In my lifetime, I've been fortunate enough to not have any family members in my immediate family diagnosed with cancer, but my life has not been untouched by cancer.
Cancer has touched me here: My close friend while we were in high school, my mom's best-friend, the husband of a newlywed couple in our church, a sweet little 9-month old boy, a husband to a family in town, another husband to a family in town, still another husband in town (and elder at our church), a young mom, another husband and father, a friend in church - who is a 5-time cancer survivor - and his wife. The list could go on. Cancer affects all of us, but tonight.... tonight, my heart feels burdened and heavy for those being touched firsthand by cancer.
Cancer is often times treatable and curable, but the simple word itself resonates such fear within us. I don't believe it's the fear OF death, but the fear that surrounds the unknown - What's going to happen to me? Will I be a survivor? What will my family have to go through? Will my children be left with just one parent? How will we get through this? How can we afford this? Will I be okay? What will I tell my children? How do I tell my family and friends?
I want to encourage you, if you're dealing with caner firsthand to hold on! Not for the ride your life is about to take or is taking, but hold on to the Word of God.
When I had my 7 miscarriages, I remember people always telling me, "God won't give you more than you can handle." I remember it would make me angry. When you've been trying to get pregnant for 2-3 years without ever getting pregnant, then you finally do and lose that baby at 11 weeks along - that's MORE than I could handle (especially as the number of miscarriages increased.) It was more than I wanted to handle. It was more than my emotions could handle!
The verse, the one so frequently misquoted, it actually says this, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." ~ 1 Corinthians 10:13
We will not be TEMPTED beyond what we can handle, NOT "God will not give us more than we can handle." The truth is, sometimes life gives us more than we can handle. Well-intended people will say all sorts of things they think are helpful, which often times are not. But there is one place we can turn to for perfect love - God's Word. There is one place we can turn to for perfect advice - God's Word. There is one place we can turn to for perfect wisdom - God's Word!
Verses on healing:
Proverbs 4:20-22, " My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body."
Psalm 107:19-21, "Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men."
Exodus 23:25, "Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you,"
Psalm 30:2, "O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me."
There are many many more. I encourage you to seek out God in this time. Seek out His healing promises to you. During Jesus' days here on earth he healed many purely based on their faith that he COULD heal them (the woman with bleeding, the Centurion, the Samaritan).
" Faith is not simply believing that something will happen before it does. Faith is knowing that the provisions have been made for that healing, then trusting God to manifest it on your behalf."
"Biblical faith in a nutshell
If we could wrap Biblical faith up in 3 simple requirements, these would be them:
1. You must know the Word of God, the promises of God, His will, and so forth. This is why spending time daily in the Word is so important!
2. You need to know that the Word of God applies to you. You must accept the truth in the Word concerning your position with Christ, and who you really are. You must accept the truth about being washed clean from your sins, and feel a clean conscience because of what Christ has done for you. This is important because you stand against Satan when he tries to remind you of your past failures and say, "You aren't worthy to receive those promises and provisions of God!" Friend, if the Blood has made you worthy, then let no demon in hell tell you otherwise!
3. You must accept the Word of God as truth. If it tells you that Jesus paid the price for your healing, then you need to accept it as truth with childlike faith. Simply believe what God has said is true. This is true Christian faith. It's merely believing what God says is true."
I do not have a clue what my friends with cancer (or those that have had cancer) are going through. But what I do know from my time trying to have my four precious miracles and going through 10 years of infertility and 7 miscarriages is that God is always faithful. His Word is always truth. His promises never fail. Fully Surrender your healing to Him.
*References: GreatBibleStudy.com
