Another Edifying Update from Jobje, an Authentic Christian in the Midst of Suffering

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, shares part of another missive from his sister Jobje, who is battling pancreatic cancer. Jobje writes, “During the last few weeks, I have been pondering a couple of precious verses. They convict me to deny myself. They coax me to willingly surrender to God’s sovereign will, no matter what. These verses come from Romans 5:2–5. ‘We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope. And hope does not disappoint us. Because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the precious Holy Spirit who he has given to us.’” Jobje continues, “O how blessed I am to have a living Word that I can turn to in my suffering. It keeps producing in my character more hope and His desire for my life. Simultaneously, I am thrilled with the wonderful care that I have been privileged to receive. Yet this continual process is physically exhausting, emotionally draining. It feels like I am now traveling in an invisible wheelchair—a wheelchair of pancreatic cancer. I cannot skip along the path of life like a care-free child. I do not cruise on the highway of life like a strong young adult. My invisible mode of transportation—this infirmity wheelchair—has me hampered in. Yet I am still journeying onward. And even in this the Lord has given me huge blessings and the sacred privilege of being refined into His image.” In the midst of suffering, Jobje is an example of the authentic Christian life.