The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
I want to start by asking for continued prayers for my wife. Prayers for her complete healing, whether that’s through God removing the cancer before surgery or guiding the doctors, that it won’t spread and that He would fill our hearts with peace through it all.
I’m so grateful for the incredible woman He has given me as my partner, strength and best friend. Our biggest prayer is that God uses this journey not only to bring her healing, but to point others to Jesus and show His hope and faithfulness every step of the way.
Do you ever feel scared of the future and unknowns? Seasons of waiting can be very difficult. My wife and I are in that season currently, waiting to see what God has in store for this breast cancer journey.
We are still human and become weak, crying out to God at times, but this forces us to lean on Him and His strength. God has truly blessed us beyond measure and I’m so grateful for the wife He has given me. His love and presence has shined more than ever recently.
After the news two weeks ago, we had to wait to find out when a place in St. Louis could get her into see a surgeon. It’s one of the best cancer facilities in the country. This place had been recommended by several people.
We felt very strongly God was leading us there. We found out last week that the earliest they could get her an appointment was January 9th. This was a lot farther out than we’d hoped for. God is still good, His timing is always perfect and He has a plan.
This type of cancer can spread into the bones, blood or other places if not taken care of soon enough. They normally like to get it taken care of within 8 weeks of the biopsy and this date would be pushing 9 weeks and possibly much later for the surgery.
Why did God chose January 9th? We may never know, but He wants us to trust Him and the times of waiting grow our faith. Joshua 1:9 says “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
He reminded me of that verse while in the waiting last week after we got the date set. Those voices still crept in, if we’d heard God right though as they often do. The devil likes to put those thoughts in our minds and it’s so important to cry out to God when He does. They’re always lies straight from the enemy. Thankfully God works all things out for the good.
On Wednesday night my wife was reflecting and wondered if maybe we needed to find another hospital that could get her in sooner, even though we’d felt at peace. God laid on my heart to reach out to a friend that I’d just met this fall. He’s another farmer that is walking with the Lord. The Lord has surrounded me with so many amazing people these last few years, that leave no other explanation other than Him.
I’d been praying for years that He would connect me with some good brothers in Christ and He’s done just that with His perfect timing. God connected us through Facebook and found out he doesn’t live too far from me and my wife. A few weeks after that we actually ran into each other at a gas station, while I was on the road during harvest.
We got to talk for a few minutes and share testimony. It was no coincidence and I knew God had a reason from the beginning. When we first started asking for prayers, he had reached out about some friends who had just gone through a similar journey.
Last Wednesday before I left for men’s group over near Champaign, I felt led to reach out to him and ask some questions about this hospital they’d recommended. He set me up with a phone call to his friend, as his wife had gone this a few years ago.
Come to find out his wife had the same doctor and she was world renowned for treating breast cancer for women under forty. He shared so many positive and encouraging things about that doctor and hospital.
God was speaking right through Him with every word. This thirty minute phone conversation gave me and my wife so much peace and hope, that we’d heard God right. The next night as God was still giving us peace, my wife prayed a very specific prayer.
She prayed that God would make it clear with a specific sign she’d asked. This doesn’t always happen and a lot of times we just have to trust God and live by faith. But the next morning God gave her that exact sign that left no other explanation. The Holy Spirit was leading the way.
Later that day she got a phone call from the hospital and they had a new opening on December 23rd. She took it and we knew God was behind it. This is much sooner and still gives God time to work if He wants to remove the cancer before that date. She’ll have a few more tests done that day to see if there’s been any changes.
Why did God open the door to December 23rd after a few weeks in that season of the waiting? We may never know, but we do know His hands are in the details, He’s in total control and His timing is always perfect. It has already grown our faith, relationship with Him and we know God will use all of this for the good and His glory. John 12:23 says “But Jesus answered them, saying, ‘The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.’”
When we die to ourselves and surrender daily, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead our thoughts, words and actions. Things begin to change and God’s name will always be glorified in every circumstance. Whether God removes the cancer Himself or guides the doctors in that process. He is still good and will use every little detail to grow our faith and further His kingdom. His plans are always better than our own.
Thank you for all of the prayers and continued prayers. No matter how this journey unfolds, our prayer is that God alone would be glorified. We choose to trust Him in the waiting, lean on Him in the unknown and praise Him in advance for what He is already doing. We believe God is faithful, near and He is working even when we cannot see it.
May this season point hearts to Jesus, strengthen faith and remind others that our hope and peace is not in the circumstances, but in Christ alone!