Daily Devotionals
March 26, 2021
Listening and Trusting God
March 26, 2021
By Grace Hamilton, Age 12
DAILY READING
Although I was only 2 ½ when I was diagnosed with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia, I knew I was different and that most kids weren’t spending Fourth of July hooked up to chemotherapy or birthdays getting blood transfusions.
Sometimes when life gets tough, it is hard to see the good in the situation. There are still times when I feel like I can’t do something or there is too much sad and bad in the world, and I just want to give up. But instead, I learned early in life to turn to God.
During my cancer treatment, I saw a lot of doctors, needles, monitors, and crying women. And sometimes it was hard to not make it my only focus, but when we read our Bible, talk to God, or even simply pray, we see that there is always someone who believes in us. God is always there to help us through it. One of my favorite verses is Jeremiah 33:3: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great unsearchable things you do not know.’ I think this verse is so important to remember that God is on our side and will answer our prayers.
One day early in my treatment I lost my words–my sickness and sadness overwhelmed me. For two weeks, the only few words that I could say were to remind my family, friends, and doctors to pray. “Please pray for me to feel better.” This silence took everyone by surprise because if you have met me, you know sometimes I’m a little too talkative. But one day after hours of praying and praying and praying, I spoke. These words were so long awaited, everyone rejoiced. I think even in moments of darkness and silence like this one, we should all still remember Psalm 118:1: ‘Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his love endures forever.”
On the way to my last chemotherapy, my mom asked, “Grace, are you so excited your treatment is finally over?” I sang my response, “I have peace like a river, I have love like an ocean, I have joy like a fountain in my soul.” As Philippians 2:18 reminds us, ‘So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.’ Amen.