Dana's Christian Journey

musings of a thankful cancer survivor

Author: Dana

  • truth

    —

    Dana

    It was after I was diagnosed with cancer that I realized how many are battling disease. I have seen so many people exhibit great courage and determination. The attitudes of young and old have served as examples for me. I have noticed that people handle adversity in different ways. Some seem to approach the enemy of disease with a defiant attitude. Others seem to lean more on faith in the struggle. Many call on the same God I serve, while others rely on different religions. As I joined a whole community of suffering people, an interesting question arose: Is my faith just a way to deal with my problem or is it something that is true?

    Am I truly a child of God or is this just something that helps me cope? Does God really love me with an everlasting love or does this thought just make me feel better? God has arranged things in such a way that we can only come to Him by faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. God’s Son, Jesus, is the definition of truth and when we put our faith in Him some miracles take place. Our sins – far more deadly than any cancer – are forgiven and we become a part of God’s family. The Father, in His perfect wisdom, gives a gift to His children to enable us to walk in truth. Paul wrote about this good news in Galations 3 and 4: You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus… Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” Before Jesus went to the cross, He promised His followers this Helper who He described as truth: If you love Me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him or knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

    So here’s the lesson I have learned: God’s truths are of infinite value when I hold to them by faith. The fatal mistake of the children of Israel was not combining God’s message of truth with their own faith (see Hebrews 4:1-3). It was easy for them to believe when they walked through the Red Sea and saw their enemy destroyed. But what did they believe after going three days without water? It is easy for me to believe when every prayer seems to be answered and I constantly sense His presence. But what do I believe when no prayer seems to be answered? What if God seems to be far away? What if I am suddenly confronted with sickness or persecution or even death?

    This is the truth: In Christ, I am forgiven, I am loved as a son, and the Holy Spirit dwells in my heart. Lord, let us believe what we know to be true. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.

  • the love of the Father

    —

    Dana

    The first thing I’ll share that I have learned in this year of difficulty is going to sound simplistic. It is something we all know, but may not totally grasp. I AM LOVED BY GOD. I am not just loved in some ordinary way, but I am loved as a son. The truth is we are not just loved ‘as if’ we are children of God – we are children of God! How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are!

    Granted, we are adopted, but does that diminish the love of the Father? I have two friends that have something in common. Each has one son by birth and one son that was adopted. I asked these fathers if they loved the son by birth more than the one adopted. The reaction was the same – “Of course not!” I felt a little stupid asking the question, but I’m glad I did. The passion expressed as these parents told of their love for their sons was powerful. Now if we, who are evil, know how to love our children, how much more does the Father in Heaven love us? (see Luke 11:11-13) Is it possible that God loves me in the same manner that He loves Jesus? It is true and I should believe it!

    If anyone talked to my parents this past year, one thing would have been clear: they loved their son that was battling cancer. So often, while I was as sick as could be, I could feel my father’s hand on my back or I could hear his comforting voice. When he was at his own house in Chattanooga and I could not hear him or see him, I still knew his love for me was strong. So why are we tempted to question our Heavenly Father’s love when troubles come? We believe in a God who has all power. We sing that He is in control. But if He loves me so, how could He let me have cancer? Jesus understands our questions because He suffered on this earth. He intercedes for us with perfect prayers as a fellow sufferer and He models the perfect attitude the children of God should possess. “My Father loves me. I may not understand why I am going through this, but I will trust Him. I love my Father and I’ll do whatever He says.”

    Though He was sinless, the Father chose to teach His Son through suffering. “Though He was a son, He learned obedience from the things that He suffered.” I don’t know that I fully understand this, but we all know that difficulty can produce good. Though the world may question God, the child, by faith, can know that God’s love never fails. Don’t you know as Jesus was whipped, spit upon, and nailed to the cross, many were thinking, “This can’t be the Son of God – no all-powerful Father would let His Son go through such torture!”? But Jesus knew God’s ways are not man’s ways. He entrusted Himself to the will of the Father – and aren’t we glad He did?

    If God allowed His only begotten Son to suffer, would He permit His adopted children to go through difficulties? The answer seems obvious, but the test comes in believing that, no matter how dark the cloud, God’s love never wavers. Even on his death bed, a child of God can say with all confidence, “He loves me.”

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