Anytime and Anywhere

Another great day with energy and hardly any headache! It was wonderful to go to church this morning. The whole message spoke right to what I have been thinking about and experiencing lately. It was about Jesus raising Lazarus from death.

One line in the Scripture reading jumped up from the page at me. Mary and Martha had just sent word to Jesus that their brother, Lazarus, was sick. "When Jesus heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." (John 11:4) This is what I've been hoping and praying for since my diagnosis. "If I have to have cancer, then please use it for something good." And a few weeks ago when things seemed difficult and complicated and when everything seemed to be growing too big for me to handle, I just finally said to God, " This is too much and too big for me to handle. I'm giving it to You to manage and just use me wherever and however you need me."

Well, that was easier said than done. I've been struggling ever since with questions and feelings of depression and feeling sorry for myself and feeling like my body is, or is going to fall apart.

And then I get to church and we sing this song written by a young Japanese girl who died of cancer when she was seven years old. It really touched me! and put me to shame, and spoke to me all at the same time. Here are the words:

Anytime and Anywhere

Anytime and anywhere know that Jesus’ love is there
When in grief and loss, when in pain,
God will strengthen and sustain.
Put your hope in God;
trust his holy Word Every time and everywhere.

Anytime and anywhere know that Jesus’ love is there.
Don’t despair, for God is kind.
Look for joy and you will find.
Put away your fear; God is very near
Every time and everywhere.

Notes by Emily Brink from Reformed Worship online:

This simple hymn text was written by a young Japanese girl who died of cancer at age seven. Junko Takahashi died young, and her faith grew stronger even as she suffered in the hospital. What a testimony this young child has given to a nation where less than 2 percent of the population is Christian!

When hard times come, lines of familiar hymns often leap out at us, catch us unaware, and stick in our throats. At times we cannot sing, we cannot pray. It is then that we need the fellowship of believers more than ever. We need the comfort of knowing that others are singing and praying on our behalf, bringing before God the prayers and songs we cannot sing. Other times we’re amazed at how suffering people are able to sing and find strength in their songs.