Thank You, Lord, September 27
Inside the Cancer Journey: Daily Reflections for Those Coping with Cancer
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By Thomas Sherrod
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! (Romans 11:33 NIV)
I’m a man. Generally speaking, men like to fix things. I have to be reminded frequently by my wife and daughters that they do not need their feelings or their dilemmas fixed. But I am their protector, and don’t like to see my loved ones hurting! It is agonizing to just listen and be compassionate. I struggle to trust that they will work through it and find their own way. Ugh! Amazingly enough, they do survive without my expert advice! Nobody wants a Mr. Know-It-All, anyway! I think I will give up that role—much to my family’s delight!
Our verse today appears at the close of Paul’s exhaustive attempt to explain some very confusing topics that scholars still wrestle with. Theological debates are entertaining and important—if they don’t create divisions over the non-essentials. I love how Paul finally brings his thoughts on these confusing topics to a celebratory end. He basically says, “It is beyond me!” In our verse for today, he says, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” (Romans 11:33)
He rejoices that God’s wisdom and knowledge are beyond our understanding. He uses the word “unsearchable.” God’s judgments and ways are past finding out. Google searches won’t explain the complexities of God to our limited human mind. It is like a child asking their parent, “Why do you love me?” A satisfactory answer cannot be articulated. But the child can be thankful that they are loved!
How many unanswerable questions, thoughts, and feelings have you had since your cancer diagnosis? (Are there too many to mention?) The whys and what-ifs can quietly mount up like cinder blocks forming a dividing wall between you and God. Is this being too dramatic? Some days it might be. Other days—or especially at night—it might be an understatement. Simply rejoicing in God’s infinite wisdom and love for you may act as a bulldozer toppling any dividing wall between you and God. A walk on the beach viewing the horizon does it for me. My compulsive need to understand everything evaporates like the sea mist. I can celebrate that God’s ultimate motive is to invite me into an eternal intimate relationship with Him. Why not celebrate and stand in awe at being a part of a wonderful and miraculous creation? “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Romans 11:33a)
Pray: Lord, I stand in awe of Your creation and of Your love for me. Thank You for helping me trust in You. You bring my heart peace that the world cannot give. Amen.
Your Turn: Ask God for the gift to just sit in His presence, enjoy His fellowship, and rejoice in His goodness.
Thomas W. Sherrod, Cancer Survivor
Tom is a retired hospital chaplain who works part time for Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Health System in North Carolina. He organized and facilitated a cancer support group for twenty years as part of his hospital ministry. He is married for forty-four years and enjoys his three daughters, two sons-in-law, and five grandchildren. He is a recent survivor of prostate cancer and is immensely thankful for all of God's grace and provisions through it all.
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