Milestones, Markers, and Ebenezers: Faith Reflections from a Cancer Oven (#6)
[A note from our Managing Editor: Tim Shorey, pastor and author, is one of our Gospel-Centered Discipleship staff writers. Tim is also currently battling stage 4 prostate cancer. On Facebook and CaringBridge, he’s writing about his journey. We’re including some of his posts in a series on our website called “The Potter’s Clay: Faith Reflections from a Cancer Oven.” To preserve the feel of a daily journal rather than a published work, we have chosen not to submit these reflections to a rigorous editing process.]
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Milestones, Markers, and Ebenezers
August 25, 2022
Dear Journal,
Today is a day to remember what God has done for Gayline and me.
We moved into the Philadelphia area eleven years ago today. This brought to a conclusion a New Jersey ministry that spanned nearly three decades. We’ve aged a bit since that 2011 move—although truer of me than of my Beloved.
There are parallels between then and now, not the least of which is that then, like now, was marked by almost complete uncertainty. Every category of life was unsettled; filled with unanswered questions about health, family, finances, ministry, long-term location, income, depleted strength to endure. Eleven years ago, hard trials left us with no idea what was coming next or how God was going to work.
And yet God provided, protected, and preserved, making August 25, 2011 (and what followed) a Shorey history milestone marker, signaling God’s faithful care in what felt like impossible circumstances.
Had you told us then that things would get even harder or more unpredictable than they were then, we probably would’ve responded, “Yeah, right! Not likely!” But here we are. Those days were a quiet sail on a calm sea compared to these. Today, we are facing a sadly grim cancer prognosis with all the unpredictable circumstances, unanswered questions, and gut-wrenching sorrows it entails.
This is where history helps. Had we not experienced God’s faithfulness in those past days we’d not be as prepared for these. Which is just how God works. He tests us with smaller and “easier” challenges—to strengthen our faith, stiffen our resolve, and steel our spines. And in so doing he also proves himself a faithful and sufficient help for all we will face today. And how I need to remember that!
This is one reason why God’s ancient people used to set up stone monuments; to call to memory past encounters with, or help from, the Lord (Gen. 28:18–22; 35:14; Josh. 4:1–7). Samuel called his monument “Ebenezer,” from the Hebrew word meaning “stone of help”. By erecting this “milestone” or historical marker he reminded himself and other old-time saints, of the past, present, and ongoing help of God (1 Sam. 7:12).
I need my Ebenezers—at least internally. Otherwise, I will forget how God has helped in past trials, and then waver in faith when the next and even harder trial comes my way.
Gayline and I can easily call to mind God’s mighty helping deeds; times when, as if drawing water from a rock:
He provided Jesus when there was none to trust;
He provided forgiveness when there was none to earn;
He provided food when there was none in store;
He provided housing when there was none in sight;
He provided needs when there were none in hand;
He provided doctors when there were none to afford;
He provided cars when there were none to drive;
He provided funds when there were none to spare;
He provided encouragement when there was none to enjoy;
He provided counsel when there was none to receive;
He provided answers when there were none to discern;
He provided words when there were none to speak;
He provided strength when there was none to feel;
He provided ministry when there was none to do;
He provided hope when there was none to have.
Gayline and I can identify milestone markers for each of these; specific moments when God provided for us in remarkable ways. And we need to revisit those Ebenezers now to awaken faith for today. For the more we can recall past help from our God, the readier we will be to face whatever comes next. And believe me: when what’s next is Stage Four cancer that’s on a hostile warpath to vex you to your death, you need every faith-building reminder you can get. We need, we need, yes, we NEED to remember the past so we can face the future.
So let me join Robert Robinson in raising an Ebenezer here and now (Stanza 1 is Robert Robinson’s; Stanza 2 is mine):
Here I raise my Ebenezer
Here by Thy great help I've come
And I hope by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at homeJesus sought me when a stranger
Wandering from the fold of God
He to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood.Gracious Father, you have led us
All these years have been our stay,
You have helped, preserved, and fed us
Guided through each troubled way;
Come now Lord, who for our pardon
Gave your Son to take our place,
Lift us to your Heav’nly Garden
Where there’s healing, keeping grace.
By this, on this date, August 25, 2022, I raise an Ebenezer to the past help of God in order to stir faith in his future grace.
* You can read all of the posts in this series here.
Tim Shorey is married to Gayline, his wife of 44 years, and has six grown children and 13 grandchildren. After over forty years of pastoral ministry, he recently retired from Risen Hope Church, in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Among his books are Respect the Image: Reflecting Human Worth in How We Listen and Talk; 30/30 Hindsight: 30 Reflections on a 30-Year Headache; and his recently released, award-winning An ABC Prayer to Jesus: Praise for Hearts Both Young and Old. To find out more, visit timothyshorey.com.