This series of articles chronicles the lessons that I learnt or which were reinforced as my beloved wife, Sophany battled cancer, and then went home to be with the Lord in October, 2020. But these lessons can also be applied to your life, with whatever trials you may go through.
The title ‘Lessons from the Valley’ is taken from Psalm 23:4: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Introduction:
In this life, even if you are a Christian, you WILL still encounter many trials and difficulties of various sorts (e.g. Job 5:7; James 1:2). How do we handle this and make sense of it, and where is God in all of this? These are the sorts of important issues I have been wanting to address in this series.
By far the hardest and most challenging trial I have been through (and continuing to go through), is the death of my beloved wife Sophany last year (Oct 11th, 2020). And on top of that, my own health (Crohn’s disease) started to slip earlier this year (2021), and as a result had to give up pastoring a Church I loved much, and then move to a different State here in Australia (where there is a warmer climate, which is better for my health). So things have definitely been very challenging since the end of Jan last year (2020), from the time Sophany was diagnosed with Lung Cancer. And all this has been accompanied by the Covid situation, with all the accompanying restrictions and challenges (especially when I was living in the State of Victoria before I moved).
But, I am definitely not alone in going through challenging trials. What difficulties are you facing right now or will encounter in the future? On the one hand, even as Christians, we will still grieve over the loss of ones we loved, we will still feel the impact of challenging circumstances we face, whether its the passing of someone close to us, whether its the loss of a job, declining health, relationship problems, betrayl, financial difficulties, loneliness, or whatever it may be. God created us with feelings and emotions, so it is natural to feel the impact of such things, and some circumstances could impact you and I for the rest of our life!
But thankfully there is much comfort and hope in the midst of all of this. If you are a disciple (believer and follower) of Jesus Christ, God’s grace is available to you (see 2 Cor 12:9 quoted above). The Lord’s grace and help and mercy is available to us. This greatly helped Sophany and I last year, and is continuing to help and sustain me now – God’s amazing grace!!
In Parts 1 & 2 of this series, I began to look at the lessons which impacted me last year as Sophany went through her Cancer struggle, and which continue to impact me now, as I live life without the woman I greatly loved.
Here is a brief recap of parts 1 & 2:
- Lesson 1 is that as believers, we will still go through trials and difficult circumstances in this life (James 1:2).
- Lesson 2 is that the Lord is WITH us in the Valley (Psalm 23:4; John 14:23). This is an amazing promise that we are never alone as a Christian. The sovereign Creator of the Universe is with us, and will never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
- Lesson 3 is that the Lord Himself went through the Valley. Jesus Christ came to the Earth about 2000 years ago. He was God in the flesh, and came to be the ONLY sacrifice and Saviour for our sins!! In doing so, He unjustly endured great suffering and pain for us!! (e.g. Isaiah 52:14; 53:1-6). And He rose from the dead on the 3rd day and is alive now!! As a result, we are able to cry out to Him for mercy and grace at any time (Hebrews 4:14-16).
We will now continue on with the lessons that have impacted me, and I pray will be an encouragement to you, in whatever trials and difficulties that you encounter.
During our marriage, Sophany and I had the great joy of going to Cambodia 6 times together. Each time we were involved in ministry, where Sophany would do a great job interpreting for me!! But, we also made sure that we spent time relaxing. This photo was taken at probably our favourite spot – Serendipity Beach, in Southern Cambodia.
Lesson 4 from the Valley: The Lord is sovereign over our life:
This is a major biblical truth which has great practical consequences for our lives. This was (and still is for me) a major factor in how Sophany and I were able to cope with the situation through last year with her cancer. The teaching that the Lord is sovereign means that absolutely everything we go through (whether good OR BAD), is under the Lord’s control and in His purposes (will look at this below in lesson 5). Of course, we will still feel the effects and be impacted by trials we go through (this is ‘normal’ and to be expected); BUT, the more we take hold of the Lord’s sovereignty in our lives, the more it will impact us in very major ways. E.g. it will alleviate fear, anxiety, worry, discontentment, depression, anger at our circumstances (which is really anger towards God), etc.
We live in a fear-driven society (which has really come to the fore the past few years, and will no doubt continue into the future with (supposed) man-made climate change). Now more than ever, it’s so important to constantly remind ourselves of the Lord’s sovereignty in our lives AND His providential working in everything and everyone around us, and in His creation (Colossians 1:15-17; Isaiah 45:7; ). Throughout Scripture, the Lord’s providential working in the world around us, in nations, in individual lives, etc is constantly and clearly seen.
With all the fear and hysteria around us about (supposed) climate change catastrophe on the near horizon, the Bible tells us that His creation will continue on (Hebrews 1:3), until the appointed time when Jesus Christ will return a 2nd time to judge unbelievers, and believers will go to be in the presence of the Lord forever. Until that time, the Lord promises to sustain the Earth (there will be no climate change catastrophe in the meantime!!):
Genesis 8:22: “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”
In the Lord’s perfect timing, AFTER THE PROMISED SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST, there will be a spectacular ‘climate change’ (as such), when the heavens and the earth will be burnt by fire, and there will be a new heavens and a new earth (2 Peter 3:1-7).
On a national level, we see the Lord’s control. E.g. King Nebuchnezzar of Babylon said the following: Daniel 4:17: The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’
We also see how the Lord providentially works in individuals lives (Acts 17:25-26; Psalm 139:13-16). An example is the account of Joseph in Genesis chapters 37-50. Joseph experienced much evil and injustice. He was sold into slavery by his own brothers. And then in Egypt he was unjustly thrown into prison. The Lord was in control though, and worked the situation that Joseph was released from prison and became 2nd in charge behind Pharaoh. There was a famine, and Joseph’s family came to Egypt, where Joseph met with them, and said the following to them:
Genesis 50:20: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”
In other words, Joseph recognised that all the suffering he endured was under the sovereign control of God, in order to achieve His purposes!! And God’s Word teaches that everything we go through, is under the sovereign loving control of our Lord. And because of this, none of our trials are meaningless. There are purposes to what we go through:
Lesson 5 from the Valley: The Lord’s Purposes in the Valley:
The trials and difficulties that we go through are not mere ‘bad luck’ or meaningless. The Lord is working out His purposes in the midst of what we experience and go through.
There is a major misconception which has swept into the Christian world in the last generation like a tsunami. That is, that God’s major priority is to make us happy (e.g. by curing our sicknesses, by delivering us from all of our difficulties etc – especially if we have enough faith). BUT, BIBLICALLY THIS IS NOT GOD’S MAJOR PRIORITY. The Lord’s major priority is for His own glory!!
Romans 11:36: For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
And there is also the general promise that God causes ALL THINGS to work for our ultimate good:
Romans 8:28: And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
This ‘good’ is explained in the next verse: Romans 8:29: “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” The ‘good’ is NOT that we become happy, but that we grow in our sanctification (in becoming more Christ-like in our life), that we grow in practical holiness (Ephesians 1:4), that we grow in our walk and relationship with the Lord (James 1:2-4).
And when, by the Lord’s grace, we recognise that the Lord is providentially working in our life, for His glory and for our ultimate good, then we have an inner contentment (e.g. Philippians 4:4-7, 10-13), which is deeper than mere ‘happiness’, of which is so dependent on the outward circumstances of our life, which can change in an instant.
Ephesians 1:11-12: “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.”
We may often not know the specifics of why the Lord ordains and allows what He does in our lives, but we do know that He is working out everything for His glory, and for our ultimate good. As a result, we can fully trust the Lord and commit our lives into His loving, gracious hands. One of my favourite passages, which I take much comfort in, is the following:
Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Conclusion:
As we have been looking at, the Bible gives us much comfort and hope in the midst of the trials and tribulations that we each go through in this life. In the midst of losing my beloved Sophany last year, who I of course dearly miss, I don’t know the specifics of why the Lord ordained this. But, I take much comfort in knowing that the Lord is sovereign, and it was within the purposes of the Lord that Sophany is now in the direct presence of the Lord. The Lord providentially works His purposes for His glory and our ultimate good. With this, we can put our trust and life in His loving hands.
Romans 8:35-39: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
There will be one more part to this series, where I will share 3 more biblical lessons ‘from the Valley’ that have impacted me.
N.B. Two very highly recommended books (by the same author), which have personally helped and encouraged me a lot are:
- Trusting God by Jerry Bridges
- Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges.
Hi Andrew,
Wow! 1 Thess 4: 18 Therefore comfort one another with these WORDS……
God has surely gifted you as a “wordsmith” of his divine word. You are active in delivering the powerful gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Carefully and rightly dividing the word/ words of truth in love, thought and a true pastoral heart.
Thank you mate.
Your friend and brother in Jesus Christ
Rod Clark
Thanks brother for your encouragement! Praise God!
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