My Lifeline, January 1
Inside the Cancer Journey: Daily Reflections for Those Coping with Cancer
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Written by Ashley Taylor
“But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely” (Psalm 59:16-17 NIV).
At midnight on December 31, with bright eyes and big smiles, my husband, James, and I rang in the New Year full of hope and great anticipation for 2019. I was looking forward to continuing to lead the high school girls’ Bible study at our church. In addition, I was studying to obtain my roofing license, so I could work with my father and my brother in the business that had been in our family for over a hundred years. James and I booked a trip for July while our youngest daughter, Hannah, would be on a trip with her high school. Our oldest daughter, Grace, was finishing up her sophomore year at UNC and taking a trip for which she had worked hard and saved. James continued to love his work in dentistry. We were healthy (or at least thought we were). We were grateful for our many blessings. What thoughts and emotions do you have at the start of a new year?
In the blink of an eye, things quickly began to change. It started with that initial fear when I found a lump that led to a truly frightening breast cancer diagnosis. Like David in Psalm 59, I felt under attack. Just as David faced King Saul’s hatred of him and feared for his life, now I faced cancer and how it would affect my life. The daily struggles of life continued, even as I began treatment. I had to put aside my studies for the roofing license exam. It was heartbreaking, but I didn’t have the energy or the concentration for my studies. The medical bills started coming in. Then, our heating and air system chose this time to unexpectedly go kaput. We learned that I would need chemotherapy and more surgery. How much more could we take? Grace left on her trip, became very ill, and had to be flown home from Europe. An important piece of equipment broke down in my husband’s office and had to be replaced. Hannah had to spend part of her time as my caregiver instead of being a teenager. Have you experienced this kind of downward spiral and felt like you were sinking?
The way I saw things, I faced two choices. I could continue to sink, letting the devil have his way and leaving me in misery. Or, I could call out to God for help. As a child of God, my heavenly Father was my choice. He would be my strength and carry me across the rough waters. Just as David cried out for God’s help and deliverance, I called out to my heavenly Father in the words of Psalm 59:17, “You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.” I praised God for being my lifeline, lifting me out of the dark depths, taking on my burdens, and giving me peace. He never fails His children. He is a lifeline on which we can rely.
Pray: Heavenly Father, let us remember that You are our lifeline and our refuge in times of trouble. Amen.
Your Turn: Feel the comfort of God’s love for you, His child, as you listen to the words of Lauren Daigle in her song, “Look Up Child.”
Ashley Taylor, Cancer Survivor
Ashley is married to James, and they have two daughters, Grace and Hannah. All four are big Tar Heel fans, having attended the same school, UNC-Chapel Hill. In 2020 Ashley obtained her roofing license to help with her family's business. She is a breast cancer survivor. She has been grateful for the opportunity to join the devo team for Cancer Companions, to reach out to others for God’s glory for His goodness in her cancer journey.
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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