Life changes quickly sometimes. When I heard “breast cancer,” I refused to say or write the word “cancer” for several weeks, calling it the “C-word.” My heart resisted the truth. I always thought this news was the worst. But this diagnosis gave me confidence in God’s grace and that He is with me every step of the way.
The night after I received my results, I started writing in my diary.
“I must trust in my Lord, my God, who is Sovereign over all, who loves me with an everlasting love… We trust in Jesus, and we trust him to use this for good… “Lord, I seek your healing, but overall Your will be done…I did not want this, but I chose to submit to Your will, Lord. ”
This journey is not over yet, but here are the lessons I learned.
1. Treasure is people, not things. Family and friends are a priceless gift.
I am amazed and blessed by the outpouring of love. I felt humbled and grateful. People offering love and support. Phone calls, emails, meals, visits, cards, flowers, prayers, expressions of love. Even though I feel wronged, I also feel loved. God opened my eyes to realize that the people in my life are my most precious treasure.
God has also shown me how much He loves me through each person. God loves us more than we can understand.
Lord, please keep my eyes open. Please remember that everyone around me is a gift in my eyes. Please forgive me for not loving others as much as you love me. Help me to remember to bless others as I have been blessed.
I am reminded of this truth from the Bible. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” (Matthew 6:19a, 20a NIV). The only earthly treasure we have in heaven is human beings.
2. When trials come, we must submit without resisting. Our Father calls us to surrender to His love and control.
I wrote this prayer the morning of my mastectomy.
“The day of my surgery. I woke up and realized that I needed to embrace this day instead of resisting it. Then, as I prayed, I realized that the doctor was going to remove not only my breast, but the cancer. Praise God! May she remove the cancer from my body. May it be gone in the name of Jesus. I submit to you. I accept what is happening. I love you, Father! Thank you for your love!
Later, during my recovery, I wrote:
“It’s tempting to say, ‘Time out. I didn’t do that.’ But we don’t have that option. We can’t rewind and say, ‘Let’s try a different outcome.’ I’m not God. I’m God’s child. God’s creation. Clay in God’s hands. Paul taught, ‘But who are you, man, to talk back to God?’ “Will the formed thing say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me this way?” (Romans 9:20 NIV). How can Pott say to Potter, “What are you doing?”… We are called to submit to our Creator, not to resist.
Jesus, what should I do? Teach me how to lean into your will instead of resisting it. Yes, I think it can be miraculously cured. I also know that you are taking advantage of suffering. I know that your grace is sufficient. ”
Slowing down, listening, and trusting that the Lord is in control helps us submit to Him.
Jesus promised, “In this world you will have tribulation; but take heart, for I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b NIV). We all face trials and difficulties of different kinds, but James, Jesus’ half-brother, encourages us to consider it pure joy when we face trials, because “the testing of faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2-3 NIV).
3. The unknown causes the most fear.
If we know what we are facing, we can prepare for it. We move forward knowing what will happen. There may still be fear, but it’s different than the fear you have when faced with the unknown. The unknown has all possible outcomes. We imagine the worst outcome. At such times, we must cling to the goodness and sovereignty of Almighty God.
Before I met my oncologist, all I knew was that I had breast cancer. I didn’t know any of the details, so all the possibilities ran through my mind like a bad movie.
The night before my appointment with three doctors, I wrote in my diary:
“God is my peace. My shield. My constant help in times of trouble. Waiting is hard…but my future is in His hands. Almighty God, the great I, decide the outcome. I trust in You, Lord. Please do this. Continue to use everything for Your glory and good…I thank You for having complete authority over me, my body, my soul, and every cell of my body. I praise You! Give me strength and courage.”
Father, we are so connected to this world. Even though I know it’s short. We know this is not our home. My eternal home is with you. Please help me make the most of my days and years here. At 72 years old, I know that’s the limit. I don’t want to waste the precious gift of time. Lord, I love you! my soul is within you My soul rejoices in God my Savior. …God has every moment in His hands. From beginning to end. From the end to the beginning. He is sovereign. All mysteries are of God. ”
We all face an overwhelming fear of the unknown. At times like these, we must choose to let go and trust God.
4. Fear is the enemy.
we are humans. we will be afraid. The problem comes when we let fear control us. Satan uses fear to rob us of sleep, joy, and sometimes trust in God.
The Bible says “Do not be afraid” and “Do not be afraid” almost 100 times. God’s Word teaches that fear does not come from God. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV). The Bible also teaches, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, for fear involves punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18 NIV).
Fear takes our eyes away from God and focuses on ourselves and our circumstances. Fear means that God is not in control and that if you handle it correctly, you can somehow control it. But we have no control. We must place ourselves in the hands of the Father.
5. God’s grace is sufficient.
The Apostle Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament, learned this lesson when he prayed three times for God to remove unknown suffering from our lives. He had tremendous faith. But God said to him: Therefore I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses.
“The power of Christ may be upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV) Paul believed in God and lived in the assurance of God’s grace even as he continued to suffer.
I wrote this on the 21st day.
“It’s time to tell the truth. Cancer is part of my story now (first time I’ve written or said that word). It doesn’t define me. It’s not who I am. Losing my breasts is part of my story. Ignoring it or pretending it won’t make it go away. Refusing to say the word won’t make it go away. It’s not erased. I believe it’s gone, but I don’t know yet…Grace is always here. Grace is greater than all our sins, deeper than our worst sorrows, and more powerful than any power.
6. Helping others and praying gives meaning to our suffering.
In times of suffering, it is easy to become attached to ourselves. But our Father wants us to turn our problems into concerns for others. God commands us to love others as He has loved us. God wants us to be his hands and feet, meeting the needs of those around us. Helping and serving others from our own experiences frees us from self-pity.
I wish I could say that I do a great job of focusing on the needs of others. God is still patiently teaching me to love others well. The support I have received means so much that I would like to give back in kind. Paul wrote: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that with the comfort we ourselves receive from God we can comfort those in any trouble” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV).
No matter what adversity we are going through, others with similar stress can benefit from our comfort.
7. Practice presence.
I’ll make a call. Please say a prayer. I’ll send you a card. Please buy flowers. Say “I love you.” I’ll make a meal. Please show that you care. give. Pray now. Please exist. listen. Provide rides. Let’s celebrate the victory. grieve the loss.
Whatever action God puts in your heart, do it now. Don’t procrastinate or think you’ll do it someday. Just do it. Every action someone took for me, no matter how small or big, encouraged me a lot. Everyone I cared about, Jesus loved me through them.
8. God has power, not cancer.
We give power to the word “cancer.” It has become terrifying. Some consider it a death sentence. But our Sovereign God always has the last word.
“His power is the same as the mighty power that he exercised when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, and it is the same mighty power that he exercised when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, and over all dominion and authority, power and dominion, and every power to be called upon, not only in this present time but also in the age to come. And God put all things under his feet, and appointed him to be head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of God in every way.” (Ephesians 1:19b-23 NIV).
The power of God is greater than any situation, even cancer. We can trust God and call out to Him because we know that He is supreme above all that exists. God’s power does not mean that healing will always occur or that we will always get the results we desire. But that means there is no final authority for cancer or other diseases.
Thoughts on the 50th day
As I was on the road to recovery, knowing that I would not need chemotherapy or radiation therapy and that my chances of recurrence were low, I wrote these words:
“It’s amazing how God loves me. God’s love is beyond comprehension. Lord, I don’t want to lose what you’ve taught me these past few weeks. I don’t want to lose the connection. I need you always. Not just when there’s a threat of cancer, but when I know what’s around the corner. I need you every minute. Help me cling to you, Jesus. Just as I trust you with my body, I trust you with my being, my personality, and who I am.
God has given me the grace I need for this journey. I know that God’s grace is sufficient, even if I have to go through it all: more surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation treatments, etc. He gives me what I need when I need it. ”
No matter what you’re facing, the Bible tells us: “Let us approach the throne of God’s grace with confidence, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 NIV)
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/ThitareeSarmkasat
Susan Aiken is a writer, wife, mother, and follower of Jesus. She is originally from Oklahoma but has lived in Nebraska for many years. In addition to writing, she has a passion for special needs and prayer ministry. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and photographing nature. She loves learning and teaching Bible truth. She believes that life is a journey and we are all in different places. To her, Jesus is everything and everything is grace. Visit her at susanaken53.wordpress.com or on Facebook.
