The Lord replied,
“My precious child,
I love you and will never leave you
During your times of
trials and suffering
When you saw only
one set of footprints
It was then that I carried
you.”
~ “Footprints in the
Sand” (Anonymous)
In
December 2010, in what felt like some cruel twist of fate, I was diagnosed with
advanced breast cancer. I felt as though I’d suddenly stepped from the firm,
well-travelled path I’d been walking onto the shifting sands of a deserted
beach. Uncertain about where this difficult and lonely path might lead, fear clutched
me in its icy grip, evaporating my hope and eroding my faith. Burdened by those
devastating twin afflictions of helplessness and hopelessness, I experienced
times of despair when I felt as though God had abandoned me.
But that raucous rollercoaster ride of emotions that swiftly follows on
the heels of a numbing shock eventually came to a halt. As I travelled this difficult
and troublesome path, I once again felt that my fervent prayers for help and
guidance were being heard. As God removed the obstacle of fear that had threatened
to sever our relationship, I sensed He was once more walking alongside me. He became
my source of strength and security, offering me the hope and peace I needed to
carry me through this trying time of trial and testing. He renewed my spirit
and refreshed my soul, allowing me to contemplate my future without fear,
worry, or sorrow.
Jesus teaches us never to worry about what tomorrow will bring because
worrying about the future does nothing to lengthen our life (Matthew 6:27). His
lesson has been confirmed by modern medical research, which concludes that the
stress caused by worry does indeed shorten our lifespan. When I was able to once
again place my health and my future in God’s hands, my sense of wellbeing was
restored. By laying my worries and fears at His feet (1 Peter 5:7), I became a wellness
warrior rather than a resigned worrier. During my year-long course of treatment,
I became a regular at the Saskatoon Cancer Centre Library, checking out reliable
books, taking notes, and following any sensible sounding advice.
But my primary sources of solace during this difficult and uncertain time
were prayer and the Holy Scriptures. I wrote out several comforting verses and
posted them by my computer for daily contemplation: Matthew 8:16-17; Job 5:18; Jeremiah 29:11; Daniel 10:18-19; Philippians 4:13; John 14:27; and many others.
I searched God’s Word for verses on the power of prayer and God’s promises for
healing (James 5:14-16; Psalm 46:1; Psalm 107:20; Jeremiah 30:17). They gave me
the willpower, strength, and courage I needed to fight this deadly disease and
maintain a confident and positive spirit. A positive perspective is a vital key
to health and healing (Proverbs 17:22).
Casting my cares upon God, I became determined to fill my life with
positive thoughts, people, and activities. Instead of dwelling on my disease, I
decided to focus on the things I enjoyed in life, including writing. I hadn’t
pursued my writing seriously until I’d stopped working in my early fifties. At
that time, I was successful in getting some of my writing published in various newspapers
and magazines. But after a few years, I returned to work and once again had
little time to pursue my writing dreams. When I was diagnosed with cancer, I knew
I needed to quit working in order to deal with my surgery and treatments and
concentrate on getting well. Once my treatments ended and I’d regained my
strength, I was determined to devote my time and attention to my writing once more.
While it seems strange to call such a burden a blessing, my cancer became a
catalyst for change. So what initially felt like an insurmountable obstacle had
actually opened a door to opportunity!
Photo: Pixabay
