Encouraging weary women to hope in Christ alone
Today I’m honored to share on the Proverbs 31 Ministries podcast about knowing your role when a friend is suffering. I think often we hesitate to offer support to a friend who’s hurting because we aren’t sure about the best way to serve and support her. We dig into this tough topic today, and I hope it will be helpful to you!
You can listen here or find the Proverbs 31 Ministries podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
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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 34th 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.
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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. **
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My friends started showing up within hours of my cancer diagnosis. One friend folded laundry in my bedroom; another cooked dinner in the kitchen. As news spread, friends started organizing a freezer meal drive. Many others hit their knees in prayer.
I quickly realized we were going to need a lot of help. During the following months, we saw over and over again that God would meet each and every one of our physical, logistical, emotional, and spiritual needs. There were times when He provided directly through the power of the Holy Spirit giving us comfort, peace, and wisdom. But most of the time, He used His people to supply our needs as they reached out with love and support for our family.
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.“ (Philippians 4:19)
This verse from Philippians became a lifeline for me. We faced many challenges, and I sometimes struggled to believe the Lord would provide a way. But He did. Every single time.
I love that in the context of this verse in Philippians 4, Paul is thanking the church at Philippi for how they’ve supported him. Paul needed the body of Christ to help him do his work. We aren’t meant to walk this Christian life alone.
We can trust God to supply all our needs because He has it all. Everything in the world belongs to Him: all created things, all power, all wisdom, all glory. He doesn’t lack anything He needs, and He certainly doesn’t lack anything you need.
But God isn’t just a powerful ruler who has it all. Paul refers to Him as “my God.” We are His sheep and He is our Shepherd. He cares for us, and we shall not want (Ps. 23:1). You can have confidence that He will not withhold anything His child needs.
No matter what you face this week, God will give you everything you need.
** 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 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. **
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