Unanswered Prayer, February 25
Daily Reflections from Inside the Cancer Journey
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Written by Dan Held
“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9a, 10b NIV).
Have you ever felt weakness in your body and been tempted to think in some negative way about, well, almost everything else as well? Maybe at times like these you find yourself praying less because prayer doesn’t seem to be working. Maybe in the beginning of your cancer journey, you prayed for the biopsy to come back “negative—no cancer” and that’s not what happened. When we’re sick it’s so easy to think in a negative way about God’s power to answer prayer.
Cancer has a way of weakening us in body, mind, and even soul. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Consider the apostle Paul. He suffered from what he called “a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan, to torment me” (2 Corinthians 12:7 NIV). A thorn in the flesh is a physical or other type of ailment that keeps you from focusing on Christ. Paul prayed and pleaded for God to remove it again and again and again. God didn’t take it away, but not for the reasons even Paul may have been tempted to think. It wasn’t that he hadn’t prayed hard enough, or didn’t have enough faith, or God didn’t care. Look at today’s verse to see the answer. It was so God’s power could be made perfect in Paul’s weakness.
Cancer can bring many thorns in the flesh—like fatigue, chemo brain and pain, just to name a few. Many thorns in the flesh do not end on the last day of treatment. Can God’s power be made perfect even through your struggles with cancer?
Are you feeling any weakness today from some thorn in your flesh? Have you pleaded repeatedly, like Paul, for God to take it away? Are you tempted to have the negative thoughts that cancer can bring? If so, then think of God’s words for Paul in today’s Bible reading: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’”
And hear Paul’s words for you: “For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Pray: God of all-sufficient grace, today I lay my burdens and those of my loved ones at Your feet. Help me, like Paul, to know in my own mind that Your power is made perfect in weakness. Help me trust Your power to turn negatives into positives today, that in my own weakness I may bear witness to Your strength within me. I ask this for Christ’s sake. Amen.
Your Turn: Can you think of something in your life right now that could be called a “thorn in the flesh”? Ask God to help you trust that He can show His strength in that very place. Then, watch for how He will work.
Dan Held, Cancer Caregiver
Dan is a cancer caregiver who lives with his wife (Sue) of 55 years in Dayton, Ohio, where Sue has been free from breast cancer and colon cancer for two years! Dan is an ordained pastor and a licensed therapist with a heart for families touched by cancer at any stage. He is dedicated to promoting the message of more love and less fear in all aspects of his ministry and life. Check out his blog at www.danielkheld.com.
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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