Pain on any journey is a regular part of life. And on a cancer journey, it can be even more pronounced. No cancer survivor or current cancer battler would deny this. This morning I had to sit and listen to a women recieve news that she was dying. Medical knowledge and wisdom had reached its end. With no hope but for comfort at the end of her journey.
I have never met this women. I heard her soft voice, heard the exhaustion as she spoke, and then the inevitable sadness at her news.
And right now, for me, there is deep sorrow in my own heart. On any cancer journey, you are surrounded by people that are in physical, emotional, and spiritual pain. Words you hoped never to hear. Physical pain you never thought you would have to endure.
Personally, there is of course the fear in not knowing if I will end up hearing those words myself. Then there is the obvious sorrow for this woman and those who love her. Who wouldn’t hurt when hearing those words even for a woman I have never met.
So many of these men and women I see at my Cancer Center each week are unknown to me. But each of them are battling a seemingly untangable enemy along side me. We can’t see our cancer but we know what we have to fight. We literally put poison in our bodies in the hope it will kill just enough to save us. And each fight is unique and hard and filled with its own challenges.
My prayer today is for comfort. That each of us would be comforted by the faithful God we serve. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted…” Matthew 5:4 gives us the hope we recieve in Gods Word. For in laying our burdens down at Jesus feet we can find a peace. We no longer need to carry our burdens alone, because we have a God willing to take those upon Himself.
There is no empty striving or endless pain with God. Each moment has purpose. Each action or word has depth that can be used by God in ways we can’t imagine. Gods promise is that he can redeem all things. And no purpose of Gods can be thwarted by any power on this Earth or anywhere above or below. And most importantly we can never be separated by the love of God! (Romans 8:37-39).
So today as my heart aches for a woman I have never met- I can see that there is still purpose for me even in hearing these words today.
First, I am praying for this women, interceding for her soul, which has amazing depth. Nothing is more valuable in this world than people coming to a saving knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Second, it reminds me of how short our lives really are. They are a mist. And I for one, want to live each one of these moments with purpose. I want my moments to add up to a lifetime of serving God. And that truly can only happen one moment at a time. Making one small choice at a time that will serve God, and again making the next small choice to serve God. And I have just enough grace to make those choices one day at a time….
