Faith, Resilience, and Hope Through Cancer's Journey
Summary
In today's gathering, I shared a deeply personal journey of faith, resilience, and divine intervention through my recent battle with cancer. Reflecting on the past eight to nine months, I recounted how a minor car accident led to the discovery of an aggressive cancerous mass. This unexpected turn of events tested my faith and reliance on God, but it also became a profound testament to His presence and provision in my life.
Throughout this journey, I leaned heavily on the principles of hope and belief, as chronicled in my journal. Despite the grim diagnosis and the physical toll of chemotherapy, I held onto the belief that God was in control. The process was grueling, with numerous hospital visits, treatments, and a significant surgery that ultimately led to my healing. Yet, through it all, I learned to see my scars not as marks of suffering but as symbols of God's faithfulness and my survival.
The experience taught me the importance of identifying and addressing the root causes of our struggles, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. It also highlighted the significance of community and support, as my family, friends, and church community rallied around me, providing unwavering support and encouragement.
A pivotal moment came when I realized that my focus had been on my illness rather than on God's provision. This shift in perspective was reinforced by the hymn "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus," which became a spiritual anchor for me. The stories of Helen Lemel and Lilius Trotter, who inspired the hymn, reminded me of the power of surrendering to God's will and trusting in His plan.
Ultimately, this journey has deepened my empathy and compassion for others, teaching me that our trials are not just about us but about how God can use us to touch the lives of others. I encourage everyone to keep their eyes on Jesus, even in the darkest moments, and to trust that He is working all things for our good and His glory.
Key Takeaways:
1. Hope and Belief in Adversity: In the face of a daunting cancer diagnosis, I learned the power of hope and belief. Despite the uncertainty, I chose to trust in God's plan, knowing that He watches over His word based on who He is, not on our performance. This unwavering hope became my anchor through the storm. [08:09]
2. The Importance of Community: My journey underscored the vital role of community and support. My family, friends, and church community provided unwavering support, reminding me that we are not meant to walk through life's challenges alone. Their presence and prayers were a testament to the power of collective faith. [26:35]
3. Shifting Focus from Problem to Provision: A significant turning point was realizing that my focus had been on my illness rather than on God's provision. By shifting my perspective and turning my eyes upon Jesus, I found peace and strength to endure. This taught me the importance of looking beyond our problems to see God's hand at work. [34:22]
4. The Power of Surrender: The hymn "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" became a spiritual anchor, reminding me of the power of surrendering to God's will. The stories of Helen Lemel and Lilius Trotter, who inspired the hymn, reinforced the importance of trusting in God's plan, even when it doesn't align with our expectations. [39:20]
5. Empathy and Compassion Through Trials: My cancer journey deepened my empathy and compassion for others. I learned that our trials are not just about us but about how God can use us to touch the lives of others. This experience taught me to see beyond my suffering and recognize the greater purpose God has for my life. [45:43]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:00] - Opening Prayer
- [04:30] - Reflecting on Sisterhood Conference
- [08:09] - Journal Entry on Hope and Belief
- [10:45] - The Car Accident and Discovery
- [12:29] - Cancer Diagnosis and Initial Reactions
- [15:00] - Chemo and Physical Challenges
- [18:37] - December Hospital Stay
- [22:00] - The Miracle of Surgery
- [26:35] - Community Support and Breakthrough
- [30:00] - Faith and Trust in God
- [34:22] - Shifting Focus to God's Provision
- [39:20] - The Story Behind "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"
- [42:16] - Lilius Trotter's Influence
- [45:43] - Empathy and Compassion Through Trials
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 46:10 - "Be still, and know that I am God."
2. Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
3. Genesis 22:13 - "And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns."
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the pivotal moment in the speaker's journey that shifted their focus from illness to God's provision? [34:22]
2. How did the speaker describe the role of community during their battle with cancer? [26:35]
3. What hymn became a spiritual anchor for the speaker, and what was its significance? [39:20]
4. How did the speaker's perspective on their physical scars change throughout their journey? [18:37]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the speaker's experience illustrate the concept of "faith as the substance of things hoped for" from Hebrews 11:1? [34:22]
2. In what ways did the speaker's community embody the biblical principle of bearing one another's burdens? [26:35]
3. How does the story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22 relate to the speaker's realization about focusing on God's provision rather than their problems? [34:22]
4. What does the speaker's journey teach about the power of surrendering to God's will, as reflected in the hymn "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"? [39:20]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you faced a significant challenge. How did your faith influence your response, and what can you learn from the speaker's experience to apply in future challenges? [34:22]
2. The speaker emphasized the importance of community support. How can you actively contribute to your community to support others in their times of need? [26:35]
3. Consider the distractions in your life that may be preventing you from focusing on Jesus. What practical steps can you take this week to shift your focus to God's provision? [34:22]
4. The speaker found strength in the hymn "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus." Is there a song, scripture, or practice that helps you refocus on God during difficult times? How can you incorporate it more into your daily life? [39:20]
5. The speaker's journey deepened their empathy and compassion for others. How can you use your own experiences to empathize with and support those around you? [45:43]
6. Reflect on the concept of surrendering to God's will. What areas of your life are you holding onto tightly, and how can you practice surrendering them to God this week? [39:20]
7. The speaker learned to see their scars as symbols of God's faithfulness. How can you reframe your own "scars" or past struggles to see them as part of God's work in your life? [18:37]
Devotional
Day 1: Hope Anchored in Faith
In times of adversity, hope becomes a powerful anchor that steadies the soul. When faced with a daunting cancer diagnosis, the choice to trust in God's plan, despite uncertainty, reveals the strength of hope and belief. This hope is not based on human performance but on the unwavering nature of God, who watches over His word. Holding onto this hope through the storm can transform a seemingly hopeless situation into a testament of faith. [08:09]
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to anchor your hope in God's promises today? How can you actively choose to trust Him in this situation?
Day 2: The Strength of Community
Community plays a vital role in navigating life's challenges. The unwavering support of family, friends, and church community serves as a reminder that no one is meant to walk through adversity alone. Their presence and prayers exemplify the power of collective faith, providing strength and encouragement when it is needed most. This support system becomes a tangible expression of God's love and care. [26:35]
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2 (ESV)
Reflection: Who in your community can you reach out to for support today? How can you also be a source of encouragement and strength for someone else?
Day 3: Shifting Focus to Divine Provision
A significant turning point in any trial is the realization that focusing on the problem can overshadow God's provision. By shifting perspective and turning one's eyes upon Jesus, peace and strength are found to endure. This shift allows for a deeper understanding of God's hand at work, even in the midst of difficulty, and highlights the importance of looking beyond immediate challenges. [34:22]
"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." - Colossians 3:2 (ESV)
Reflection: What is one problem you are currently facing that you need to shift your focus from? How can you begin to see God's provision in this situation today?
Day 4: The Power of Surrender
Surrendering to God's will is a powerful act of faith. The hymn "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" serves as a spiritual anchor, reminding believers of the importance of trusting in God's plan, even when it doesn't align with personal expectations. The stories of Helen Lemel and Lilius Trotter reinforce the transformative power of surrender, leading to peace and alignment with God's purpose. [39:20]
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." - Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 5: Empathy and Compassion Through Trials
Trials have the potential to deepen empathy and compassion for others. Personal suffering is not just about the individual but about how God can use these experiences to touch the lives of others. Recognizing the greater purpose in one's trials allows for a shift in perspective, seeing beyond personal suffering to the ways God can work through it for the benefit of others. [45:43]
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV)
Reflection: How can you use your own experiences of suffering to empathize with and support someone else today? What specific action can you take to show compassion to someone in need?
Quotes
"I want to pray because I want what I have to share to be God words. I want him to use my mouth. There might be some things written here that don't need to be said today, and there may be some things that are not written down that need to be said. And if you've been to a conference before, you know sometimes my notebook goes by the wayside and we just see what he does. But I want to pray because I want him to get the glory and not me." [00:04:58] (23 seconds)
"And one of the things that I saw emerge was that I hope and I believe for better. That was throughout my journal entries, hope, because I couldn't lose hope. But I wanted to share an excerpt from my journal on August 6th, and there's a couple of times I'm going to be sharing my journal entries because it's so raw and real. But it said, Father, you watch over your word based on who you are and not on our performance." [00:07:24] (31 seconds)
"After my first or after my second round of chemo, I had already shrunk the tumor by 90%. So wow, right? I mean, so sometimes you might need some medicine, but it did, it was uneventful for me. It didn't affect me except a couple of days after that's when the symptoms started hitting. And for me, it affected my taste. It affected my smell. It affected my touch. I couldn't taste food. And if I tried to eat it, it would taste like cardboard or some weird stuff." [00:15:41] (31 seconds)
"I began to lose my hair, too. That was another thing that I didn't expect. So I didn't expect cancer, and I certainly didn't expect to lose my hair, but that happened. And for a second, I felt like I had some tears, but then I said, no, this is just part of the journey, and I'm going to, it'll grow back, so it's no big deal. At the Cancer Institute, they have a place where you can go in and try on some free wigs." [00:16:41] (23 seconds)
"So how can I really complain about having cancer if cancer has made me more like Christ, right? Because of what I've learned in the process. So some of the things that we go through, they're not meant to punish you. They're just made to make you aware of what God's doing and that you are strong and that you are able to make it through that thing, right?" [00:18:16] (23 seconds)
"But one of the things I learned is the root. Until the doctor found the root of my issue, right? He identified it, he diagnosed it, he took it out. That's when I became free. And I think that we can also relate that to our spiritual lives or relational lives or emotional lives. If you're going through something or if it's a behavior, if you don't identify the root cause of what's causing it and you don't deal with it, you're never going to be healed and set free from it." [00:25:47] (27 seconds)
"After I was released from the hospital, which was like the second week of, um, January, my husband felt very strongly that we needed to go to church that Sunday for breakthrough because we were tired of the sickness. So I can remember PT teaching on striving, surviving and thriving. And I came up, I was very weak. I had a very weak voice, but I shared, um, you have to learn to survive before you can thrive." [00:26:35] (26 seconds)
"In this going through cancer, I have learned empathy and compassion for others that I never had before. I have learned we get to choose our response, and we get to choose our focus. If we move beyond the moment we are in and we step out ahead of God, then our focus turns out here, and then fear makes our choices. But if we follow in God's footsteps, he will direct our path." [00:37:28] (30 seconds)
"So during the fourth night into the fifth morning, I was awakened, or I was made aware that there was a song playing in my mind, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. And it was so overpowering, and it continued, and it continued, and it continued, till I finally got up, and I said, well, I'm just going to go research. this song and find out who the author was, and it'll give me something to do because right then I didn't feel like sleeping anymore." [00:39:20] (31 seconds)
"She found a quote from Lilius that helped her to write this song. So then, turn your eyes upon him, look full into his face, and you will find that the things of earth will acquire a strange new dimness. And she said that when she put pen to paper, she wrote that entire song without once stopping. It was the Holy Spirit that was writing the rhythms and the words." [00:40:47] (26 seconds)
"Our lives matter to God, and our lives matter to others. We just have to go through some stuff to become more like Christ. What we really go through in this life is never about us. I did learn that. God can use us through the process and teach us how to be more compassionate and have empathy for others as Jesus did." [00:45:43] (24 seconds)
"So if I have any advice in the darkness that you might currently be in, is to keep your eyes on Jesus, not on the stuff, not on the thing. Yes, it's painful, and yes, you're going to have dark moments, and yes, you're going to cry and scream and all of the above, love. But he's never going to leave you or forsake you." [00:46:07] (19 seconds)
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