Shall We

"Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" (Job 2:10).


When life is, by our definition, good, we typically respond in two ways. Either we forget God has allowed for a season of peace and goodness, therefore having no gratitude and giving no thanks to God, or we remember that "every good and perfect gift is from above" from God. When life is, by our definition, bad, we typically respond in two ways as well. Either we grow cold and angry toward God for allowing such calamity or hardship, or we give thanks to God, "counting it all joy when we encounter various tests and trials" because we know they lead us to spiritual maturity.

When Job was stricken with hardship, he had a choice to make. He lost his children, his possessions and eventually his health. When the dust had settled, we also find that he had lost a supportive wife. She encouraged her husband, the ever-devoted follower of God, to simply curse God and die. But Job's response is probing and convicting. He asked, "Shall we accept good from God but not adversity?" Certainly we all are guilty of this. Things go well so God is swell. Things get sad and God is bad.

Shall we be so superficial and immature? Shall we gladly receive the good and then gripe, bellyache and complain when God allows challenges to come our way to grow us up, grow us strong and to grow us to be like Him? It's so easy to raise our hands and worship God when things are good (though many times we fail to do so thinking we have no need of God). But Job, regardless of all the bad news and bad days he had experienced, refused to allow His response to God be any different in the bad times, when all was lost, as his response had been during the good days, when God had blessed him immensely.

I was reading the Book of Job in the last week. Over the past 4 weeks or so, Micah has been home and doing well (in large part). I gladly accepted and welcomed the good that God had brought. However, on Monday of this past week, I left home just before 7:00 AM to go with some of our students for our summer camp in Hilton Head, SC. Sarah departed the house at about 9:00 AM to take Micah for a check-up at Duke. Little did we realize that both of us would spend the entire week away from home.


While we knew there were some issues going on with Micah, we didn't quite expect a week long stay in the hospital. And I struggled with being away and Micah and Sarah being in the hospital. I almost became angry that after such a good span of being home and doing quite well that Micah was back at Duke. While I know it is to be expected, seeing progress obliterated in moments, because of sickness and hospitalizations, that took weeks to develop frustrated me. I was frustrated that we were going to regress again. Then this passage I had recently read came to mind. (You know, the Lord has a great way of helping us recall His word at very significant and needed times.) I was reminded that my response to God should be the same regardless of time or trouble. Should I accept only the good He gives?

When Micah arrived on Monday at Duke, the initial concern and problem was Micah's returning fever of about 104 degrees. This proved to be the result of an infection in Micah's central line. Yet there are other issues at play for which doctors aren't certain as to the cause or if there is a problem. Micah had a CT Scan on Thursday and then an endoscopy on Friday. The results of these tests and biopsies (of some samples collected from his bowels during the endoscopy) have not shown any problems. Mainly, the doctors are seeking to address the infection and the fluid that has been collecting and enlarging his abdomen.

In spite of it all, Micah is doing pretty good. Of course, when the fevers strike, he feels pretty rotten. Nevertheless, he is probably the happiest he's been in quite a long time. He and Sarah arrived home about an hour after I arrived home on Friday. He is able to sit up by himself occasionally. As a matter of fact, even today when we were running errands and ate out, it was the first time Micah has ever been able to sit in a high chair at the table with us. I was so grateful for such a small (yet HUGE) thing.

I know several of you have been faithfully checking here for a recent update. When everyone is home, it seems time gets away so easily and I am so busy that I fail to write an entry. For some of you, news that Micah was hospitalized this past week may be new for you. I am sorry that I did not have an opportunity to update while gone. I did not take my computer with me. To those of you who knew and prayed, thank you so much.

Micah will return on Monday for a check up. I'll do my best to update at the first of the week.

Thank you!