Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,
2 Peter 2:9 ESV
My oldest daughter, Randi, called me late one night to say that she was contemplating a trip to the emergency room. When I asked about her symptoms she explained that she had an “unusual sensation” in her abdomen.
“Not exactly pain,” she said. “More of a throbbing sensation.”
Suspecting a possible abdominal aortic aneurysm—which presents with similar symptoms—we made the mutual decision that she should go right in. She told me that she felt a little silly, since she wasn’t actually doubled over in pain. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off with her body.
Randi spent the night in the E.R. undergoing tests and was surprised to learn that it wasn’t an aneurysm at all. Instead, doctors discovered a mass on the outside of her small intestine, a very rare mesenteric lymphangioma, wrapped in arteries, causing the pulsation.
Several weeks later, Randi underwent surgery to have the mass removed. It turned out to be larger than expected, and made for a somewhat complicated surgery that required a resection of the small intestine. After sending the mass to pathology, it was proven to be benign, praise the Lord!
The Goodness of God
During her recovery, we had a long talk about the goodness of God. Had she not felt that “strange sensation” in her abdomen, she would never have gone in to the hospital. Left untreated, the mass could have grown quite large, and likely would have turned malignant. Her “sense” that something was “off” probably saved her life.
What the enemy meant for evil in my daughter’s life, God used for good. And she has been so quick to give him all of the praise! I’m forever thankful that she heard that little whisper from the Lord and used it as a catalyst to see a doctor. Hearing His voice, and responding in obedience, spared her.
He still speaks today. In fact, if you lean in close, He might be whispering something in your ear right now! If so, will you obey?
Challenging Thought: When you lean in close, can you hear God’s voice? What’s something specific He has spoken to your heart recently?
Read more devotions like this one in a new book Janice co-authored with Louise Looney titled An Overcoming Walk of Peaks and Valleys, now available on Amazon!
