These photos are: a favorite verse Sue Thomas underlined in her Bible, and a very thoughtful gift that unexpectedly arrived on our doorstep.

From the day I met Sue Thomas, I often heard her thanking God for her “very breath of life.” Often. Sometimes at the supper table.. or in the car as we were on the way to the airport. Or in a moment of praise for something breathtakingly beautiful, like a sunset.

Then came the lung cancer diagnosis. Her body was already exhausted from dealing with the infamous MS Hug (when the muscles between the ribs go into spasms and leave you feeling breathless). And she had questions for God.

It went from frustration,

“All of these years I’ve been appreciative of my very breath of life. Why are You now making breathing difficult?”

To pondering the why,

“How am I supposed to speak and proclaim You if I can’t even get my breath?”

To accepting as part of God’s plan,

“What is your purpose for me in this?”

It’s best to be honest and directly ask God those hard questions when we are faced with struggles and doubts about how He is dealing with us.

And, as George Mueller reminds us, to look to the Lord alone…leaning all of our heaviness of heart and weighty questions on Him alone.

“If we, indeed desire our faith to be strengthened,
We should not shrink from opportunities where our faith may be tried…
And therefore, through the trial, be strengthened.

Even as believers, we have the same shrinking
From standing alone with God
From depending on Him alone
From looking to Him alone.

And yet this is the very place we should be if we wish our faith to be strengthened!”

George Mueller