Blessed Be Your Name, November 17
By David Gira
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised (Job 1:21b NIV).
With cancer, it may seem like you’re losing everything—your health, work, dreams, plans, relationships, loved ones, financial stability, and more. Holding on to your faith in God when everything seems to be slipping away can seem impossible.
My cancer came back. Scans showed a mass around my esophagus, which prevented me from swallowing food or liquids. My oncologist hospitalized me so I could receive a feeding tube. Right after being discharged, I started radiation treatments. My oncologist prescribed new, stronger chemotherapies, but my insurance company denied them. At the same time, a problem arose with my monthly bank deposit. On top of all that, our dog died.
I thought of the Bible story about Job. God praises Job saying, “There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8 NIV). The Devil challenges God, alleging that Job is only righteous because his life is so wonderful, and that if afflicted with suffering, he will surely curse God to His face.
God agrees to Satan’s test. In no time, Job loses nearly everything and everyone important to him—seven sons and three daughters, thousands of sheep, camels, oxen, and donkeys, and all his servants, except the messengers of the bad news. Despite his losses, Job refuses to curse God.
The book of Job tells us, “At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing” (Job 1:20-22 NIV).
Next, Satan afflicts Job with “painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head” (Job 2:7 NIV). Job’s wife urges him to curse God and die! (Thanks, Honey.) Job’s friends allege that Job must have sinned and so deserves the suffering. Job cries out to God, but still refuses to curse Him.
In the end, God rewards Job’s faithfulness. In fact, “The Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10 NIV). The Lord “blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part” (Job 42:12 NIV). He ends up with twice as many cattle, and another seven sons and three daughters.
Job is a difficult book to understand. We must read it through the lens of the New Testament and Jesus’ witness. Jesus’ life and death clearly show us that our Father’s heart towards us is to heal and to restore us—both body and soul.
Yet, Job inspires us. We too have lost a lot and suffered. Nonetheless, we can respond to cancer as Job responded to his calamity—by worshipping God, remaining faithful and righteous, and refusing to curse Him. While life may never be the same, we can be sure God will continue to restore us and bless us in ways we never imagined.
Pray: Lord, cancer takes so much, and a lot is lost. But whatever happens, may I never lose my faith in You. Let me never curse You, but always praise You. Enable me to trust Your loving power to abundantly restore my life. Amen.
Your Turn: Listen to Matt Redman’s song, “Blessed Be Your Name,” sung by Tree63. Join in and bless the Lord and praise His name.
Michael David Gira, Jr., Cancer Survivor
David was an ordained United Methodist Pastor and graduate of Duke Divinity School. He and his wife, Amy, lived in Raleigh, North Carolina with their three children. In 2017 he was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. In his book, How Cancer Cured Me, he shares many ways he experienced God’s healing. After a seven-year battle with cancer, David is now joyously singing praises in God’s glorious throne room. His legacy lives on through his writing for Cancer Companions, as he continues to proclaim Christ’s hope and healing power to others experiencing cancer. https://www.davidgira.com/how-cancer-cured-me
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.
To learn more about our ministry and the services we provide visit our website by clicking here.
