Pastor Shane Idleman, known for his biblical interpretations of the issues of the day, has revealed his diagnosis of head and neck cancer.
Idleman, pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Leona Valley, California, is a longtime health advocate with a focus on fitness. The preacher said he understands that some may wonder how someone so blessed with happiness could fall into such a tragic struggle.
“For the first 30 years of my life, I was a prodigal. … There’s a lot of damage that can happen with the party life and things like that, number one,” he said. “Number two is that there are no guarantees in life.”
He continued, “Some of the healthiest people get sick. We just don’t know it in this life. That’s why my motto is ‘God’s sovereignty is my sanity.'”
Ultimately, Idleman said he is trusting the Lord as he navigates the uncertainty. When he learned he had cancer, he said, he had to decide whether to remain silent or share his struggle. Preachers choose to talk openly about their journey and hope to help others in the process.
Idolman said he started feeling unwell in January with night sweats and fatigue.
“It’s like, ‘Hey, something’s going on,'” he said. “I was…literally dying slowly.”
Tests revealed cancer in the neck area and the possibility of a tumor in the mouth area as well. Idleman said there is no medical guarantee to treat his condition and he is exploring various alternatives.
Beyond the medical aspects, Idolman also talked about the spiritual growth he is experiencing through his struggles.
“There is a deeper anointing, a deeper relationship with the Lord,” he said. “So, on the one hand I say, ‘Lord, would you please take this away?'” But on the other hand, I say, ‘Lord, please don’t take this away if it means intimacy with You.’
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Despite the pain and turmoil, Idleman said he’s hearing from people across the country who have been inspired by his candid discussion of the struggle, and his church is already growing because of it.
Of course, the journey was not easy.
“(I) went through seasons of fear, anxiety and doubt, and of course I still wonder, ‘What’s going to happen?'” he said, noting that while he knows many interventions are possible to fight cancer, faith is key. “There is only hope and that is in God.”
Idleman continued, “When God’s sovereignty is in your sanity, there is only one hope. I’ve seen God heal people in the traditional way. I’ve seen God heal people miraculously. And I’ve seen God bring saints home.”
Idleman said God’s hand is on his story and he is stepping into that realization as he overcomes everything. As a preacher, he emphasized the Bible’s call to capture every thought, balancing the tension that can arise when people seek miracles with the reality that God’s plan trumps everything else.
“We say, ‘Lord, I believe in You. I trust You. Lord, I know, You know what’s best,'” Idleman said. “And we exercise faith. So it’s a constant tension, a constant struggle, and I think that’s a very healthy thing…saying, ‘Lord, I believe. I absolutely believe. But help me with my unbelief. And You are sovereign.'”
Idleman knew that God sometimes heals and sometimes does not, and pondered how God could use illness to “wake someone up and draw them back to Him.”
Watch as he fully explains his diagnosis and how he handled it.
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