Terminal bone cancer. A few days left of life on earth. One of my peers in my home congregation.

“Oh, good God, not again!” I exclaimed within myself at the stunning news Wednesday afternoon.

“How does God figure these things out?” I asked a friend rhetorically Wednesday night in the church parking lot. A friend whose brother had just been operated on for three brain tumors.

This morning I arose earlier after going to bed later last night. Headache. Stress.

Heartache. For friends. For us.

Weights on my mind and heart. Relationships. Finances. Health. Family. Church. Mission.

After eating some protein (brown beans on a slice of cheese, followed by homemade yogurt), I cooked some water and assembled a mug’s-worth of coffee. Sipping and slurping, I read my way through today’s Scripture portion, the second half of Psalm 31:

But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.

Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!

Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

(Psalm 31:14,19,21,24)

My mental and digital cross referencing took me to other verses:

“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD” (Psalm 27:14).

“The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace” (Psalm 29:11).

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Romans 15:13).

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Corinthians 1:3,4).

“The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted” (Psalm 18:46).

“Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work” (2 Thessalonians 2:16,17).

I believe every word of that. Now to remember the general truths and principles. And live by them. And anchor my soul in them. And tell you about them.

Now follow the progression of these three images…

“I will trust in thee” (Psalm 56:3).

“Went and told Jesus” (Matthew 14:12).

God has shown us light! (Psalm 118:27).

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