God
is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will
not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the
heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake
at its swelling pride. Selah. Psalm
46:1-3
This month is Breast
Cancer Awareness Month. Pink is
everywhere, even on the feet of the NFL football players and pro golfers. Yesterday we recognized our own heroes...our
Cancer Survivors.
As a compassionate and caring church, North
Side has stepped into the lives of many to share their struggles and celebrate
their victories. Prayers have been
offered and arms have been extended in love upon the news that someone has
cancer. We have grieved with those whose
battles are now over and testified of the grace and the provision of God.
What can we learn from the journeys and
battles of those who have traveled this road?
- Crisis
Creates Confusion
The emotional
impact of cancer diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, and related issues can be
severe. Shock, fear, uncertainty, and general numbness
are immediate reactions. As in any
crisis moment, the diagnosis of cancer creates a time of confusion.
- Caution
Causes Carefulness
Running when we are confused and lost is not
only futile, it is dangerous. So it is
when we are in any crisis. The first
thing we must do is stop and get our bearings; understanding where we are and
then assessing where we are going from here is mandatory. Those who have walked the path ahead with a
diagnosis of cancer will tell us to be cautious about what we think and do at
this time. Don’t get ahead of God!
- Commitment
Calls for Courage
The cancer survivor who has faced the pain and true
agony of treatment knows what courage is when they show up for the second,
third, fourth, or subsequent treatment knowing the cost. Courage is not without fear. Courage on our part is boldness in the face
of fear. May all who fight be imbued with
courage wrought through FAITH IN GOD. God has not called us to test our strength,
but His. Our cancer survivors remind us
regularly to never question the power of our God to deliver!
- Conquering
May Not Mean Cure
Cancer survivors live with a reality that the
cells in their body might react against them once more. The word “cure” is seldom heard in the life
of one who has experienced cancer. While
they may live in remission from the disease, the very fact they have had cancer
greatly increases the chances for its return.
Vulnerability is a feeling of weakness in the face of a threat. Such a feeling is a part of the cancer
survivor.
- Compassionate
Caregivers Share the Burden
For a cancer patient or someone suffering from
some other form of illness it is the caregiver.
Love is the force behind the care.
Sometimes when a loved one needs our help, there are those who push the
pause button on their own lives. The
other person’s needs become more important than theirs for a little while. It is that kind of love which compels us into
action through compassion.
- Christ
is our Source for Comfort, Healing, Strength and Hope
Of all the lessons we
can learn from the cancer survivor, this is the one we need the most. Where do you find hope when all seems so
dark? The testimony from so many who
have walked this very path is that their hope is in a person...Jesus
Christ! Hope is the interpretive lens
that brings determination in the midst of despair, courage in the midst of
crisis, and power in the midst of peril.
Real hope has a REASON to believe.
Real hope is not THAT you believe or WHAT you believe; it is in WHOM you
believe.
In the midst of your life battle, learn today from those who are our
heroes of faith! There is no need for
despair when Jesus is there! From the
beginning of the crisis to the final victory, Jesus is taking care of you!
Scripture to Claim
I would have despaired unless I had believed that I
would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Wait for the
LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD. Psalms 27:13-14
