A good friend of mine is dying of pancreatic cancer. Our church continues to pray for him, and yet my friend continues to die. Where's God?
There's a man who lives around the corner from my family. We'll call him "Bob" (I am withholding his real name to protect his privacy). Bob and his wife are a dear family in our church fellowship, and Bob is dying of pancreatic cancer.
He was diagnosed with cancer a few short months ago. Since that time, we've watched Bob slowly and painfully die. His condition continues to deteriorate, to the point that now Bob lives in a hospital bed that's taken over the family living room. He has to be bathed, changed, and cared for constantly - normally by his wife, with some help from others.
His family and our church continue to pray for Bob, but God has not healed him. I believe that what Bob is facing is why books like Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion, Sam Harris' The End of Faith, and Christopher Hitchens' God is Not Great enjoy bestselling status. It's why many people of faith lose their faith, drift away from church, and become angry and bitter about life.
No words of mine in this brief blog can erase Bob's pain, the pain of his family and friends, and the pain that many others reading this are enduring right now.
What I can tell you is this.....Bob is trusting God. He continues to pray, not just for personal comfort and healing. But more importantly, he prays for his wife, his family, and his friends and church. He continues to love and believe. And Bob knows that a beautiful home in heaven awaits him when his days here with us come to an end.
So, take some advice from Bob. No matter the pain and suffering around you, keep the faith.
