“Everything is okay, Donna, it’s only a benign cyst. But we want to remove it just to be safe.”
Those were the first words uttered by the doctor after my medical examination earlier this week. It’s not cancer.
One evening about three weeks ago, I found a lump on my breast. Breast cancer does not run in my family, but family history is no guarantee when it comes to cancer.
Cancer often seems like a tornado. It hits this house, skips three, and devastates the fourth.
I am very familiar with the C word. My dad died of lung cancer in 2003. I saw firsthand how cancer destroys a healthy body and how radiation and chemotherapy reduce a strong body to a frail one.
Not many of us have been untouched by cancer. It seems like all of us have known someone who has had cancer, currently battles cancer, or perhaps is experiencing it firsthand. I have prayed for multitudes of people affected by cancer.
I bet you have, too.
My three-week waiting period from discovery to diagnosis proved spiritually revealing on many levels. First came the questions:
What if I actually have cancer?
How will I manage appointments when I get sick since I live alone?
Is my health insurance good enough to cover everything?
Am I going to lose my breasts?
I don’t want to be an imposition on family and friends. Who will help?
Am I strong enough to handle chemo or radiation?
Then came the stark realization that the common denominator in all of my questions centered around: “I.” Talk about a loud wake-up call.
Through His Word, God reminded me of the larger picture. We are ALL on a spiritual battleground, not a school playground. And it’s time to go to war. God leads the charge, not us.
We can fight the fight with God’s Word.
We can fight the fight with specific medicine.
But when all is said and done, Jesus will have the final victory.
The devil excels at forging weapons of fear and doubt against us. Their effectiveness lies in their unseenness — like an invisible Goliath whose putrid breath invades our nostrils. Fear can paralyze and shut us down, rendering us ineffective on the battlefield.
The real enemy is fear.
Finding that lump caused me to experience waves of vulnerability and emotion. Yet despite the roller coaster, tidal waves of comfort inevitably returned when I focused Jesus. He has never, nor will He EVER, abandon me. I am not alone on the battlefield. Neither are you.
By His grace alone, God gives us the strength to:
– wield the Word of God to silence our giants
– hold high His shield of faith to deflect fiery darts
– stand firm on unshakable faith to drown doubt
– identify fellow faith warriors to walk with us
– cling to the truth that Jesus gave His life to secure ours for eternity
The ultimate battle against death has been won by Jesus Christ on the cross. But while you and I walk this earth, we are engaged in warfare. And we cannot merely saunter onto the battlefield. We suit up in the full armor of God, fully covered by His protection and grace. Nothing can touch us without His permission.
And when weakness threatens to consume us, we gather faith warriors to remind us of our confession that we believe in God Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, suffered, and crucified on a cross, yet He rose again on the third day and sits at God’s right hand. And He will return again.
Battles never arrive at convenient times, do they? Yet those battles never surprise God. We often pray for God to remove us from hardships, but strength is forged through the fire of adversity. Sometimes He ordains that we walk through the battle, His perfect plan ever prevailing, providing assurance that He never leaves us for one moment.
A couple of days after I discovered the lump, I noticed that my “I”-centered questions morphed into faith-centered questions:
– Will I trust God during this season?
– Will I stand firm on Christ no matter how hard the battle rages?
– Will I still see today as a gift without worrying about tomorrow?
– Will I take every thought captive to the Word of God?
– Will I cling to the Lord as the stronghold of my life?
– Will I stand on the Rock of Ages or give in to fear?
– Will I be slow to speak and slow to be anger if medical procedures fail?
– Will I cast ALL my anxiety on Him?
Only God knows if I would have passed that long-haul test. For now, He orchestrated a future outpatient procedure to remove the cyst and life will continue.
I fully realize that such a minimal diagnosis has not been the case for others. Perhaps your diagnosis, or that of a loved one, was very different. You are living that long-haul test right now. If so, keep these promises close:
– “The power of the Lord is present to heal you.” (Luke 5:17)
– “No weapon formed against you shall prosper.” (Isaiah 54:17)
– “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” (Isaiah 40:31)
– “The Lord is my strength and my defense.” (Psalm 118:4)
– “If you ask anything according to His will, He hears you.” (1 John 5:14)
– “God did not give you a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
Not knowing my diagnosis for three weeks was the hardest part. Even if the diagnosis had been cancer, at least the truth would have unveiled the opponent’s face. Something to confront. But I would not have had to face that face alone.
Along this short journey I re-learned a lasting truth: On the battlefield, we need warriors, not worriers.
Our job is to walk by faith and believe God. God tackles the impossible to render miracles — even today. God can make a way when we see no way forward. He already knows the outcome.
We have the gift of today, not knowing what tomorrow brings. So, relying on the strength of the Lord…
Keep believing.
Keep walking.
Keep praying.
Keep fighting.
Jesus sees you.
Jesus hears you.
Jesus loves you.
Jesus died for you.
And He is working all things for good.
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)
GIVEAWAY WINNERS: Congratulations to Becky Wehrspann for winning the 150th CPH Birthday Celebration prize from last week’s post! And congratulations to Genevieve Wagner, Karen Hunter, and Virginia Von Seggern for winning a copy of the study guide for my new Bible study Perseverance. I will reach out to you later today!
Donna’s brand new individual and small group Bible study: “Perseverance: Praying Through Life’s Challenges” (based on the book of Nehemiah) is now available through Concordia Publishing House and on sale at Amazon.
Donna, I can really relate to this article! Only when I relinquish my will to God’s do I find peace.
Thank you for that wonderful affirmation, Debbie!
I have walked in your shoes–twice. And, like you, it was in the waiting to know what it was that God grew me. The time in the Word was precious. Praise God, like you, it was not cancer. God is good. All the time. Thanks for sharing!
Wow, Pamela. Twice? That must have been so hard. Once was quite enough, but I trust God. And yes, He IS good — ALL the time.
Dear Donna,
Our Brian had a rare leukemia at 9 yrs of age. He miraculously survived. Few did in 1983. But now he is wheel chair bound in a nursing home as a direct result of cranial radiation he had for the leukemia so many yrs ago. He suffered a massive hemorrhagic stroke 2 yrs ago. I watched Mom slip from this life to her eternal home a victim of an aggressive colon cancer. My sis died nearly two yrs ago from a metastatic breast cancer. Also a beloved cousin died as I sat by her side 10 yrs ago from an intestinal cancer. I am really familiar with its devastating effects. Like you said Jesus has the final victory.
We rejoice with you in the good news and look forward to giving you a huge hug soon! Praying His protection over you in these busy weeks coming up.
Much love
Betty Marschner
You and your family have been through so much, Betty. It hurts my heart, yet we do not hurt without hope. Hugs very soon!
Wow ! Sweet friend thanks for sharing. This literally slapped me in the face. So much of what you wrote was just perfect for me in my present struggles.
One phrase has stuck in my heart- warrior not worrier.
Oh my, how profound. I have shared that with my quilting group and another friend in a battle of her own. Thank you for the reminder to armor up!
May God continue to use you to encourage others.
Thank you for being such a beautiful encourager, Sally, and for sharing with others who need strength for their own journeys. I treasure you!
It’s amazing how God helps reveal our hearts in the time of distress. It’s easy for us and everyone else to say we trust when everything is good. It’s when we are faced with the unknown, fear, and yes our own mortality that our faith is tested. Your realizations are a testament to the work that God is doing through you as instead of remaining “I” focused you repented and turned to Him for your strength.
God’s blessings be with you. I know your distress as I’ve walked through it. My outcome was different but the work the Holy Spirit did was not.
On the solid rock we stand!!!!!
My heart hurts that your outcome was different, Kimberlea, but what a wonderful testament of the faith God gave you to stand firm on His solid rock!