A New Path in Our Faith Journey

May 22, 2015 will be a day that I will never forget as long as I live.
I was mopping my bathroom floor when the phone rang.
Dr. Rhodes, our pediatrician, was on the other end.
In the calmest voice he said, "Mrs. Helgren, the radiologist has just called me to inform me that they have found a mass on Lauren's brain." I froze and stared at myself in the bathroom mirror. He proceeded to tell me the rest of the information and I just listened and tried to comprehend what he was saying. When he finished, I asked him if we could conference call Kendall so that he could hear the news.

The second time around, I took notes, understood and began to make a plan.
I frantically called our insurance to see if things would be covered. I called the hospital to find out other ways to cover the bills. I worked myself into this crazy tizzy and just wanted to prepare for the worst.

Then Kendall came home and I stopped and said, "I don't know how we are going to do this financially." He agreed. Then we looked at each other and said, "FAITH...Jesus is going to provide and more than that HE CAN HEAL HER!"

The phone rang and it was the nurse from our "insurance" Christian Care Medi-Share. She spoke with me then prayed with me and said, "I know you are trying to balance so many things right now, Joy, but only focus on today. Don't think about Monday or Tuesday or 6 months from now...only focus on what is right in front of you because Jesus is already there." Those words have resounded with me. There is a song that says, "You're already there..." He is..He IS there.

When I sat down after that phone call...this amazing peace came over me. Psalm 139 came to mind and I praised the Lord for Lauren's life. Even from her conception He has knit her together perfectly and He knows the plans that He has for her and they are NOT plans to harm her but to give her a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Then I thought about several of my friends who have children who are very very sick. I am not completely in their shoes but I can see their struggles from a different perspective now and it caused me to pray harder for them and to confess that I was naive and hadn't been interceding for them like I should have been. I reached out to several of them and I am so thankful that the Lord has given me friends to lean upon that completely understand: the numerous medical phone calls; tests; bills; doctor's offices; balancing home and family; not neglecting your other children or your husband; and not losing faith or getting discouraged.

Sunday at church our very new, as in our first time to attend, Life Group prayed over us and has already reached out to us to minister to us in our time of uncertainty. Their prayer was that we will rejoice however God chooses to heal Lauren, either by His hand or the hand of the physicians.

After church on Sunday, our friends from Comanche drove up to see us. They brought with them cards from Lauren's Sunday School class and prayer bracelets that they had made with her name on them to remember to pray for her. Our family was blown away. Two churches that we were only apart of for 2 months and one we have been at for 2 weeks have truly shown us the true function of the Body of Christ. We know that God has us in this place for a reason.

This morning as I was studying Scripture I went through and looked at illnesses. The story though that spoke to me was a story that I have heard and read many times. But in my current circumstance the story is seen in a different light. The Death of Lazarus. (Not saying that Lauren will pass away...but hang with me here!) Mary and Martha were so concerned about Lazarus' health they wanted Jesus to come NOW and QUICKLY to heal their beloved brother. I can relate to these dear sisters, they were so concerned about his health. But the portion of this story that spoke to me right where I am today was John 11:4, "This sickness will not end in death. No it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." Then in verse 5 Jesus does something that is pretty shocking. He stays where He is for 2 more days. I am sure that Mary and Martha are wondering what in the world Jesus is doing and why He doesn't see their need. But I get it. Jesus did see their need but He wanted them to trust Him and have faith that God's plan for Lazarus' life was perfect. No matter what God would be glorified.

That is our family's cry. No matter what, we want God to be glorified. Who knows, maybe someone will come to faith in Christ because of our story or because of Lauren's illness. Who knows, but I do know that no matter what may come....God is truly in control. "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough troubles of its own." Matthew 6:34

I know that God has a plan and I cannot wait to testify of His great works in the life of my daughter and our family.