When the day came that my oncologist was not going to see me weekly, my surgeon was not going to see me several times a month, my gynecologist did not need to see me as frequent and my acupuncturist was not seeing me twice a week I was thrilled and then terrified. My social life was appointments and I disliked knowing that everyone was keeping a close watch on me. Now I was upset because I was not being watched as closely. And before each "let me go" they reminded me if I had ANY back or bone pain or lingering cough let them know asap. What is bone pain? Everyone's back aches at some point. And you know after an upper respiratory infection the cough can last forever.
Thankfully one of my providers who has been through cancer, herself, told me that now would be the most difficult time. She was right. She told me that for the first time in a year I was going to have time to sit and think about what had happened. I have never been depressed but this was as close as I ever want to be. I found myself worrying about every ache and pain. I began just waiting for signs that "it" would come back. Within a few days I realized that the pity party was over! It was time to trust my future with the One who had healed me. I told God that I was trusting Him, therefore, I would live the gift of today in joy.
At that moment I turned the corner from depression to joy with the word, "therefore". With the storms of doubt raging I was able to say, "therefore, He is my Healer", "therefore, He is my Great Physician", "therefore, He is my Savior."
Therefore is in the King James version of the Bible 1467 times. "Therefore" shows us that ideas have consequences and is one of the most powerful words in Scripture. Romans 5: 1, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God." Romans 8: 1, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," Matthew 6: 34, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Romans 14: 13, "Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. " Romans 6: 12, "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires." 1 Corinthians 6: 20, "...you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."
Every one of these great "therefore's" is showing us what the Scripture is there for!
In this Easter season I leave you with the reality of resurrection and a "therefore" that flows from it.
1 Corinthians 15: 51-58, "'Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.'"
Death has been swallowed up in victory! Stand firm! Therefore, it is Easter! What is your therefore?
Comments