God Goes Before You, January 11
Daily Reflections from Inside the Cancer Journey
If you find this devotional inspiring please consider making a donation so we can continue to create powerful devotions for all those impacted by cancer.
Written by Elvin Mclin
“Behold, I am doing a new thing” (Isaiah 43:18 NIV).
“It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8 ESV).
The maze of cancer treatment leads you from place to place and person to person. The receptionist at the doctor’s office greets you with a smile. Then, there’s the lab technician who takes your blood. The good ones distract you with a kind word of encouragement, and before you know it, they are finished. A caring person wheels you into the room for radiation treatment or x-rays with comforting words of assurance: “Do you need a blanket? Are you comfortable?” Yet, with all these encounters, it can be easy for your mind to be convinced you are alone. Forsaken.
Do you know Jesus felt forsaken? In the Garden of Gethsemane on the night He would be betrayed, Jesus was struggling. He asked one thing of His best friends James, John, and Peter: “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me” (Matthew 26:38 NIV). Then, the disciples fell soundly asleep. Jesus—the Son of God—knows how you feel! A man who up to this point had walked through the country performing miraculous things. Can you imagine the Lord Himself knowing how you feel?
Did you know Jesus even felt forsaken on the cross? While enduring all the pain on the cross, He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46 NIV). Jesus died for you. He endured your pain and suffering. He even endured that wretched experience of being forsaken by His heavenly Father so that you can know God as your good Father who will never abandon you.
Maybe this is why Jesus not only never leaves you; He also goes before you.
Look at today’s verse: “It is the Lord who goes before you.” Picture…
Driving to the cancer center—God has gone before you.
Sitting in a doctor’s office waiting for test results—God has gone before you.
Telling your loved one, “It’s cancer.”—God has gone before you.
Unable to move from your couch—God has gone before you.
Using your last sick day at work—God has gone before you.
Opening medical bills that make no sense—God has gone before you.
Hearing news they need to try a different treatment—God has gone before you.
There is no place where Jesus will ever leave you alone. No place where He has not gone before you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
He is with you.
Pray: Lord thank You for being with me through anything life and cancer can throw at me! Help me to know Your presence and trust in Your love. Amen.
Your Turn: What is coming up in your life? A treatment; test results? A difficult conversation with a loved one? Hard financial decisions? Take a moment to close your eyes and picture Jesus already there, waiting to guide you through.
Elvin K. McLin, Cancer Survivor
Elvin is the husband of Dominique. They live in Ellisville, Missouri where they share five beautiful adult children and five beautiful grandchildren. Elvin is an entrepreneur who began his journey with cancer in 2019 with stage three and stage four kidney cancer. As he was healing from the first encounter with cancer, another battle with cancer reared itself in the form of prostate cancer. Elvin has been welcomed by Cancer Companions to become a member of the Board of Directors.
Cancer Companion’s vision for the future is for every person impacted by cancer to know the hope, love, and grace of Jesus and that every oncology team has included faith in their treatment toolbox. By 2033, Cancer Companions will provide 5 million engagements through cancer prayers, scriptures and interactions to those impacted by cancer. Engagements include; social media outreach, e-newsletters, prayer team requests, 30 days of Cancer Prayer event, and volunteer connections.
To learn more about our ministry and the services we provide visit our website by clicking here.
