IMPOSSIBLE SITUATIONS

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I Was Just Thinking About – IMPOSSIBLE SITUATIONS.

There are times in life’s situations where the unexpected and wanted become realities in one’s life. For men and women in the Military it can be an explosive device devised and utilized by an enemy to kill, maim or destroy. A growing number of survivors of such exposure return home with missing limbs or mental disorders. In what is referred to as normal life, some people become impacted because of dementia, Alzheimer’s, a stroke or some other debilitating disease. Any or all of these place limitations upon the life of the one so afflicted or impacted.

Perhaps none is as frightening as being diagnosed with a Stage 4 Cancer. This becomes confirmed after a PET (Positive Emission Topography) Scan. Mayo Clinic describes it as: “It is an imaging test that helps reveal how one’s tissues and organ are functioning. The PET Scan uses a radioactive drug (tracer) to show this activity. The tracer may be injected, swallowed or inhaled. The tracer collects in areas of one’s body that has higher levels of chemical activity. Which often correspond to areas of disease. On a PET Scan, these areas show up as bright spots.” It is a usual scan to detect suspected cancer in one’s body.

What should one do when diagnosed with a Stage 4 classification of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma? Depending on where the cancer is located, it can bring one’s life to a sudden halt or change. In some cases, if it has impacted the throat region, it can and will limit swallowing and breathing. If it is deemed treatable, it may/will entail having a Tracheoscopy to open up the breathing capability. It will also necessitate the use of a PEG Tube being inserted. “PEG stands for Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy, a procedure in which a flexible feeding tube is placed through the abdominal wall and into the stomach. PEG allows nutrition, fluids and/or medications to be put directly into the stomach, bypassing the mouth and esophagus.” There is also the necessity to begin an aggressive Chemotherapy and Steroid regimen, usually every third week.

At this point, you may be overwhelmed by all of the above information. But, it is all part of a sudden change in one’s life within the framework of an impossible situation. Part of the regular routine is a pervasive question that is posed at each visit: “In that past few weeks, have you given any thought about ending your own life?” When looking at some individuals in the Fusion Center where Chemotherapy is administered, some people appear to be in distress, depressed or having given up hope of any recovery.

How should a child of God react or respond to any impossible situation? For the one who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, and by His grace alone been given eternal life, what is the basis for hope and confidence in the Lord? First is the truth expressed in Luke 1:37, “For NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.” Second is the confidence shared in Daniel 3:16-18, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied: King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, THE GOD WE SERVE IS ABLE TO DELIVER US from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.  But even if he does not, we want you to know…that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Third is Ephesians 3:20-21, “Now to HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DO IMMEASURABLY MORE THAN ALL WE ASK OR IMAGINE, according to his power that is at work within us,  to him be glory…” Even though one may have to adjust or cope with a difficult situation, his or her hope must be in the truth that Nothing Is Impossible When You Put For Faith In God Alone. As I prayed and trusted in these truths in my challenging situation, I was blest to hear the Doctor say to me yesterday “You are in complete remission.”

Prayerfully – consider these things with me!