Celebrating Cancer? July 7, 2015.

July 7, 2015

I received a Facebook message today from a girl that I’ve never met. I am so humbled and honored that people would reach out to me to encourage me and admit to me that they read my blog. I love hearing that God is using my trial beyond even my friends and family and allowing me to meet new people and allow them to enrich my life! She is 14 years old, and very inquisitive for her age. She asked me “After everything you have been through and getting Cancer, how do you stay so positive and not question Gods plan?” Now this is a very thoughtful question and caused me to pause and think. The first thing that came to mind was the verse, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 

But before I go any further in answering that question from my perspective, I want to be transparent in saying that I have’t always been positive and indeed I have questioned His plan! This is human nature and it’s okay to take your moment in that. It’s important to make it just that, a moment. Not a constant mindset or state. That being said I just wanted to assure you that I’m no super human and although I have faith in our mighty God I have had my moments as well! I would say first of all I cling to the truth of God’s word. That Jeremiah 29:11 rings true as well as, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6. The whole bible is God’s living Word to give us peace, comfort, and faith in times of trials. Go to that before anything else. Knowing God’s promises helps me to stay positive because although He doesn’t say it will be easy, He does say He will never abandon us or make us walk alone.

Then I go to the Lord in prayer. Prayer has proven to be a powerful thing in my life and especially during this trial. I have cried out to God in prayer for help, for strength, for faith, for providence, I have asked Him to remove any doubt or fear, I have been honest in my times of unrest, and He has been nothing but faithful to answer. Although it doesn’t always come down on a silver platter in our time of need, life isn’t like the hunger games! Sometimes you are called to be patient, sometimes you have a FedEx moment when God answers prayer right away. You have to rest knowing that He desires the best for you and He will use your life for His glory.

Sometimes reading the bible and prayer doesn’t feel like they’re enough. I don’t think this is a bad thing, God gave us fellowship and community for a reason. I have clung to every encouraging word or gesture made by those who love me. Jesus chose 12 people to be His closest followers. They were a support group, and a family to one another. Surround yourself with people who love you and care about seeing you grow. Anytime I even think about being negative or depressed the Lord uses everyone in my life to intervene. It’s so important to have people in your life that speak truth to you but it is also important to be a person that speaks truth and encouragement in the lives of others. If you have a standard for the kinds of people you want in your life you must first meet that standard yourself.

During trials I encourage you to magnify the things worth celebrating. I have said this before and I’ll say it again but Cancer has made me appreciate the little things I took for granted before. The intricacy of God’s creation shown in a little Sunflower, the overwhelming joy shown on a kid’s face when they get candy, the way music can stir up a deep emotion inside a room at the same time, whatever it is that you can find joy and life in, do it. In the times when I have felt sad or melancholy I focus on one thing, for me I usually focus on the lyrics of a song or a specific instrument that moves me.

As far as questioning God’s plan, that’s a good question because I feel like I haven’t had to focus on not doing that. I would say that the saying, “If God brings you to it He will see you through it.” Rings a lot of truth. God didn’t just pick me up and dump Cancer on me without preparing me. He truly doesn’t give you anything you can’t handle. Not by my strength, let me clarify, the strength I have comes from God and is way beyond me! But as I look back on the smaller trials in my life God has never failed me. In those past trials the struggle was real! I wasn’t at all positive and I asked God why all the time! Baby steps, it’s not an overnight thing. It’s kind of like a winding road. There are times when the road is straight and you can see everything ahead, and there are times when there is a turn and you have no idea what’s coming. We can’t see the bigger picture. But that’s faith. Trusting that God will not lead us off the cliff, sometimes we might hit a bump, sometimes our car breaks down, and sometimes you may never know why. There have been trials in my life that I went through and I still don’t know why! But the why doesn’t matter, not if you believe that God is sovereign and He is good. I almost ask myself, why not? The answer comes back with, “Because I’m scared.” or “Because I don’t want to” We aren’t called to serve ourselves and we aren’t called to live comfortable lives. If we never went through trials then we’d never grow and we’d never be pushed toward the cross. God is good! There is peace in that you guys, peace doesn’t mean comfort and it doesn’t always come easy.