Reflecting on My Recent Surgery

This week someone wrote to me to ask if I still believed God's choices are always best. I immediately understood that they were referring to my recent pancreatic surgery, the 30 years of pain that led up to that procedure, and the difficult process of recovery over these past five weeks. I was struck by the directness of the question and the choice of words, but soon remembered that the person was quoting the title of my last sermon – "God's Choices are Always Best" (1 Samuel 16:1-7).

My friend wasn't provoking me. In fact, he fully anticipated that my response would be positive because he believed in God's sovereignty too. But his challenge was still welcomed and it reminded me that the character of our loving Father remains steadfast no matter what our circumstances are here on Earth. During periods of ease or trial, comfort or pain, reassurance or testing, calm or storm, security or risk, health or illness God is the same – a gracious and kind Father who seeks what is eternally best for His people and that which will bring Him the most glory.

God's choices are always best, not because all our prayers are answered as we want, or because a surgery is successful, or because pain is relieved, or because a trial is over, but rather because the LORD is achieving His will, in accordance with His plan, in His time, to accomplish His end goal, which is His glory. Many times, as was the case in Job's tragical life experience, God doesn't even reveal why a trial is necessary. In Job's case, the catalyst that began his tremendous personal suffering was nothing more than a conversation that God had with Satan in Heaven in which God determined that He would be glorified in Job's response to his afflictions. Read the first two chapters of Job. They are a wonderful reminder of God's awesome sovereignty.

Since Christ suffered for us and left an example for us to follow (1 Peter 2:21), we can also expect to encounter various trials in our own lives (James 1:2). But in the midst of the fire, there is one truth that will keep our focus on the gospel of Jesus Christ and thereby strengthen our faith – and that is, even in the midst of the most horrific and murderous event the world has ever seen – the crucifixion of Jesus – God's loving character is revealed to us, as His eternal plan to redeem a people for Himself is put on display for all creation to see. God's choices are always best even when it meant that His only Son would die.

God only makes the best choices for us. We will not waver on that conviction. Nothing will deter us from believing in God's sovereign hand. He is faithful to glorify Himself in all things and we are privileged to be part of that marvellous process. Praise Him!

PS. And thank you, dear church family, for your prayerful support and numerous encouragements over these last five weeks. God has been glorified in you!