Our Mighty Warrior Who Saves, April 7
Daily Reflections from Inside the Cancer Journey
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Written by Ashley Taylor
“The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves” (Zephaniah 3:17a NIV).
Warning: Chemotherapy may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, mouth sores, hair changes, nail changes, memory loss—and the list continues. Can’t it be scary and overwhelming to read labels of possible side effects? However, you sometimes need treatment with these chemical substances to fight the disease called cancer. Like me, you might also find that you need a Mighty Warrior who saves.
The side effects of chemotherapy began my first day of treatment. I had been told that the first round could be especially hard on my body, and it was true. One evening I was curled up in a chair in our den really hurting from the side effects of one of the drugs. Nothing helped! My mind was filled with pain and fear. “How would I get through this?” My husband and my daughter, Hannah, were gentle and caring, asking if they could do anything for me. I knew what I needed then was a Mighty Warrior who could save me from the pain, the fear and anything else cancer might bring. Zephaniah 3:17 tells us that “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.” I turned my battle that night over to Him. My heavenly Father was there to fight this battle. He is the great I Am who protects, comforts, rescues, and saves His people.
God provided a powerful weapon for me to get rid of the daunting thoughts the evil one wanted me to have. My Mighty Warrior brought me a phone call from my precious parents which gave me the great comfort I needed that night.
This was not the last battle against side effects my Mighty Warrior had to face for me. I started feeling a bit rugged one afternoon not long after a treatment, and by dinner time, I felt even worse. By the time we arrived at the emergency room, my temperature registered 103.5 degrees. Thoughts of a past conversation with a friend who had experienced being in critical condition in the hospital for sepsis ran through my mind. The hours in the ER were long and frightening. I wondered if the side effects of treatment to fight the life-threatening cancer would end my life. During that night, I spent a lot of time calling out to the Lord for help. I discovered again that the Lord is always close by to heal, to carry our burdens, and to save us from our fears. These side effects and the scary thoughts they brought would fail to overcome me. The Lord brought the light of peace and comfort to me through the presence of my family and friends, and the care of my awesome healthcare team. The evil one never stood a chance. After three days in the hospital, the doctors never figured out exactly what the infection was, but were able to treat it successfully. Praise God, I was healed and went home to continue my battle, knowing I would never stand alone.
Pray: Lord, You are our Mighty Warrior, who protects, comforts, rescues, and saves. Let us stand strong in our faith and abide in Your amazing love as we trust in You. Amen.
Your Turn: Listen to the words of Lauren Daigle’s song, “Rescue.” What do they say to you?
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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