Today's Encouragement

Is This News or Truth? 

Lysa TerKeurst

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6 (NIV)

News and truth aren’t always one and the same.


I’m learning this through a medical situation I’ve been facing over the last year. It all started with words from my doctor that I never expected to hear.

“Lysa, I’m so sorry. You have cancer.”

I wish I could properly describe what happened in that moment. Everything around me got incredibly quiet and seemed to move very slowly. I could hear the doctor continuing to talk, but I couldn’t make out his words. I could feel words trying to form in my mouth, but there was no energy to actually speak. I knew I should probably cry, but no tears seemed available.

I am absolutely a woman who believes with all my heart that the presence of God is in the midst of my life. But in that moment, He felt distant and mysterious. I just felt stunned. And then I felt okay. And then I felt stunned again.

I wanted to hold it together. But then falling apart seemed quite reasonable.

It’s scary when doctors shock you with test results, and you don’t know what the future holds.

In the days that followed my cancer news, God tenderly reminded me of an email my sweet friend Shaunti Feldhahn once sent me about another difficulty I was walking through. Her note said, “Lysa, this is news. This is not truth.”

Wow.

I’ve always thought of news and truth as one and the same. What the doctor gave me was news. Honest news, based on test results and medical facts.

But I have access to a truth that transcends news. The restoration that is impossible with human limitations is always possible for a limitless God. Truth is what factors God into the equation.

So, I find myself looking at the word impossible a little differently today.

“Impossible,” in light of Shaunti’s note, could be completely different if I just stick an apostrophe between the first two letters. Then it becomes I’m-Possible. God is the Great I AM. Therefore, He is my possibility for hope and healing.

I’m-Possible is a much more comforting way to look at anything that feels quite impossible.

I suspect many of us have things in our life that feel impossible. Maybe you just got some bad news. News of an impossible financial situation. News of an impossible job situation. News of an impossible kid situation. News of an impossible friend situation. News of an impossible medical situation.

Whatever news you just got or will get, I pray Shaunti’s advice helps you, too.

That is news.

And this is God’s Truth:

I AM THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE.
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

I AM FOREVER FAITHFUL.
“He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them — he remains faithful forever” (Psalm 146:6, NIV).

I AM WITH YOU.
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10, NIV).

I AM HOLDING YOU.
“Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand” (Psalm 73:23, NIV).

I AM YOUR HIDING PLACE.
“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance” (Psalm 32:7, NIV).

One of the greatest comforts to me through all this has been knowing that somehow, God will use this for good. And that God will be my possible in the midst of what can sometimes feel so impossible.

Of course, I still have those less spiritually secure moments when I feel like I’m going to lose my mind. And cry. And pitch a little hissy fit.

But how thankful I am for the Great I AM. The One who will absolutely “Guide me in [His] truth and teach me” (Psalm 25:5a, NIV).

I love you, sweet friend. And I’m praying for you today. Praying that every time the word impossible creeps up and starts to steal your hope, you will see the words I’m-Possible and hold on to Him.