The Way of Escape, May 14
Daily Reflections from Inside the Cancer Journey
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Written by Thomas Sherrod
“God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV).
I worked as a chaplain in a community hospital for thirty-two years. I cannot count the number of times well-meaning people would quote the phrase, “God won’t put anything more on you than you can bear.” I would cringe! To think God gave me cancer because He knew I could handle it is disgusting and does not represent the God of grace, forgiveness, and love that I know. The second part of the false quote mentioned above goes something like this, “I wish God didn’t have so much faith in me.” First of all, God is not the cause of our cancer. Furthermore, when we go through difficult experiences, it isn’t because God has faith in us.
The scripture these people were referring to (and misquoting) is 1 Corinthians 10:12-13, which actually turns their thinking upside down. The writer tells us that God Himself is faithful! He calls us to put our faith in Him, both for who He is and for what we need.
Verse twelve starts out by talking about temptation and says that we all face temptations. Trials and temptations are common to all humankind. This passage reminds us that “God is faithful”! God’s loving and gracious nature has not changed because we have received a cancer diagnosis. God has not suddenly become a mean-spirited coach who piles heavy burdens on us to see how much we can handle.
The question is, how do we cope with the temptations? We are told that whenever a temptation comes, God will “also make the way of escape.” This is fantastic news! It tells me that I don’t have to play the martyr and try to manufacture the strength to cope with cancer. It tells me that not only is God faithful to His promises never to leave me nor forsake me (see Hebrews 13:5), but that He will provide a way through any valley I face. He will provide a way of escape! He will actually save us! He will take us by the hand and say, “Come this way.”
This is how we bear the burden of cancer. We know we are never alone. We know He will not forsake us. We know that He will provide a way through. He is faithful! God is not putting cancer on us. He is providing a way through a seemingly impossible situation. Thank you, Lord, for giving us Your promises and instilling hope within our hearts.
Pray: Lord, remind me today that You are faithful. Remind me that You will never leave me. When I am tempted to shift my trust and my focus from You, give me eyes to see the way of escape that You provide me in that moment. Amen.
Your Turn: Visualize a temptation that you have been facing. Then, imagine God reaching out His hand to you and saying, “Come this way.” What does His way look like? Trust Him to help you walk in it.
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.
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