Up From the Pit, April 1
Daily Reflections from Inside the Cancer Journey
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Written by Thomas Sherrod
“To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, LORD my God, brought my life up from the pit” (Jonah 2:6 NIV).
Some of the most familiar Bible stories for children include David and Goliath, Noah’s ark, and Jonah and the whale. These scriptures have been read so often that the common human struggles addressed are often missed. Jonah heard from the Lord. We long to hear from God, but when we do, we may not like what we hear. Jonah sure didn’t. He was told to go to Nineveh and cry out against their wickedness. He didn’t like the assignment and headed to Tarshish instead. Not a good idea. He ended up in a dark place.
We all can relate to Jonah avoiding the nudges of the Holy Spirit. Saint Paul struggled to do what he knew was right. He wrote to the Christians in Rome, “I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out” (Romans 7:18 NIV). What a common dilemma! We wrestle with following our own will rather than surrendering to the will of God. The only way I have found to successfully yield to God is to humbly ask Him to give me the strength to follow Him. Without His power within, I have no chance of being faithful for any significant length of time.
So, what does this story say to you as you cope with cancer? It is natural to want to deny or run from the reality of having cancer. You may want to bury your head in the sand and just get through the treatments. As today’s verse tells us, Jonah had to hit “rock bottom” and hear the bars of earth close behind him before calling upon God. I’ve been there. Have you? I have run from God and drifted into darkness. It is an empty feeling!
Cancer can be so frightening that it is tempting to crawl into a cocoon and wait for the storm to pass. God never left Jonah—even in his darkest hour. You may struggle to hear and respond to God’s voice while trying to digest what your diagnosis means for you and your family. It can be overwhelming. The flood of new information makes it difficult to pause and listen. God does not judge. It is a wonderful comfort to know He is able to restore you from any pit you may have dug or landed in.
Pray: Lord, thank You for Your loving kindness and Your blessed assurance. You are so good to me. I know You are the way, the truth, and the life. Thank You for redeeming my life from darkness. Amen.
Your Turn: Ask God to provide the courage to hear and yield to His will. Thank Him for the security of knowing He is with you, and able to bring you up from any pit.
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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