Seek God More than You Ever Have In Your Life, September 28
Inside the Cancer Journey: Daily Reflections for Those Coping with Cancer
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By Karen Tripp
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3 NIV).
I’ve never lived alone—which is fine with me, because I don’t like being alone. Now, my husband Kelly is the opposite. He’s a man who can really enjoy his solitude.
Early in our marriage, I’d find Kelly sitting in the office paying bills or something, and I would go in and sit. Just sit. No talking, no reading—just sitting. “Do you need something?” he’d ask. I’d just grin and say, “No.” After much repetition, I finally understood: at the ripe old age of 24, I had no idea how to be alone. Four decades later, I’ve gotten better, but I would still pick a room with a bunch of noisy, smelly teenagers than a room by myself any day. Strange, I know.
But loneliness is about more than being alone. Loneliness can find you standing in line at the grocery store, sitting in a meeting with a dozen people, or spending a quiet evening with a loved one. Loneliness comes in the mundane moments with thoughts like, “Is this it? Isn’t there something more?” Loneliness is the awareness of a hole in your life that hasn’t been filled.
Here’s the thing. The hole in your life is for God. God created a place in each of us that only He can fill. Isn’t that tricky? God loves us so much He wants us to want Him. So, He designed us to only feel fulfilled when we are seeking Him. The loneliness that comes from seeing this hole in your life is called “spiritual loneliness.”
Many Christians think that since they know Jesus as their savior, their spiritual loneliness should go away—but I don’t think so. Actually, I think it’s intensified. Once you begin to experience God filling this hole, you want more of Him. You see, this loneliness in your life—the feeling that something is missing—is a good thing. It’s a shout out from God that He wants you to keep seeking Him. We are designed to seek God, just as we are designed to breathe in and out. Yet when things get in the way of your breathing, you do something about it. When life gets in the way of you seeking God, you can get distracted. Cancer is one monster of a distraction.
It's not just the endless appointments, burdensome fatigue, or sneaky worries that distract you from seeking God. It’s the seductive way cancer can make you think this loneliness is part of having cancer. You can forget that this loneliness is not from cancer, it’s the reminder that you need to seek God more—perhaps more than you ever have in your life.
Responding to this loneliness for God will change your life. Today’s verse tells us what will happen when God answers your calling: “I will … tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
In the midst of cancer’s noise, listen to your loneliness. That’s God. That’s God calling you to let Him fill your hole a little bit more. Just a little bit more.
Pray: Lord God Almighty, through the chaos of cancer, let me hear my loneliness for You. Let me hear You calling me, telling me to seek You more so I may draw closer to You now than I ever have in my life. Fill me with You until I overflow. Amen.
Your Turn: What do you think of this idea that you need to seek God more now, as you struggle with cancer, than you ever have in your life? Make a list of routines from your past that pulled you closer to God—maybe morning scripture time, weekly worship, prayer before you eat, Christian music in the car, Bible study, or visiting with godly friends. What has been pushed from your life that you need back? What do you need to add? Add one thing this week.
Karen Tripp, MS, LMFT, Cancer Caregiver
Karen is the Executive Director of Cancer Companions, the premiere national Christian cancer ministry (https://www.cancercompanion.org). Her roles have included authoring several Christian books including God is Bigger Than Your Cancer and working as a licensed marriage and family therapist. She is a daughter of a colon cancer survivor. Karen uses her experience to teach how to step into another person’s struggle to help build their faith while strengthening your own.
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.
