Where is my hope?

Surgery day.

Jane asks, “Why is this surgery different from any of the others I’ve had?” Because the stakes are higher I reply. But are they?

Where is my hope?
I find it is easy to put my hope in in statistics. How many people get this kind of cancer and what are the survival rates? If there is no history of cancer in the family, then that must be good. The problem is that statistics have already let me down. The nurse told us that 70% of the time biopsies return negative. I took comfort in that statement. So much for statistics.

Another place I want to put my hope is in medical skill. The skill of the surgeon, brilliant cancer fighting drugs, and radiation treatments have changed outcomes. And it is true that God in his grace has given knowledge, skill, and insight to doctors and I’m grateful. But my hope cannot be in medicine.

I go back again to 2 Corinthians 4:17. “For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but the things that are unseen.” My hope is in God, that regardless of the path before us we are being prepared for an eternal weight of glory.

I also go to the Psalms.

My heart is in anguish within me;
The terrors of death have fallen upon me.
Fear and trembling come upon me,
And horror overwhelms me.
Psalm. 55:4-5.

Pray that we put our hope in God alone.

-marc