You are my hiding place and my shield, I hope in Your word. (Psalm 119:114)
As Christians, we need to hide in God. The psalmist clearly tells God that He is his hiding place and protector. His word which is Jesus is our hiding place. With all the hardships in life, it is God’s word alone that sees us through. Jesus said He would never leave us nor forsake us and He is the living Word. Our hope is in the very Word of God, Jesus Himself.
A few years ago I had gone to the doctors to have a lump removed. The doctors were convinced that is was lymphoma because of the location of the growth and the physical symptoms I was going through. The lump was present for about a year prior to the doctors urgent beckoning to have it removed but I was standing on God’s word believing for a miracle. After all, this was not the first time my life that I was being threatened to be taken out and God always came through. I was learning to run into my hiding place. The week before the surgery, my doctor was speaking to me about chemotherapy and radiation. He was telling me that lymphoma was the main way people with HIV end up. At the time I had been battling HIV for 17 years, so the enemy obviously placed thoughts in my mind saying, well Michael it is your time to go home now, your life will soon be over. You have already way outlived your prognosis by seven years so just be thankful you made it this far.” I immediately silenced the voice in my head and said,”I will live and not die to declare the works of the Lord!” I left the doctors office with my doctor extremely concerned and me clinging to God’s original word to me that He would heal me of my incurable disease. A week later I was in surgery to have the lump removed. Every day I called the doctor for the results and each day I heard nothing. Finally a week later I called the doctor and he knew that if it was cancer they would be checking to see what exact type it was and how to treat it. He said to me,” Michael, I will call you back and let you know.” A little while later I receive a phone call. My dad and I were sitting in my living room and I answered the phone and put it on speaker so whatever the news, my father and I would hear it together. My doctor said, “Michael, you need to sit down.” Everything inside me felt as if it was melting away. Fear tried to grip me but I instantly took authority over it as I sat down. My doctor said, ‘Michael, your God has come through again! This is a miracle! The lump that was removed that we knew for sure was lymphoma was biopsied and is not cancer. Not only that but they dont even have an explanation or determination of what to call it. We just know it is not cancer.” My fathers eyes filled with tears of joy and I right away knew that my faith was being tested and also what was being tested was the depth of my relying on Jesus as my hiding place during the trials of life. I had passed the test! Just when I was about to hang up the phone the doctor said, “Michael, there is one more thing. These results were ready the very day after your surgery and for some reason they never came up on my computer all this time. You could have known everything was fine a while ago. I guess God wanted you to trust Him through this.” I responded,”you are absolutely right doctor!”
I tell this true story to show you that God’s goodness and mercy are shown to us many times in terrible situations. We are not immune to hardships as believers, but rather we are made to overcome! You and I are warriors for God’s kingdom. Put your armor on and stand strong against the enemy of your soul and hope in God’s word! He has the final say. He has your life planned out and His plans for you are to prosper you and give you a future and a hope. The hope we have is in His word!
Pastor Michael Cannatello
The Teaching Ministry of Michael Cannatello
