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 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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*** 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. ***
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 worldly 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)
The Lord gives us a reason not to fear: our redemption, His calling us by name. We belong to Him. He knows us. He cares for 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 said, “You are Mine.”
No matter what you face this week, the One who called you by name will never leave you.