Finding God in the Places We'd Never Choose to Go -- Jason Brown

Finding God in the Places We'd Never Choose to Go -- Jason Brown

The following is quoted from Mike Buccowich's blog.  You can find his blog at: http://buccowich.blogspot.com/.  When it comes to sharing about how God is present in the pain and hardship of life, Mike's voice is one we can trust.  He and Susan are there.  And so is God.  Anyway, here it is . . . 

"Susan and I are continually aware of God’s greater purposes during our season of struggling with her brain cancer. We don’t know exactly what those purposes are, but we know God does, and we trust Him. Once again, it comes down to a profound mystery. We are not promised a life of ease or one that is free from threat, devoid of pain, or absent of calamity. But God does give us His presence and His peace during hardship – more than enough for us. The mystery is not just the fact of God’s hidden purposes during tough times – it’s that the circumstances do not need to be attended by the fear, worry and despair that naturally follow apart from God. That is a marvelous gift.

"One other gift I’ve come to appreciate with our cancer journey has been the gift of intimacy with my wife. I think it’s the result of time spent. We’ve been together a lot over the past seventeen months, during periods ranging from uncertainty about death to lightness and joy. We laugh a lot . . . We’ve had countless tender moments of sharing our deepest hearts with each other and professing our mutual love. We just enjoy being together. We genuinely never tire of each other – I guess that’s the mark of abiding love. We trust each other totally as our lives are more intertwined than they ever have been. Susan knows I’ll do anything for her. Anything. And she never forgets to express her appreciation . . . I’m not surprised it took brain cancer to bring us to the finest point of our marriage, and I’m not even sorry for it. To rally together and grow closer during hard times is the way it should be."

 

 

Posted on Mon, November 24, 2008 by Jason Brown

3 comments (Add your own)

1. Alecia wrote:
I was so blessed--and humbled--when I read this last week, again upon hearing it yesterday and now, yet again, upon reading it here. Richard Foster says that "training in the spiritual disciplines is necessary so that we will do the right thing at the right time for the right reasons." I know Mike and Susan spent time training for this battle long before they knew of Susan's cancer: they meditated on God's Word, prayed, praised, worshiped, loved, served, etc. Now, in this hour of trial, that which is their habitual practice shines even more brightly. Seems typical of all heroes of the faith. Intimacy with God, practiced in good times, comes back to bless one hundred-fold in tough times--sickness, financial crisis, grief, whatever. What's that saying, "crisis doesn't make character, it reveals it?" Maybe the bigger thought is that our crises are occasions for God to reveal HIS character.

Mon, November 24, 2008 @ 12:33 PM

2. Sea Baits wrote:
It's a challenging conviction for me to read the sobering truths that Mike is experiencing. The wrestle that I have, due to such a selfish and tainted perspective, is wondering if I would even want the joy that comes with the cost that the Buccowich's, and many others pay. But I'm encouraged because perhaps Mike, and others, have experienced an unspeakable joy that exceeds what I currently view or know joy to be.

I have great respect and admiration for soldiers in the faith like Mike.

What an example of how to FINISH STRONG!

Mon, November 24, 2008 @ 12:46 PM

3. almita wrote:
We are indeed blessed to know and hear Mike's eloquent description of the difficult, yet victorious, journey that He and Susan are on. Because of his willingness to share it with all of us, we are strengthened and assured that we never need to fear the future because of the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus - who has promised that He would require no more than we can bear. When we imagine some difficult circumstance and wonder if we would be able to bear it, we are cheating ourselves because we can only know of God's faithfulness when we actually have to go through such a circumstance. I've lived a long time and have done some of those kinds of imaginings. I have discovered that God doesn't give grace "on credit". But I have also learned that He does give it when I need it - and I have needed it many times in my life. We serve a faithful and loving God who only permits hard times into the life of His kids to mold and shape them into the image of His dear Son. I sure do love Him!

Tue, November 25, 2008 @ 10:03 AM

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