We all have times in our lives that test our faith. Sometimes things happen to us or our loved ones that cause us to ask God why.

A while ago, one of my daughters called me and said, “Mom, I have a lump. Do you think it is anything bad?”

Those words caused my blood to run cold for a few moments, but then I recovered and advised her to call her doctor immediately. Then I prayed… hard!

My daughter was given an appointment for the next week. Two days before the appointment, the doctor’s office called and rescheduled for the next week.

This was concerning, but both my daughter and I believed that God was there with his healing hand upon her.

Then, a day before her rescheduled appointment, the doctor’s office called again and said the doctor had a family emergency and wouldn’t be able to see her for three months.

When my daughter expressed the urgency of the situation, the receptionist said, “Your appointment will just have to wait.” There was no sympathy and no room for negotiations.

My daughter called me, rather distraught, to inform me about the situation. Being a person who isn’t easily intimidated, I told her we would find a doctor in Spokane and, as soon as I hung up the phone, I prayed.

I told God this was my child as well as His and she needed His help. I prayed for his guiding hand to help her find a doctor that would see her without a referral because time was slipping away.

I asked him to touch her and heal her and guide her. Then, at that point, I did what I was supposed to do in the first place. I prayed that God’s will would be done no matter what I wanted.

That was the hardest prayer to pray because it made me lose control of the situation. I had to turn everything over to God and just step away. I had to live my faith.

The next day, my daughter was given an appointment with a very good clinic in Spokane. They were able to see her in five days.

As it turned out, the lump was nothing serious, and both my daughter and I were very relieved and sent prayers of thanks to God.

There will be times in all our lives when we will have to decide whether to live our faith or try to control the situation ourselves.

One thing I do know is that God expects us to make the doctor appointments and ask for help. But He also expects us to pray and turn the situation over to Him.

Sometimes things work out, and sometimes they don’t. But God always has a purpose, and we need to trust Him. Sometimes we know His purpose and sometimes we never do, but He always has one.

Remember that no matter what happens, God will be with you the entire time.