From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

I spoke with a young kid today who wanted prayer for his young friend suffering from cancer. I got a chance to pray for him and encourage him. It reminded me of when I was a young boy and my mom suffered from cancer too. So I prayed for this young man’s healing. And then I shared with this boy the story of my mom.

She suffered from cancer for five years. And she eventually died from it. We always prayed for her healing, but God had different plans. While she was sick with cancer she continued to teach Cambodian and Vietnamese refugee women English as a second language using the Bible.

Many were saved. At her funeral of over one thousand people, half of them were Vietnamese and Cambodian. I believe that watching her determination to help them learn English with the Bible while sick with cancer turned many hearts to Jesus.

So after praying for healing, I told this young man that we don't always know God’s plans (we hope and pray for healing), but we always know they are good and better than our plans.

Peter here is harshly chastised for rejecting God’s plan for Jesus to suffer and die. It was selfish. He wanted Jesus to be with him. But he did not seek to understand the heart of God in this mission. God wanted to give all of mankind the opportunity to choose to follow Jesus and be saved from their sins, through Jesus’ suffering and death.

How will I communicate the tough missions God gives me, at times, those I minister to and my children? How will I seek God’s plan when he takes away good people in my life, seemingly too early?

Lord, thank you for this passage that helps us understand that we must trust you with the unknown and hard to understand circumstances in our lives, in order to truly follow you. Help me to operate in your Spirit in uncertain times.