My daughter asked me recently, “What’s been the worst day of your life?” There have been more than one “worst day ever” – those days when we’ve lost a loved one certainly come to mind. Life in this world can be heartbreaking. 

Ten years ago today I was living some of those worst days. I woke up on my 34^th birthday filled with sadness, stress, and dread. The day before, I’d been diagnosed with a rare cancer called angiosarcoma. We didn’t know yet what the road ahead would look like, and I’m glad I didn’t know everything that was to come. But I did know this good news: 

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

These words brought me so much comfort as I walked through the valley of the shadow of death that year. I didn’t know if I’d live to see 35, if my daughter would remember me, if I’d see my sons grow into young men, if my husband would be left to raise our kids alone. But I knew from Romans 8:38-39 that nothing – not even cancer, not even death – could separate us from God’s love. 

In these verses, Paul gives us a comprehensive list of all the circumstances and powers that can’t separate us from God’s love. And in case he missed anything, he adds these powerful words: “nor anything else in all creation.” That pretty much covers it, wouldn’t you say? 

Notice that Paul doesn’t say “Nothing will separate us,” as if he’s making a prediction about something that could happen but won’t. He says none of these things “will be able to separate us.” God loves us with a rock-solid, certain, steadfast love in Christ Jesus. Something separating God’s children from that love is a complete impossibility. It won’t happen because it can’t happen. 

Christ Jesus died and rose again to guarantee this promise: Even on the worst day of your life, nothing in all creation will be able to separate you from God’s love. 

No matter what you face this week, nothing will be able to separate you from God’s love. 

Have you ever felt like the weight of suffering or sorrow might crush you? I remember an especially difficult day in the midst of my cancer battle ten years ago. We had just learned that I would need to start spending most of my time in Houston, receiving treatment through a clinical trial at MD Anderson Cancer Center. 

As I sat in the Houston airport waiting to return home for a few days, the tears wouldn’t stop flowing. I was weighed down by grief and the stress of the challenges we faced. But over and over again during that time, the Lord brought this verse to mind: 

“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22, NIV)

What does it look like to cast your cares on the Lord? The word cast means to throw, hurl, or fling. Imagine standing at the edge of a cliff, reaching your arm behind you, and throwing your worries as far as they will go. When our burdens are too much for our own strength, we can cast them on the Lord. He will carry them for us. 

As we cast our burdens on Him, God says He will sustain us. We don’t need to stand on our own strength or skill. He doesn’t look at our pain and say with a shrug, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” He sees our weakness and asks us to throw the burden on Him. He has all the strength we need. He holds us tight and will never let us go. 

As I walked through the difficult months of that clinical trial, the Lord often showed me that He was with me in my suffering. He never asked me to carry the burden alone. He’s not asking you to suffer alone, either. Cast those burdens on Him, and let Him sustain you today.  

No matter what you face this week, the Lord will sustain you. 

** This weekend I will celebrate 1 0  Y e A r S ! since my cancer diagnosis in October 2010. I can’t celebrate with a big party or a fantastic trip (thanks a lot, covid!), but I can celebrate with God’s Word. Each Monday this month, I’m sharing a verse that was precious to me during my cancer battle. I hope it encourages you in whatever struggle you’re facing today. **

The text came from a friend as I recovered from chemo in Houston in 2011. She wanted to know my favorite verse. I had a hard time choosing from my long list of favorites, but there was one that had become so precious in my suffering. 

When I battled angiosarcoma, there was no guarantee of a happy ending from my earthly perspective. No one could promise me I’d get my old life back. I definitely wasn’t getting my old body back. And I wondered if life after cancer would ever come close to normal for my family and me. 

One thing I knew for sure: God’s presence with me was absolutely guaranteed. The fire was hot. The waves were high. But I was not alone. 

“But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.’” (Isaiah 43:1–2)

Isaiah shared these words of the Lord for future Israelites who would be exiled from their home and face an unknown future. They would lose everything: their country, their land, and the temple that served as the center of their faith. But Isaiah has a message of hope for the ancient Israelites and for us today. 

The Lord gives us a reason not to fear: our Redeemer has called us by name. We belong to Him. He knows us. He cares for us. He delivers us. He will always be with us. We are His, so we have nothing to fear. 

Our suffering may feel like giant ocean waves tossing us into the air and then plunging us into the depths. But the Lord will hold us fast. Even when our future here is uncertain, our future with Him is secure, because He has said, “You are Mine.” 

No matter what you face this week, the One who called you by name will never leave you. 

** Later this month I will celebrate 1 0  Y e A r S ! since my cancer diagnosis in October 2010. I can’t celebrate with a big party or a fantastic trip (thanks a lot, covid!), but I can celebrate with God’s Word. Each Monday, I’ll share a verse that was precious to me during my cancer battle. I hope it encourages you in whatever struggle you’re facing today. **