Cindy (center) as a teenager with her brother and mother in one of the last pictures of her mom before she died of cancer at age 41.

By Cindy Vandermause

In Day 25, Rick Warren focuses on Romans 8:28 and transformation through trouble. He asks, ”What problem in my life has caused the greatest growth in me?” That verse and that question brought me back 38 years ago when at age 16 I was told my mom, who was 38 at the time, was going to die in six weeks from ovarian cancer. My mom fought for her life and endured medical treatment, routine and experimental, that extended her life an additional two years past the doctor’s prognosis.

In last Sunday’s service, a video was shown of parents and kids being asked this question, “If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would you choose?” I immediately thought of my mom. I would give anything to hear her voice one more time, to see her face, to feel her hug… to tell her about her son-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren that she never met. To tell her I’m OK. That the God of Romans 8:26 that brought her comfort as she had to say goodbye to this world and her family too soon, has been my comfort too.

As my mom got closer to dying, she shared with me that she struggled with knowing how to pray. The pastor of our small church in Portage, Wis., shared Romans 8:26 with my mom:

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

She found such peace and comfort knowing the Spirit was interceding on her behalf according to the will of God. She didn’t have to have the words. She could trust Him with her life. Over the years when trouble has come (and John 16:33 states it will come), this verse that my mom modeled with her life has become my comfort too.

Mom, Romans 8:28 says that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him”. Although I miss you and grieve your physical presence in my life and don’t have all the answers why he took you out of this world so early, He has used this deep loss to shape me and depend on Him more. He has used this loss to shape my heart and given me a desire to reach out to people with the compassion and comfort He has shown me (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). For that I am grateful.

Cindy Vandermause is guest relations director at Green Bay Community Church