Recognizing God’s Protection

Hello again!!

I took quite a long and unexpected blogging break—in fact this is the first post I’ve written in this new year, the last was at Christmas time!

Toward the end of last year I received my cancer diagnosis, had surgery, worked on recuperating, got Covid, worked on recuperating from that, struggled with depression, and finally (with much gratitude) celebrated Christmas!!

The new year started with an obnoxious head-cold throughout most of January. It was probably worse than my experience with Covid.

Meanwhile I had begun radiation treatments which were every Monday through Friday morning at 8 AM. I had thirty-three treatments and typically was in and out of the clinic within 15 minutes.

The nursing staff at Anderson Radiation are some of the kindest, most caring women I’ve ever met! I would pray over them on my drive into town and thank God for His healing every morning and it became such a blessed part of my daily routine. I’m thankful to be on the other side of it but I miss seeing each one of those gals!

That break from blogging was so necessary as I felt I needed to step back, catch my breath and truly gather my health—both mentally and physically.

Radiation can be exhausting as the high-energy beams not only kill cancer cells but also affect healthy cells too. I had and still have a lot of fatigue especially toward the late afternoon but this will subside with a little more time.

I couldn’t help but notice as I’d walk into the radiation room each morning how incredibly thick the door is. It has to be close to two feet thick and operates by mechanically sliding open and closed in a side to side motion. After making a comment to the techs they explained that the walls of the radiation room are actually eight foot thick and since the door can’t possibly be that thick it’s made from very heavy material causing it to weigh 22,000 pounds!! This might seem drastic but it’s for protective measures to those outside of the treatment room.

When I’d go in for treatment they’d have me lay down on the table, adjust me with precise measurements, then exit the room (closing that 22,000 pound door behind them) and then using computer technology they’d operate the radiation machine to move around me and target the area needing treatment at just the right dose.

Photo from Oncologysystem.com This is similar to the machine and set up they used.

As I look back on that time the word protection so accurately describes what I saw and felt. Radiation was quick and painless but I was amazed at how much every little detail mattered— from the very thick walls, to the heavy door, down to a sliver of body placement being set just right…all of it points back to protection.

Protection for my best interest and for the medical staff.

I’m reminded of how much God’s protection is ultimately even greater and bigger than any of those necessary precautions though—how His protection stretches far beyond any of the thickest walls or heaviest doors in the world.

Psalm 32:7 says this, “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”

Protection. What a beautiful and filling hope and truth. I pray we take comfort in what the Lord’s word says and allow that peace to settle over our hearts and minds.

Sometimes things happen in our life where we might be prone to think “why didn’t God stop this or protect us from that?” And getting through those trials can be incredibly challenging BUT we also must be quick to believe and trust that God is protecting us from things (little and big) every single moment without us even recognizing or knowing it at all!!

He moves, works, and plans in His own perfect way all the time; and always with a divine purpose. We must be ever thankful for His protection—known and unknown.

God deserves our glory. As we’re living and breathing we have reason to praise Him no matter our circumstances. He is good.

Thank you for connecting with me again sweet friends. God willing I’ll get back on a regular blogging schedule!

Have a blessed weekend!!

The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him. —Nahum 1:7

Author: alimw2013

About For His Purpose~ My name is Alicia and I'm a thirty-something year old who loves Jesus. Only through God’s amazing grace and mercy I have been redeemed from past regret and shame. Reading His word has allowed me to look past Satan’s forceful lies, to see myself for who Christ says I am in Him. Through writing I have learned why I made the choices I made in my younger years and I now have a better understanding of why I desire to love God like crazy these days. Despite my daily failures, God remains faithful always. I am reassured of His unconditional love for me by every ink-drop spilled out on paper, each committed prayer as I cry out to Him, and deep understanding reflected through reading His word as truth. Yes keeping a blog will make me vulnerable to others’ opinions- there will be some who don’t understand, some who may criticize or judge, but on the other hand if just one piece expressed through my writing grabs someone’s attention and directs them to God, then pouring out my heart in a blog for the world to read is worth it. I choose to glorify Him alone through words streaming across a glowing screen. And it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t reveal the fact that I’m incredibly quirky; I’m my loving husband’s best friend, my vivacious kids’ craziest cheerleader and spiritual trainer (3 John 1:4). I love anything farmhouse and rustic style. I think cupping a warm coffee mug in the palm of my hands is more satisfying than the contents within. I share a common obsession with my husband for the mountains, but I would (without a doubt) settle for waves crashing against my legs at the Atlantic Ocean just as well, and I almost always have a Yorkie curled up on my lap while writing. *All photos are photographed by forhispurpose.blog and therefore may not be stored or photocopied in any manner.

47 thoughts on “Recognizing God’s Protection”

  1. Alicia!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So good to hear from you again. We pray prayers of gratitude with you for the caring staff and technolgy that helps us so. We’ll also be praying for your continued health and strength and look forward to ‘seeing’ you here again soon.
    Blessings,
    Pastor Chuck

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  2. It’s so wonderful to hear from you, Alicia! I love the message in this post. Even though you have been walking through some trials, how comforting to know that you have seen God’s protection. And that is a key lesson for us all. I agree – I think I there are countless things He does behind the scenes to protect us and care for us. Things that we might not even fully comprehend this side of heaven. What an amazing Father we have! Sending prayers for you and hugs to you! ♥️🙏🙌🤗

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    1. Thank you Bridget! I appreciate that we can reflect together and such a good point that we might not even fully comprehend this side of heaven the ways God has protected us!!

      I’m excited to get back into the groove of the blogging world.😉❤️

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  4. Great to hear from you, Alicia! So glad everything went well with your treatment too. You are so right about God’s protection, and that He is worthy of our praise. I needed to hear this good word today. Our daughter got sick last Tuesday, then I caught what she had last Saturday. She missed 8 days of school. I had just started my new job, and now I’ve missed 9 days of work. We tested negative for Covid, but it’s some other nasty virus. Our son got it last Sunday, but he only missed 4 days this week. Thankfully, both kids went back to school today. My wife just started fighting it, but so far she is okay. On top of everything else I suffer from, it has been a discouraging 2 weeks. Especially since it happened right after I got hired and was trying to move on with my life after a decade of suffering and unemployment. Sometimes it can feel like everything is against us, and it can feel like God is against us too, but like you said His love and protection are always with us. Thanks for the encouraging word! Praying for you, blessings!

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    1. Ahhh my heart sank a bit when I started reading your comment! I’m so sorry you’ve had to miss work with it being a new job.

      I wonder if you guys have been sick with the same thing that’s been going on in our neck of the woods. Nate and I were sick most of January and just when we thought we were getting better it’d come on again, it was absolutely crazy. We’ve had tons of friends and acquaintances sick with the same deal too. Hopefully it passes through your house quickly!
      Excited for you to get back into the working world, can’t wait to learn how God can and will use you in the workplace!!

      Prayers for His protection over you all, especially as your wife is now coming down with it.

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  5. I have wondered how you are doing. My wife and I have spent a year of our lives in hospital rooms of many kinds with our handicapped daughter (over a 40 year period). Those relationships are special from staff to other patients and families. All that to say…welcome back

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    1. Oh thank you Gary! Yes the medical staff can begin to feel like family for sure! You truly understand. I love how God connects us with people in those seasons of life.

      So good to be back here!!🙏

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  7. It’s so wonderful to have you back, Alicia. You sure have been through a time of it. I know you’ll have so many precious truths for us that you’ve learned in your difficult times – like this one today. I love the thought of God’s protection of us, even when we don’t understand what He’s allowing us to go through. Blessings to you and your family, Alicia.

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    1. Patty thank you for your sweet words. God gives us teachable moments every day if we’re paying attention, as you already know so well. Those lessons aren’t always fun but I love how they allow the opportunity to draw us closer to Him.

      I’m thankful to be blogging again—and to catch up with you and a large handful of others!!❤️Have a wonderful weekend my friend!

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  8. Happy you’re back Alicia . . . “Faith is embracing the uncertainties of life.” – Kyle Idleman . . . and your faith during this difficult time has encouraged mine. Thank you.
    Keep Looking Up . . . His best is yet to come!

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  10. Little sister you have been in my prayers. The break from blogging it totally understandable with all you have been through. You are precious to Jesus and to me. I rejoice you have a family that loves you and wonderful friends at your church.

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    1. Matt, I’m incredibly thankful for the love of others I’ve witnessed too (through all of this) and here in the blog also. Such a blessing!!
      Praying you are well! I’ll be catching up on blog reading throughout the week, maybe I’ll learn if you’ve burnt anything lately!!😃❤️

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  12. Pingback: Recognizing God’s Protection — For His Purpose – Jesusluvsall's Blog

  16. I am sorry to hear about this Alicia. Your strength and dependence on the Lord is evident through your words. May the Lord be with you in every possible way that you need him at this moment

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    1. All that courage has gotta come from Christ alone because I’m not naturally bent that way! To Him be the glory!
      Thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment! Praising God right along with you!!

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  21. Dear Alicia

    Many thanks for your post. I am very sorry to hear of the cancer. As I was diagnosed with an alleged cancer and underwent immuno-therapy for 9 sessions in 2020 I have some understanding of the issues.

    I am however very concerned that you may not be aware of the real issues about cancer and why it is caused. Also it is vital that we understand about vitamin D and its role in the body. Indeed, we can say vitamin D for the body and D for the soul as in the heavenly Daddy, God the Father!

    There is a very good book on cancer which I have bought recently ‘Cancer, Why We’re Still Dying to Know the Truth’ . I have read most of it and can concur with its findings. This is the link to the website if you are interested.

    https://credenceonline.co.uk/shop/product/cancer-why-were-still-dying-to-know-the-truth/

    If you read it you will be shocked by what he says, although by the time I read it I knew most of it already because of my own experience. My understanding is that Phillip Day, the author, is a Christian, and takes a Godly look at the issues.

    I could explain further if you wish myself; I have yet to write a post on my site, although I must do something. But I do recommend boosting your vitamin D if you don’t already. It is worth having your levels tested, although the powers that be may well tell you that the levels are okay, when they may well not be – you can boost your D levels much more that most mainstream doctors etc will tell you. I Know because I have done so myself.

    I do write about vitamin D on my own site. I do use humour to help make the points.

    I hope you continue to get better. The angels are with you.

    Kind regards

    Baldmichael Theresoluteprotector’sson
    Please excuse the nom-de-plume, this is as much for fun as a riddle for people to solve if they wish.

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    1. Thank you for your comment and care and for the book recommendation!

      I’m sorry to hear of your cancer and pray you’re feeling well!!

      I actually did have low vitamin D at the time of finding out about the cancer, for which the doctor had me begin taking a vitamin supplement for. I live in an area that doesn’t see quite as much sun plus the colder months keep me indoors and I can truly tell a difference after I’ve been able to soak up the sun and enjoy the outdoors. Especially my mental health benefits from more of the God given vitamin D ☀️
      Thank you for your encouragement and knowledge..take care!!

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