Prayer, January 27
Daily Reflections from Inside the Cancer Journey
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Written by Karen Wonders
“Seek the LORD and His strength, seek His face continually” (1 Chronicles 16:11 KJV).
When we first met Michelle at Maple Tree Cancer Alliance, she was in the middle of a storm. Her husband had recently died. Soon after that, she was in a car accident that left her with several broken bones. No sooner had she healed from the accident than she noticed a lump on her breast. Within the span of six months, Michelle’s life had gone from happy and content to broken and alone. She was a shell of her former self.
As we were talking, Michelle confessed that she no longer prayed—not because she was necessarily angry with God, but because she just didn’t know what to say any more. She was just too … sad.
How can you pray when you’re depressed? What do you say when you feel God is silent? Depression can easily strip someone of their hope. It can tempt us into thinking we can’t be honest with God. How do you act in faith while continuing to lament?
I believe the first step is remembering who God is. He is our Creator! He knows everything about us—He even knew us and planned our days before He laid the foundation of the Earth. He delights in our prayers, because we were created to be in fellowship with Him!
The next step is to be honest with God. You can’t hide your true self from Him. You don’t have to use eloquent words. Just pour out your heart to Him. Tell Him all about your pain, your struggles, and your fears. Tell Him about your anger. Cry out to Him. He can take it! In fact, His Word tells us to do just that— “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NIV).
Honest, heart-felt prayers are actually bold statements of belief—a declaration of faith that God is who He says He is! When you’re going through a storm, don’t run from God, be honest with Him! He who made the stars loves you like crazy, and He can’t wait to hear from you!
Pray: Father God, what a privilege it is to come to You in prayer! Thank You for delighting in my prayers. Lord, You know my suffering. You know all the things I have been through, and You know everything that lies before me. Help me to trust that You will care for me. You are a good Father! Remove this fear I feel and replace it with confidence in You! Keep me in Your will and give my mind rest. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Your Turn: God delights in our prayers. Set aside at least five minutes today to go before Him in prayer. As you pray, close your eyes and envision yourself standing before God. Imagine Him listening to your prayers and comforting you as you speak. Remember that He is your friend who longs to hear from you!
Karen Y. Wonders, PhD, FACSM, Cancer Caregiver
Karen is the Founder and CEO of Maple Tree Cancer Alliance, and Professor/Program Director of Exercise Physiology at Wright State University. Her passion is to advocate for exercise as part of the national standard of care for cancer. Her non-profit organization provides free exercise training to thousands of cancer survivors every month (www.mapletreecanceralliance.org). Dr. Wonders and her husband have 7 children—aged 16 and younger. If you think her hands are full, you should see her heart!
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.
