cancer Archives - Page 8 of 21

God Triumphs Over All Our Bad News {No Matter What Monday}

May 28, 2018 by Marissa 2 Comments

*** My new book, Loving Your Friend through Cancer, releases at the end of this month! To celebrate, each Monday devotional in May will feature one of my favorite verses from my cancer battle several years ago. I hope you will be encouraged by these scriptures and add them to your list to share with a friend who is suffering. ***

As I read through the many messages of love, support, and prayers after my cancer diagnosis, I often jotted down the scriptures or inspiritional quotes in my notebook. But one verse ended up on the back of a small piece of paper and taped to the outside of my kitchen cabinet for years. My aunt sent me a note and shared a verse that had been precious to my grandmother during her own cancer battle. The first few words stopped me in my tracks.

“He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.” (Psalm 112:7-8)

“He is not afraid of bad news?” How can this be? There is so much about bad news to be afraid of, and I had just received some of the worst news there is: a rare cancer, a grim prognosis, months of difficult treatment ahead, and an uncertain future for my young children.

But we see in these verses, and in many promises in God’s Word, that we can face bad news without fear because we belong to the Lord. We can stand firm, knowing that He is bigger, He is more powerful, He is the victor over every evil that threatens us. He has already triumphed over every pain, every illness, every sin—even over death itself.

In this world, we will have trouble. But we can take heart knowing that Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33). We don’t trust in our own might, but in the power of the One who holds our future in His hands.

No matter what you face this week, God triumphs over all our bad news.

Guest appearance ~ The Heart of the Author Podcast

May 24, 2018 by Marissa Leave a Comment

I had a great time as a guest on Vickie Henderson‘s podcast, The Heart of the Author. We chatted about my feelings of isolation during my cancer battle, how my friends supported me and how others can do the same for their friends, and how my faith sustained me during the hard times. Listen here or head over to her podcast site to learn more and subscribe!

I also shared a guest post on her blog about three ways to support a friend with cancer well. You can read it here!

For more information, check out my book, Loving Your Friend through Cancer.

The Lord Will Sustain You {No Matter What Monday}

May 21, 2018 by Marissa Leave a Comment

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 seven years ago. We had just learned that I would need to start spending most of my time in Houston, receiving treatment on 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. The logistical challenges swirled in my mind. I felt weighed down by grief, knowing I’d miss so much time with my young children.

In the months that followed, the Lord showed me over and over again that He was with me in my suffering. He never asked me to carry the burden alone. He taught me how to accept help from the body of Christ and often quieted my anxious heart with His sustaining faithfulness.

“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, “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.

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

God Will Give You Everything You Need {No Matter What Monday}

May 14, 2018 by Marissa Leave a Comment

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, logisticial, 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.

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