How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord is laid for your faith in his excellent word.

In times of trouble or sickness, have you ever asked the question, does God really love me?

If so, you're not alone.

Welcome to Through the Bible.

Our teacher, Dr. J. Vernon McGee, continues to direct the Bible bus through the Old Testament

Book of Zeppaniah, where we're discovering a new way to look at pain and suffering.

I'm Steve Schwartz, and as I hold the doors of the Bible

bus open for you, go ahead and climb aboard and pick your seat. And if you brought your Bible along, always a good thing to do. Turn to Zefaniah chapter 1, verse 2. Now, I know that many of you are dealing with sickness and pain, and in a minute we're going to pray together for you. But first, here's a personal message that Dr. McGee recorded about his journey with life-threatening cancer.

And a letter that he received from a listener who also learned how close God was to him even when he faced death.

Let's listen now as Dr. McGee talks about choosing to be grateful and looking for God's mercy during his own illness.

Many times on this program I've called attention to the fact of how I experience the mercy of God

when he let me go to the hospital five times for major operation.

And I felt, you know, that he'd sort of mistreated me but I find other people have

probably experienced more the mercy of God than I have I have a letter here that comes from a

listener that says I can sympathize as I am going for a checkup this month after cancer operation last summer.

Please pray for me. I'm 74 years of age. I had a paralyzing stroke 17 years ago and don't get around very well,

this cancer bout came as a shock.

I really felt that after I had endured the after effects of the stroke

for 17 years, I really felt abuse.

But have managed to be thankful for many things,

and I do praise and thank the Lord every day for his love and blessings.

He is merciful, friends.

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