If Only God Would Make My Decision for Me…, May 4
Daily Reflections from Inside the Cancer Journey
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Written by Dan Held
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5 NIV).
Before her death, my 102-year-old mother was asked, “Of all the things you have prayed for over the years, what do you consider the most important?”
Such a question of anyone might be cause for hesitation. Having to account for the various prayer requests any one of us have made over our lifetime could be a real stumper. How much time do you have? I would have to think long and hard about this one. Yet my faithful mother, who had prayed ever since she was a child at mealtime and over the course of a century-long series of difficult challenges, never blinked an eye. Without hesitating she answered, “I would say my prayers for wisdom were the most important.”
Both times when my wife was diagnosed with cancer, our first inclination was to pray for her long life and for enough financial resources to bring about her desired healing. But two memories came back to us as we prayed. The first of these was my own mother’s answer to that rather loaded question about her prayers. The second was the passage from I Kings 3:1-15 featuring the prayer of the newly crowned King Solomon. This is where God rewarded Solomon with long life and riches because he didn’t ask for them. Instead, he prayed for wisdom.
Wisdom is critical after getting a cancer diagnosis. Too often cancer decisions seem to require more wisdom than we have. Which doctor? Which treatment? What do I do about money, insurance, retirement funds? What do I tell my boss, my kids, my parents? What to do now? What to do next? Some God-filled wisdom would be really useful right about now.
James knew his readers felt the same way. They were Jewish Christians who had fled persecution, leaving them hesitant even about what to pray for amidst their most trying of circumstances. Had they done the right thing in leaving their homes, fearing persecution and death? Had they come to the right place? Now what? Now where? Decisions. Decisions. Sound familiar?
In today’s verse James tells them (and us), “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5).
Don’t we all need to pray for some God-filled wisdom, even today? Just ask.
Pray: “God, give me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen.” (Attributed to Rev. Reinhold Niebuhr.)
Your Turn: Of all the decisions on your own plate today, which is the most important for you to make using the wisdom God will generously give you?
Dan Held, Cancer Caregiver
Dan is a cancer caregiver who lives with his wife (Sue) of 55 years in Dayton, Ohio, where Sue has been free from breast cancer and colon cancer for two years! Dan is an ordained pastor and a licensed therapist with a heart for families touched by cancer at any stage. He is dedicated to promoting the message of more love and less fear in all aspects of his ministry and life. Check out his blog at www.danielkheld.com.
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.
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