Setting God’s Word on Fire, October 28
Inside the Cancer Journey: Daily Reflections for Those Coping with Cancer
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By Thomas Sherrod
Whenever Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king cut them off with a scribe’s knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire (Jeremiah 36:23 NIV).
Jehoiakim, the king of Judah, was given a word from the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah. Jehudi, the king’s attendant, read the scroll containing God’s Word to Jehoiakim. The message was not what the king wanted to hear. The king had the scroll cut into pieces and burned in a firepot.
Have you ever felt like you didn’t want to hear what God had to say? Maybe God’s words of comfort and assurance fell flat amidst your disappointment and pain. Sometimes well-meaning people offer scriptures when we are not ready to receive them. We might have heard we have a cancer. We might have been told we have a recurrence of a cancer necessitating more treatment. The feelings of shock and disappointment can be devastating. Bitterness can set in like a long winter’s night.
We can say to ourselves, “I don’t deserve this” or “I’ve tried to live right and look what happens.” My prostate cancer surgery went extremely well. The lab results were exactly what the physician wanted to see. However, eighteen months after surgery, my lab results reached a concerning level. I was devastated and tempted to slip into a dark spiritual place. I called out to the Lord and surrendered the situation to the Lord. Yet my feelings were not keeping pace with what I knew to be true about God’s faithfulness.
I read the Scriptures for comfort and strength. Yet, thoughts of, “how could this be happening?” kept invading my consciousness. The Scriptures brought comfort. But at times I questioned, “why?” What was God teaching me? At times, the Word of God tasted like a bitter pill. Like King Jehoiakim, I wanted to toss the Word into a fire to be destroyed. I felt a little abandoned and forsaken. I knew the feelings were not true. I knew God was faithful and would see me through whatever I faced. Yet, at times, I would shake my head in disgust, envisioning what treatments and challenges I might have to endure. I clung to God’s Word while a part of me wanted to throw it into the firepot.
By the grace of God, a friend of mine told my wife about his experience with faulty lab results. I decided to have the test redone. The new lab findings were perfect! I held the paper with the lab results close to my heart and wept. I was so thankful! Tears streamed down my face. I was so grateful that God had a friend tell my wife of his experience with our local lab. God does work in mysterious ways to provide for His children. Even if the results had not been false, I know God’s grace would have made a way through. His Word is always true!
Pray: Lord, encourage me to place my faith at the foot of Your cross where I find hope and strength. Help me to claim Your promises even when the bottom seems to fall out. May Your Holy Spirit be my strong and mighty tower through all of life’s trials and challenges. Amen.
Your Turn: Ask God to give you a faith that will not be shaken by the uncertainties of this life.
Thomas W. Sherrod, Cancer Survivor
Tom is a retired hospital chaplain who works part time for Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Health System in North Carolina. He organized and facilitated a cancer support group for twenty years as part of his hospital ministry. He is married for forty-four years and enjoys his three daughters, two sons-in-law, and five grandchildren. He is a recent survivor of prostate cancer and is immensely thankful for all of God's grace and provisions through it all.
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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