I met a new friend via Facebook. Recently her husband was diagnosed with cancer. On Friday I heard those words come from an oncologist. Many of you and your loved ones have as well. It was unnerving to hear “You have cancer”. I sat on the table in stunned silence and shock. But that feeling didn’t last long. It was soon replaced with thankfulness and hope. I knew the prayers of many were being answered as I felt no fear, only peace. As I left the office and sat by myself, I began to think about all the tests that led me to this moment. The internist that immediately sent me for an ultrasound. The technician who patiently looked and looked for the tumor - like a needle in a haystack. She would find it, and then it would disappear - but she persisted, taking pictures, showing the radiologist. Then more pictures, more instructions from the radiologist. At one point she returned to the room and said, “Oh Jesus! I need You!” I told her, “If it helps to know this, I want you to know that I prayed specifically for you this morning.” There, in the darkened room, we formed a bond because of Jesus.
Laura’s husband has a much more aggressive cancer. And yet, Laura could share these words:
“I’ve wrestled with what to say. As much as I love words, most words fail me right now. We are facing hard hard stuff here and there have been leaky eyes and quivering jaws. Not gonna candy coat that.
There’s nothing good about this latest news - nothing, but there’s everything good about the God who has allowed it in our life and who holds our hand as we face it. There’s everything good about Him regardless of the temporal outcome of this current trial. God will not cease to be good to us if healing doesn’t happen for us. He is not capricious or callous or uncaring. He is kind and compassionate - always kind and compassionate - and He remains good even in things that are bad.
His goodness to us is much higher and deeper and wider than the worst case scenario of cancer. His goodness to us is not measured by what He gives to us, nor voided by what He takes from us. His goodness to us is seen in His unwavering love for us - a merciful and undeserved love that, because of Christ, nothing can separate us from. It is unshakeable, immutable, irrevocable, and eternal.
His grace will be sufficient for this ... just as it has been sufficient for everything that’s gone before this. I don’t say that tritely, but truthfully and on that truth I hang my hope!
I don’t always (or even often) understand the ways of my God ... but through the trials of my life I have learned to trust the God of my ways. That hasn’t changed with this cancer update.”
I’m thankful for my new Facebook friend, and someday soon I hope to meet her face to face. Because of Christ, we both can joyfully declare, “It is well with my soul!” If you are going through a difficult time, I pray that Laura’s words are a source of comfort and point you to the Great Physician - the only One Who can offer us ultimate healing from the pervasive disease of sin.
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