him with a surgery, with my voice, and with whatever else He wanted to do in His perfect way and timing.

　　I can see now that I experienced God far more during that time of uncertainty than I would have if I had immediate relief that I was cancer-free. Had I simply been told “It’s benign, you’re fine,” I would’ve moved on and missed the precious experience of leaning into my Heavenly Father’s capable care. I would’ve missed a couple of precious phone calls from my aging father telling me that another one of his prayer groups was praying for me. And I would’ve missed the awe and wonder I had for my Savior, the Great Physician, who took perfect care of me and my voice during that surgery and beyond.

　　Intersecting Faith Life:

　　Are you going through difficult or disappointing circumstances in which you’d rather have God answer your prayer a different way? Trust Him. Psalm 18:30 not only tells us all God’s ways are perfect, but it reminds us that the word of the Lord proves true and that the Lord is a shield for all who take refuge in Him. A shield protects us from harm. And God, in His perfect ways and His perfect timing, knows exactly what you and I need not just for our physical well-being and our temporary good, but for our spiritual well-being and our eternal best.

　　Praise this God whose ways are perfect. He knows exactly what He’s allowing in your life and why.

　　For more on understanding God and His ways, see Cindi’s book, When a Woman Overcomes Life’s Hurts.

　　Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/FG Trade

　　Cindi McMenamin is a national speaker, Bible teacher, and award-winning writer who helps women and couples strengthen their relationship with God and others. She is also a mother, a pastor’s wife who has been married 37 years, and the author of 19 books, including When Women Walk Alone (more than 160,000 copies sold), The New Loneliness: Nurturing Meaningful Connections When You Feel Isolated, and The New Loneliness Devotional: 50 Days to a Closer Connection with God. For more on her speaking ministry, coaching services for writers, and books to strengthen your soul, marriage, and parenting, see her website: www.StrengthForTheSoul.com.

　　Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com!

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