Very likely, you saw my jubilant Facebook post, yesterday, about my friend. You know, the one who has been readying to battle the devil cancer, but was spared? If you were to go back and read the original blog post, you’d note that it was written over two weeks ago, the day before we thought she was having her tumor removed.

Well, it didn’t happen that day.

All the doctors working on her case were in agreement that it was cancer, going into this thing. But they also agreed that they needed to handle it with care. There were more tests done, needle biopsies and all manor of other non-invasive testing because they were concerned with (read: scared of) that tumor. They wanted to know exactly what they were dealing with up front so they would know the best way to handle it surgically. It seemed it wasn’t a matter of IF it was lung cancer, but what type. The needle biopsy was inconclusive, however, so after waiting an additional two weeks, she was finally scheduled for surgery.

A surgical plan was made, and chemo plans were discussed. Prayer warriors, which had been summoned two weeks prior, were given their marching orders, and march they did, straight to the throne of heaven. As surgery happened yesterday, people from all over hit their knees and waited, me among them.

I’d like to tell you that I was certain God would perform a miracle at the beginning of this trial. I wanted Him to. I asked Him to. Begged, really. But truthfully, everything seemed to point to my friend having to walk through this challenge. In my heart of hearts, I was trusting and believing that my God could spare her from it, but didn’t think He would. Because I know my friend, and I know that, regardless of the valley God asks her to walk, she will and DOES bring glory to Him, making much of His name in the process. I could see Him taking her way down deep to the bottom because there were others down there that needed to hear about Him.

So, when I got this text, right after surgery, from a friend on the ground, I was blown clean away…

It’s benign!!!!!!! The doctors are surprised. But we should not be!!

She’s right, you know. We should not be surprised at anything God does. He has all the answers. He knows how every story ends, where every path leads, how sometimes the destination requires a walk through the valley, but other times there is pass that will get you there. We don’t know any of that, so we always look for the easiest way, bent toward considering the hardships instead of the strengthening that might be ours otherwise. But, it’s precisely because we don’t know any of that, that we should be clinging to a God who does. His ways are not our ways, and THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT.

I know God would’ve healed my friend, even if He’d chosen the long walk through the valley. I do. Whether it would’ve been through the journey, or after she’d crossed on over, well, that’s what I don’t know. But, I trust His ability to see all things and His ability to see our hearts, knowing what we need and the best way to help us get it. Sometimes that requires a valley walk, long and arduous. But sometimes…sometimes there is a PASS, and you delight in the surprise of it, even though you shouldn’t be surprised at all.

And there is absolutely NOTHING ON YOUR TONGUE but HALLELUJAH.

Maybe, just maybe, that’s the point.

“Thank the miracle-working God,
    His love never quits.” Psalm 136:4 MSG

“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts! Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord! For he commanded and they were created.” Psalm 148:1-14 ESV

“Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things!” Psalm 98:1 ESV