In his book, God on Mute, Pete Greig wrote about a Scottish lady he once knew named Margaret Lee. When she was diagnosed with throat cancer, people would visit her and say, “Oh, Margaret, you’ve had such a very tough life, and now this. It’s all just too much.”
Margaret knew they meant well, but she had a different perspective on her situation. She prepared a written response for them since the cancer had taken away her voice. She would show it to everyone who visited. It said:
This is not the worst thing to ever happen! Cancer is so limited. It cannot cripple love, shatter hope, corrode faith, eat away peace, destroy confidence, kill friendship, shut out memories, silence courage, quench the Spirit or lessen the power of Jesus.
After recounting this, Greig wrote:
Isn't that extraordinary? Cancer was killing Margaret, and yet she was able to list its many limitations. She could barely speak or swallow, her body was emaciated, and the pain was insistent, but the cancer had not--and could not--consume Margaret Lee. To all outward appearances, she had become a grim testament to the corruption of nature and the limitations of Christ's power.Yet in reality, her life and her death bore eloquent witness to the power of prayer for those who believe.
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase: “Sometimes God calms the storm, and sometimes God calms his child.” Either way, he sees us through, and that was enough for Margaret Lee. It’s enough for you and me, too.
When I’m in crisis nothing can keep Jesus from coming to me. How do I know this? Because of a story in John 6:16-21. When the disciples were caught out in a storm in the middle of the night in the middle of the sea, Jesus came to them by walking on the water.
This weekend at Hillcrest, we’ll look at this wonderful story and see what it tells us about our Lord’s care. Read John 6:16-21, and let’s study it on campus or online at 10am this Sunday!
--Tom
Sign up here to receive Tom Goodman’s weekly devotional in your email inbox. Tom serves as pastor at Hillcrest Church in Austin, Texas. His sermons are available on YouTube and the HillcrestToGo Podcast and you can find him on Facebook and Twitter.