About the Author

Jen encourages women to embrace both the beauty and bedlam of their everyday lives at BeautyandBedlam.com. A popular speaker, worship leader, and author of Just Open the Door: How One Invitation Can Change a Generation, Jen lives in North Carolina with her husband, five children, and a sofa for anyone...

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
Recent Posts

Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Thank you, Elizabeth. Even weeks after writing that, it’s still holds the tension. 🙂

  1. I’m very glad you shared your results and we can rejoice with you! Thank you for your words that are so life giving! Praying for your friend.

  2. I can so relate to the mix of joy and sorrow. The week before our daughter got married, last May, my mom had a major health crisis and ended up in the hospital and then to a skilled nursing unit. I live in Kansas City and my parents live in the Chicago suburbs so I was torn as to whether I needed to go there or finish the last minute prep for the wedding. My brothers were amazing and told me to stay home and we managed mom’s crisis together by phone. Mom was devastated that she could not attend the wedding and when the beautiful day came and all was perfect and joyful, we were able to FaceTime with my parents thanks to a dear friend who went to help them with the technology. The strong mix of joy and sorrow has continued as a low buzz this past year as we have dealt with other life events, both good and bad. I continue to hope in the lord that He is with us in all the times, joy and sorrow!

    • Oh Katherine –

      Yes, you know that tension intimately. Congratulations, mother of the bride, but how is your mom doing?

  3. Jen,
    Praise that your report came back benign! I believe that throughout our lives we are challenged to face pain, suffering, and trials while holding onto the bottom line of hope that is within us. I believe that God will use our pain to draw us (the apple of His eye and deliht of His heart) unto Himself. I know that if it weren’t for the suffering I’ve endured in this lifetime, I would not have the close and intimate relationship that I have with my Lord. Also, God knows we are going to worry and, at times, be devastated. Why else would He put so many scriptures in the Bible that invite us to cast our cares at His feet, take them captive to Christ, lay our anxieties before Him with thanksgiving, and call on His name from the pit of despair. God knows our frame and we can rely and depend upon His grace when joy and despair coexist in our lives this side of eternity. Beautiful and vulnerable post.
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

    • Exactly, Bev. It’s also why my heart grieves when I read any hint of prosperity type gospel because we know there are no guarantees except that He is Still Good even when the results aren’t benign. 🙂 xoxox

  4. This is absolutely beautiful, Jen. What a good good Father we serve. He alone is worthy of our praise and adoration. Only a good Father can bring joy during sorrow. Only He can turn what the devil meant for evil into something beautiful. Joy and sorrow. He created them both. He created us to feel them all. Jesus felt them all. He knows what it’s like to weep and what it is like to rejoice. And He joins us in both. Thank you Jen. Not sure I’m making sense as I have a migraine right now. But tis so sweet to know and trust Jesus…in the joy and in the sorrow. 🙂

    • Oh sweet Tara, you were making complete sense. How is your migraine doing today? Hopefully you’ve had a reprieve from the pain?
      xoxo

      • Aww. Thank you! Much better today! Migraine is gone but there’s always a bit of a residual headache. But doing great! Thank you for your beautiful and vulnerable words!

        • Glad to hear the significant part of the pain has passed. I’ve only had four migraines in my life and it’s unbearable. So sorry.

  5. Thank the Lord your results were negative, God is so good to us. We should Praise him all the time.

    • Yes, because even if the results were terrible, He is still good to us in so many ways. xoxo

  6. Jen all this makes see were our faith lies. We don’t like to hear bad news at anytime. Especially like you when your meant to enjoying a happy time at your niece’s wedding. Or any of us a happy time. It’s at times like this that Satan the old Devil knows how to if we let him get to us. We then panic. Because we are human. We say why Lord did you let like your friend Daughter die now especially when I got Wedding to go to. It an important one to go to. Especially when it a family member. If was friend or work person I could put it of not go. But you can’t as would look bad. But at the same time you want to be there for your friend who just lost her Daughter. You have your friend saying back to you go enjoy the wedding. We can grief together you can be there for me after the wedding. As it were you need to be now at the wedding. But Satan makes you feel guilty not being there for your friend who has just lost her Daughter. You say to yourself I should not be enjoying myself when my friend is sad. I should be with my friend. Comforting her praying with her. Being a friend too her. She needs me. So do the people staying at my home who are at the wedding. It not fair. I in the middle of all of this. I feel guilty. I feel bad. You feel why did this happen now. Lord why did you let this happen. Then you say why did my friends Daughter die she was to young to die. Parents most of them believe that they should in life go before their kids. Life can be on fair. But in life like my late Mums sister none of my family even on my Mum’s side and Dad’s saved. My Mum’s sister Husband years ago just passed away. It still today a shock to my Aunt. I pray for her Salvation in fact all of them. But in life we don’t have the answers to why things happen. Life seems very on fair. But we the saved have too keep or trust in God and keep praying and trusting the one who made us and who knows the answers even though we don’t see them. Even though they sometimes happen when we would not like them to happen. Like your health scare Jennifer. But thank you God it was ok. It could have been news you didn’t want to hear. But you got good news. Our is not to question why. But to pray and trust God. Read his word the Bible and stand on the promises in his word the Bible. Don’t let the Devil put fear and worry in our minds. Then for us to start ask questions to ourselves. Just when we have the time. Be there for our friends who need us. Like your friend Jennifer. Tell them the truth I am so sad I am doing what I am doing like you at the wedding when it over. If busy at something that is impossible that you just can’t get away from that time you know you feel bad. Let the person know you feel bad. But you are praying for them. Once you can get away. You be round to see them if they want you. They might just want to be on their own for a while. If so tell them you are there for them when they need you to let you know. For them to know God is with them at all times. Love today’s reading. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little xxx

    • Thank you so much for your thoughts, Dawn. We appreciate how you’re such a loyal incourage commentor. xoxox

  7. I’m so happy for your results! Praise God.
    Tonight we’re to go to dinner to meet my daughter’s future in laws. I’m so excited. Yesterday my sister received a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Your posting was what I call a Holy Moment. Thank you.

    • Oh Esther – holy moment indeed. You are living in the depths of the tension. I’m so sorry for your sister’s diagnosis. What a scary time.
      In the midst of that, I’m know it’s hard though to verbalize your excitement about that in-law dinner, so I’d love to hear how it went. 🙂

      • It was a much needed distraction. I feel I’m in shock and not able to focus clearly. Yet dinner was fun, we laughed and got to know each other over a great meal. I kept thinking to myself, it’s ok to laugh and find joy in the moment, there will be time for sadness later. God bless you.

        • YES!! So glad you were able to laugh and find joy. Will be praying for your sister as I pray for my friend.

  8. Thanking God that your results were benign Jen! Praying for comfort and peace for your friend ❤️

  9. Jen,

    Praising God for the great results. God said in John 16:33 “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” We have a hope & a future. Sure it may be bleak at times. Trials will come to everyone at some point. But we can lay them at the Savior’s feet & praise Him for taking care of them. I know from experience that God uses our trials to build us up & woo us closer to Himself. After going through my dad’s dementia & geriatric psych hospitalizations years ago I came out of that valley with invigorated faith & trust muscles. Now when trials come I know He will handle them in His perfect timing. I have been ruminating on Psalm 23:5 Yea though I walk Through the valley of shadow of death I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod & staff they comfort me. He will comfort you in all times.

    Blessings 🙂

  10. Thank you for sharing such a personal experience. Though my experiences recently have been different than yours, many of the emotions have been similar. Grief, rejoicing, they’ve been there. Not wanting to worry family when other things were going on, yes, that too. But my test results came out different. Yet even with undergoing a bi-lateral mastectomy with complications, and an emergency gall bladder surgery within 3 weeks of it, the outcome is the same – GRACE, poured out in abundant, lavish measure on me by my Heavenly Father. I am so thankful to be able to hold on to HIM, to sit at HIS feet during these days, and to know HE holds my tomorrows. To HIM, be all the glory, all the honor, and all the praise!