Say What You Need to Say, February 20
Daily Reflections from Inside the Cancer Journey
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Written by David Gira
“I will remain silent and will not grumble or speak out of my disappointment. But the longer I’m silent, the more my pain grows worse!” (Psalm 39:2b TPT)
Like many people, there may be things you need to say, but have not. I love you. I’m proud of you. I forgive you. I’m sorry I hurt you. I need your help. You may find it hard to say the word, “cancer,” and to tell others you have been diagnosed. Holding all of this in can cause deep pain to yourself and others.
King David, an Old Testament hero, felt intense personal pain and suffering. His grief rendered him speechless. He wanted to speak out and express his deep disappointment, to say something, but the victorious king was at a loss for words.
Finally, he confessed to God that his silence was hurting him badly. In our verse for today, he cried out, “The longer I’m silent, the more my pain grows worse!”
Another translation of the Bible renders his cry this way:
The longer I kept silence
The worse it got—
my insides got hotter and hotter.
My thoughts boiled over;
I spilled my guts. (Psalm 39:2b-3 MSG)
With his mouth muted, David became mindful of his mortality. In the next verse, he asks the Lord, “show me … the number of my days” (v. 4). He likely wonders how much time he has left to say something. Or how much longer he must suffer in silence.
The answer is not what anyone wants to hear. He is, like everyone else, “but a breath” (v. 5), “just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” (James 4:14 NASB). Like all of us, he has no way of knowing how much time he has left, but his days will likely come to an end far sooner than he ever imagined.
What did David do? He didn’t surrender to the silence. He didn’t think, “I’ll just have to take it with me to the grave.” He didn’t fire off a verbal assault. He didn’t speak too soon. He continued to think it over and pray. He put his hope in God (v. 7) and finally said what he needed to say.
Like David, we all have important things that need to be said. Maybe cancer has made you aware of the brevity and uncertainty of life. More than ever, you may be burning inside to say it. You feel the urgency. Don’t let the mortal threat silence you; use it as motivation to start talking.
Put your hope in God. Ask Him to give you the courage, wisdom, and opportunities you need to speak in love. Ask God to help you and to help the other person receive you well. Ask for the Lord’s favor and blessings.
Jesus told His disciples not to worry about how to respond or what to say even in the most difficult confrontations. He promised, “The Holy Spirit will give you the words to say at the moment when you need them” (Luke 12:12, VOICE). He will not let you down!
Pray: Lord, help me say what I need to say. Give me the words and the courage. Lead me with Your Holy Spirit. Keep me mindful of life’s fleeting and fragile nature. Bless each conversation. Amen.
Your Turn: Make a list of people you need to talk to and what you want to say. Reflect on the pain your silence is causing both you and the person who needs to hear from you. Pray about it, reach out, and have a conversation. It can be over a meal, a cup of coffee, or wherever the Lord leads you.
Michael David Gira, Jr., Cancer Survivor
David was an ordained United Methodist Pastor and graduate of Duke Divinity School. He and his wife, Amy, lived in Raleigh, North Carolina with their three children. In 2017 he was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. In his book, How Cancer Cured Me, he shares many ways he experienced God’s healing. After a 7 year battle with cancer, David is now joyously singing praises in God’s glorious throne room. His legacy lives on through his writing for Cancer Companions, as he continues to proclaim Christ’s hope and healing power to others experiencing cancer. https://www.davidgira.com/how-cancer-cured-me
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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