A hope and a future. “You can’t choose what happens to you, but you can choose how you are going to respond to it.” These were the words of my friend, Cindy, a few months after she received the news she had Alzheimer’s disease. She chose to live in hope.
Shock and tears were the initial reactions of both her and her husband to this dreaded information. Alzheimer’s disease is a terrifying diagnosis. It interferes with one’s short term memory, eventually making the simplest activities difficult.
Cindy was young, barely in her fifties. She was intelligent, well-read, and accustomed to using her mind to think things through. She had no delusions about what was ahead of her. But unlike many people in hard situations, she refused to feel sorry for herself.
As the disease progressed, Cindy inspired and encouraged the people around her in ways that are only possible for someone in the midst of difficult circumstances. It is easy to praise God and smile in the sunshine, and it is good to do so. But somehow it is more authentic and has more impact in a storm.
She decided she would enjoy her life, no matter how the days unfolded. She slowed her pace. She left a job she loved, because she felt it necessary to control some of the stress in her life. She focused on her family and made the most of the time she had with them. She continued to enjoy reading, walking her dog, and keeping life as normal as possible.
She had always taken an interest in other people and their concerns. She continued to pray for, and encourage others through their challenges. Most importantly, she relied on her faith–not a positive-thinking outlook, but a faith that rested firmly on the character of God. She drew strength from Him. She continued to cling to hope. She trusted God for the future.
“How can you be so positive about this?” someone asked her at one point.
“Because I know God is with me,” Cindy answered. Until the end of her life, she claimed Jeremiah 29:11. ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.’ “I have a hope and a future,” Cindy said. “I don’t know the immediate, but I have a good future ahead of me. God is in this. I know He is in control and He won’t abandon me. I can trust Him.”
We don’t have all the answers about why things happen as they do. Because we live in a broken world we are all subject to hardship, sickness or death at any time. We also know from the book of Job there are unseen things happening in the spiritual world we know nothing about. God gives us some insight into our circumstances, but He doesn’t owe us explanations. Life is filled with elements of mystery. God doesn’t reveal everything. He doesn’t tell us why some experience especially dark times and others are spared. The secret things belong to Him alone, and He will only reveal the things He wants us to know (Deuteronomy 29:29.)
In the midst of our questions, we can know God. We can know His character. We can trust Him. He proved His love for us at the cross. Cindy knew her God. And in her darkest moments, that was enough.
Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! 1 Chronicles 16:11
How has God strengthened you in your darkest moments? Please leave a comment below.
Blessings,
Phyllis
Copyright 2024 Phyllis L. Farringer
Image by Jean-Christophe Labbé from Pixabay
Thank you for sharing this tribute to your friend, Phyllis. And that we should all know that God never leaves, never fails, and never forsakes any of His children. Prayers for you.
Thank you, Joni. God’s faithfulness is our confidence.