Unimaginable Faith In Action

This week I was blessed by witnessing Unimaginable Faith exhibited right in front of me. That is truly the only way I can describe the events that I have witnessed play out over the course of the last few days. With their permission I am excited to share this example of faith with you.

This past Sunday at church, I approached someone to check in with them as they have been waiting for some test results to come back pertaining to a health scare. What I didn’t know was that the answer to a simple question would change the landscape of my thinking for the foreseeable future. One simple Question… I can’t recall if it was “How are you doing?” or “How are you feeling?”, but either way, that one question asked would be answered in a way that will not be soon forgotten. In fact I hope the response to that question is one I never forget. I hope I can hold onto the example of unimaginable faith that was exhibited in the response for the rest of my life.

Their response you ask, was something to the effect of “Great, Incredible, Fantastic. I’m doing really great, Tom.” At that moment I don’t know if they knew if I had been informed of the test results or not, (I hadn’t) but this response, when reflecting on it after the following information, impacted me in an incredible way. My next question, “Have you gotten the results back yet?” Her reply, “Yes, I have Ovarian Cancer.” Wait, what….. Cancer. Out of nowhere I was hit with the weight of that statement.

This couple has been a part of our church, and the churches that formed our church for almost as long as I have been alive. I respect this couple immensely. I have grown to love each of them incredibly over the last several months as our relationships have been afforded the blessing of growing even deeper. Her husband is someone who’s wisdom and words help empower my own walk with God. In this moment I was devastated. I was heartbroken. Pain pierced my heart in a way that can only happen when a Christ-like love for someone else runs deep.

But just as quickly as that pain hit me, I recalled what she had just previously said. “Great. Incredible. Fantastic. I’m doing really great, Tom.” followed by those two crushing words, “Ovarian Cancer”. I quickly computed the reality of this woman’s faith. It was something truly unimaginable. In the face of a giant, she knew that her God was bigger. Her faith was so large, that she knows, no matter the outcome, her God is larger than the giant, and that her God is still good.

Fast forward to just over 48 hours later. Dozens of people gathered around her to pray over her for healing. In the moments before we began praying in unison, she addressed the group. What did she choose to use this time for? She spoke Jesus into the lives of those that were there to pray for her. Instead of using this time to address healing, or even her own situation at all, she used the moment to speak into the hearts of everyone in the room. To acknowledge who God is and the freedom that each and every one of them can continue to find in Christ Jesus. Once again a faith so large, truly unimaginable, was on display in all of its glory.

Then before we prayed, “Waymaker” came over the speakers, and above all other voices, I could hear hers, in the center of the mob of prayer warriors, singing out every word. Tears filled my eyes as my hand rested on the shoulder of her husband, who’s hand in turn laid on hers. You could feel the presence of God in a way you don’t get to experience every day. She had encouraged everyone to become full. To not just focus on her, but become full themselves. For me this couldn’t have been more true. The Holy Spirit filled me in that moment. He renewed my strength and he cemented my faith even further.

It is hard to witness such an unimaginable level of faith without looking inward and evaluating our own level of faith. How would I respond? Would I so quickly use the diagnosis as a platform to speak Jesus into other’s lives or would I seek God selfishly? When asked how I was doing, would I respond with “Great, Incredible, Fantastic. I’m doing really great.” or would I question everything?

I hope to continue to strengthen my faith so that in times of trial, in times of uncertainty, in times that may bring about fear that I too steadfastly stand on the foundation that I have built in Christ. That I choose to allow him to comfort me and use whatever is happening in my life as a platform for God’s glory. Just as I typed this, I’m reminded of the season Tanja and I went through in the fall of 2021. As we journeyed through dealing with the miscarriage, we trusted in God’s plan for our lives. Although a completely different experience, I can acknowledge that it was an experience that could have tested my faith, and we remained firm in who God is, and that his plan for our lives will prevail, no matter what that is. And what do you know, just over a year later we were celebrating the birth of our daughter, Oakley. In Him we are stronger than we think. His promises for us are true. In him we are a warrior that can fight any battle, and win or lose, he will be waiting for us at the end to celebrate. When our fight is finally finished we will dwell in his presence in worship and reverence for all eternity.

Thinking back to this woman’s story, it was just this morning I was having coffee with her husband and he said to me, “You know Tom, even though it's an incredibly hard situation, there’s really no losing here. Either God heals her and uses her story, or she moves on from this life, and she enters Heaven and her story is used in another way.” I can’t imagine trying to hold yourself together while the person you love more than anyone else is experiencing such a trial. Even though the tears come, I admire the foundation that each of them have built in Christ. No matter the outcome God is using both of these individuals to advance his kingdom, and I hope to learn everything I can from the example and wisdom that both of them provide.

I ask that you lift this couple up in your prayers. That they continue to use God’s plan, whatever that is, to speak Jesus into the life of others and advance his kingdom. That their faith continues to remain unimaginable. I also ask for prayers of healing in her life, and strength in his. As they would both tell you themselves, God is still so so good.

“I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” (Matthew 17:20 NLT)

“Faith is the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” (Hebrews 11:1 NLT)