Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us. II Corinthians 7:6
When my husband Jerry was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer back in October 1982, I couldn’t imagine how I would continue to live. Fear and pain accompanied me everywhere, even in sleep. I wasn’t angry with God; I would go on if only I knew how, but I didn’t. It seemed that I was totally helpless and no escape was possible. Family, friends, God’s Word, prayer, phone calls, visits, casseroles, books of inspiration, hugs–nothing comforted me. I almost stopped eating, rarely slept, never laughed, couldn’t read or concentrate.
On one particular horrific night when Jerry was back in the hospital, the fear arrived promptly at three o’clock in the morning. I actually fled my bedroom to a guest room, I curled into a ball and cried out, “God, give me something–or I can’t go on!” God planted just one word in my pounding heart. Nevertheless.
Eventually, I discovered it’s used in the Bible more than two hundred times. I figured out that God isn’t a God of “what if” but of “nevertheless”.
Two months later Jerry died, but the power of “nevertheless living” got me through. I’ve come to agree with the astonishing statement of Gene Edwards in his little gem The Inward Journey: “Thank you, friend pain.”
Father, in the name of Jesus, I pray for life-changing comfort for anyone who needs to hear from You right now.
