I don’t know
anyone who likes to wait for anything. I
certainly don’t. Ever since my
treatments concluded on February 21st, I’ve been waiting to find out
the results. After a couple of months I
was given a date for my follow-up PET scan (May 14th) and an
appointment to find out the results (May 16th). But before I could count on those dates I had
to see my Radiology Oncologist one more time to make sure my throat was healed
enough to actually do the PET scan. I
had that appointment today and everything is a go. Now I’m waiting till next Monday for the
scan. The good news is I don’t have to
wait quite as long for the results because I’ll be seeing my Dr. on the 15th
(next day) instead of the 16th.
But it’s all been waiting.
No one knows
the real value of waiting more than God.
Richard Foster in his classic, Celebration
of Discipline” wrote, Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a
primary spiritual problem. The desperate
need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people,
but for deep people.” That’s exactly
what God wants for us, He wants us to be deep people. And waiting is one of the best ways for that
to happen when we are able to wait in faith.
But waiting in faith is not something that comes naturally to most
people. Instead, worry often takes
center stage and captivates our lives.
But as one of my favorite preachers and authors says, “The difference
between waiting and worrying is focus.”
When our focus is on God then worry begins to disappear.
My Dr.
reiterated to me today that the expectation is the PET scan will be clear. I love that about him, he has been positive
and optimistic during the entire time I have seen him. If that’s the case I’ll have another scan 6
months later which means…more waiting.
My prayer is that I’m going to get better at it as time goes by. One of the things that I will do to try and
help make that happen is read the first two verses of Psalm 62 over and over
again. My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my
stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.
If waiting is a struggle for you then join me in this reading. And pray for me…I’ll be praying for you.
Jesus cares,
Pastor Chris
