The Power of Promises

As many of you know, Liam was making good progress over the past few days. Yesterday, his ANC was up to 240. Today, it dropped back down to 10, and tonight he spiked another fever. The fever is likely because the doctor took him off his antibiotic to see how he’d do without it and to make sure we weren’t masking anything that could be harmful if Liam were to go home. In one sense, we aren’t surprised. The medical team has prepared us to not get our hopes up. Nevertheless, it is disappointing. Personally, though I expect ups and downs, every time there is a down, I am sharply reminded of Liam’s condition.

As that sharp reminder burrowed its way into me this evening, I walked over to our wall of Bible verses in our hospital room. Emily has tried to put up all the Bible verses many of you send us—they’ve been food for our souls these past three weeks. A verse, in particular, which served me well was Isaiah 41:10:

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

These words are used, almost verbatim, in the second verse of a hymn we sing at our church called How Firm A Foundation. The hymn rehearses many of the promises found in Scripture which God gives to His people. I'd recommend a listen. 

Together, this verse and this hymn helped me in a few ways:

1. They provided comfort. When things feel out of control and unsteady, what a massive comfort it is to hear God say “Fear not…be not dismayed.” How can God say such thing? Well, he also says, “I am with you...I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you.” The reason God commands us to "fear not" and to not give in to dismay is because He gives us Himself. His presence provides a foundation for comfort and an argument to trust.

2. They fended off worry about the future. This has been a recurring theme as Emily and I use this blog not only to update you all but to process our circumstances. The fear of what will happen is real for us as each day progresses. To have the promise that God will sustain, keep, hold, and strengthen regardless of what comes tomorrow keeps anxiety at bay. Come what may, He promises to have our back.

3. They made me thankful for the gospel. As a Christian, at the core of what I believe lies the reality that through faith in the crucified, risen, and reigning Christ, God has graciously forgiven my sin and committed Himself to me. And with this grace and commitment comes a flood of promises. The amazing thing about God’s promises for His people is they are unilateral. God's promises for Christians aren’t based on the faithfulness and character of the promise-recipients but on the faithfulness and character of the promise-Giver. God promises to uphold me not because I'm great, but because He's great. I feel a boldness to cling to the promises found in the above verse and hymn because of God and his gospel.

As How Firm a Foundation puts it:

"The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,I will not, I will not desert to its foes;that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,I'll never, no, never, no, never forsake." 

How to Pray:

• Pray for healing

• Pray fevers would cease and ANC counts would go up

• Pray for wisdom for the medical team

• Pray for low leukemia cell counts on July 1

• Pray for preparations for when Liam comes home (when this happens, it will be another major adjustment for our family)

• Pray for endurance for Emily and I

• Pray for Lily and Jack and their continued adjustment

• Pray that God would keep us and grow our faith through this