A friend of ours is walking a very hard road. Twelve years ago a malignant tumour was discovered in her brain. The tumour returned, but was removed with treatment and operations.

The doctors couldn’t believe that she was still alive. Indeed a miracle.

Last week she had to go for tests again and it was found that the tumour had started growing again – at such a speed that they want to operate immediately.

That’s tough. It hurts. There are no answers. On the contrary, you hardly know what questions to ask.

I have no words for my friend and his wife.

What can you say without dishing out cheap comfort? When you’re sitting in the hospital filled with hope, waiting for positive news and suddenly your life is turned head over heels with the news you don’t want to hear, how do you deal with a curve ball like that?

With tears in her eyes she opens up a little bit. She actually testifies to what she had experienced recently. She says she gives all glory to God. She is so afraid of putting herself at the centre of the story instead of God when she tells how God has healed her again and again through the 12 years. She sharply insists that God must have all the glory. It’s all about God and not about her.

I am left speechless by this view of her enormous faith. Even though she is facing a curve ball for the umpteenth time, she has the wisdom to know that all the glory must go to God. Yes, her emotions are running away with her. Many questions run around in her head. Even fear has entered her being, but through it all she keeps on glorifying God.

I suspect she knows what the following two verses are about: 20God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. 21Glory to God in the church! Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus! Glory down all the generations! Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!

The medical panel of 20 top specialists that has been monitoring and treating her for the past 12 years is speechless, because medically speaking … (We all know this sentence.) However, when God is involved you experience real power. Then you experience a God who does miracles. Even greater things that we can dream of.

And that is why she knows she is not at the centre, but a living, almighty, strong God. That is why she has no choice but to get out of the centre of the story and to give all glory to God.

They are facing a difficult time. A time full of questions without answers. A time in which your heart will be heavy. Times when you will be physically too exhausted to even open your eyes or mouth. All that they can cling to is the Almighty God who will give them the strength to push on as He did in the past 12 years.

The rest of us will stand next to them to provide support and to experience the wonder of God at work. Together we will give all glory to Him, because medically speaking…

Bible reading

Ephesians 3:14-21

Reflection

Do you need the power of God?

Do you believe that God is still working powerfully in us today?

Who gets the glory in your life?

Prayer

Father, I need your power in my life. I need it very much. All the glory to You. Amen