But Sometimes He Does...

If I have learned anything in my life it is that sometimes God does not answer my prayers in the way I want or expect. There have been seasons of "Wait...", seasons of "No", seasons of "Perhaps." There have been times I begged for a certain reply only to be moved in an entirely different direction.  Last week my Aunt Jane posted a few verses that I LOVE for moments like that. It is what I have been desperately trying to learn and live in the past five years.  It is found in Habakkuk 3:17-19 and says, "Even though the fig trees have no fruit and no grapes grow on the vines, even though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no grain, even though the sheep all die and the cattle stalls are empty, I WILL STILL BE JOYFUL AND GLAD, BECAUSE GOD IS MY SAVIOR! The sovereign Lord gives me strength. He makes me sure-footed as a deer and keeps me safe on the mountains." I love that scripture! I hope that each day I am becoming better at being joyful and glad when the droughts come and the blessings seem scarce because let's face it, sometimes God doesn't respond the way we hope.

BUT SOMETIMES HE DOES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This week we have been at MD Anderson for my follow up appointments after completing radiation two months ago. It always takes every ounce of faith for these appointments, especially after a bad report. We ran the gauntlet again-- tests, more tests, and yet another followed by oncologist, radiologist, and surgeon appointments.  Sometimes God doesn't answer prayers the way you hope, BUT SOMETIMES HE DOES! The spot that was treated by radiation is so tiny that report says it is no longer present!!! The radiologist was impressed with that report. I told him that during treatment I had pictured Space Invaders going in and just blasting the spot. He said, "You must have mobilized your immune system to take care of it."  If you are my Facebook friend you might even remember this picture:

While I am a huge believer in positive thoughts and the body following the brain make no mistake about it, I may have hoped it, but GOD did it! Psalm 30:2-3 says, "Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. You, Lord, brought me up for the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit." PRAISE GOD!!

My surgeon explained the spot is still there, just tiny and could just be scar tissue. We will continue to watch it and the other spots. We will continue to trust that God holds our future. We will be grateful for the way God answers ALL of our prayers-- sometimes he doesn't answer them the way we hope, BUT SOMETIMES HE DOES!!!!!