Beauty From Ashes, June 26
Daily Reflections from Inside the Cancer Journey
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Written by Karen Wonders
“…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:3 NIV).
In February, my best friend from college was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer while she was expecting her second child. She was afraid. She didn’t understand why she had to go through this. She told me that she had only ever heard bad stories about cancer, and quickly recounted all the people she knew who lost their battles to this disease.
Can anything good come from cancer?
Is there anything out there we can hope in?
In his book Walking with God through Pain and Suffering, Timothy Keller discusses three potential benefits of suffering. He noted that oftentimes individuals are able to “rise to the occasion” by living with less anxiety and more resiliency. He also observed that oftentimes suffering results in strengthened relationships, where individuals feel a deeper connection with family and friends. Finally, Keller points out that suffering often brings about a change in priorities and philosophies. A trauma can shatter beliefs and alter a person’s sense of meaning. This forces them to put the pieces back together. Often in doing so, they turn to God!
But what does this look like in real life? How does this play out in the life of someone who was skeptical about the things of God when they were diagnosed? Do these theories still hold true?
To answer these questions, I began to ask some of our patients about how they found HOPE in the midst of their cancer treatment. One woman, Patty, quickly signed up to share her story with us. Patty was first diagnosed with stage four colon cancer nearly five years ago, at the age of forty-eight. At that time, her odds of survival were very low. Her doctors told her, “we will try not to let you die.” Patty endured chemotherapy, followed by surgery, followed by even more chemo. After all that, her cancer markers went from fifteen hundred to just five! Patty was in remission! Since then, she has had two recurrences, but is presently cancer free! God has worked a huge miracle in her life.
Patty admits that her faith helped her more than she ever thought it would. Before her diagnosis, she had doubts about God. Is He really good? Is He really trustworthy? One night, she was in such despair that she told God, “If this is it, take me now.” And yet, she woke up the next morning! It was that day she purposed to fight. She still had life to live. God still had a purpose for her. She had two children who needed her. She had a husband who loved her. She had things she could be thankful for. So Patty began to pray and ask God to help her. She thanked Him for every day He gave her. She trusted Him to take care of the things she didn’t have control over. Today, her faith is stronger than it ever was before. She is rising to the occasion. God has brought beauty from her ashes!
Pray: Father God, Your Word promises us that You work all things together for the good of those who love You. All things. Even scary things like cancer. God, You have a purpose for every pain and a plan for our suffering. Bring about beauty from these ashes. Raise up warriors to fight back and bring glory to Your name! We pray in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
Your Turn: No one ever wants to suffer, yet it brings our relationship with God to a whole new level. Where have you been blessed through suffering?
1. Timothy Keller, Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering (New York: Penguin Books, 2016).
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.
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