July 13th, 2023, is the day I go into surgery. The surgeon will remove a portion of my pancreas, spleen, and the surrounding lymph nodes.

My Endoscopic Ultrasound was the first week of May. They found the tumor during the scan.

I’m looking forward to having the surgery so I can begin the recovery process. Until then, I will use this time to gain as much strength and healing as possible so the surgery and recovery process will go well.

While waiting can be difficult, I know God has guided this process. I am grateful that the tumor was even discovered because many people with this type of tumor go years before a diagnosis. Sometimes they never receive the correct diagnosis.

I am grateful because many people are praying for me, and those prayers have helped me get better rather than continuing to get worse. Even though I still have the tumor, it’s nice to feel more energy and generally better.

The prognosis is good since this tumor is in a good place, and they don’t believe it has spread. Every tumor is serious, but I should be able to recover well from this type of tumor. The surgeon thinks no other treatment will be needed once the tumor is out.

So, I am grateful. So many people suffer from cancer, and their story is much different.

I am also grateful because I know I am safe in Jesus’ arms no matter what happens, good or bad. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that faith is the confidence in what we hope for and assurance for what we don’t (or can’t) see.

I can’t see the outcome of the surgery or this tumor. But I do know the confidence in what I hope, and my hope is not set on the outcome but rather on the One who loves me more than any other.

I said “yes” to Jesus when I was 17 years old. I’ve said “yes” many other times as well. However, I’ve learned that my “yes” has to be every moment of every day. As I’ve said “yes,” my confidence in God’s overwhelming love, care, and protection has grown.

God doesn’t place us in a bubble when we believe. We have the same ups and downs as everyone else. When those difficult times come, which they will, those with faith have confidence that God leads to places of blessing no matter what happens. As Paul said, “…to live is Christ and to die is gain (Phil 1:21).”

My hope and prayer for everyone are that they would discover and experience for themselves the peace of hope that saying “yes” to Jesus and trusting in God’s love and care brings.