God Is Our Light, August 16
Written by Ashley Taylor
“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting” (Psalm 100:1-2, 3b, 4b-5a KJV).
Throughout life, we experience periods of darkness. Life events such as illness, death of a loved one, or loss of a job can lead to fear, depression, and despair. If we remember the Lord is God and keep our hearts and minds open to Him who made us, we will see the blessings He delivers to help us cope with the darkness. As Psalm 100 says, “We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” God loves and cares for each of us. He is our Light.
Our Heavenly Father always knows exactly what we need. I met Dana and Brenda when I was a freshman in college. I could not truly fathom what this transition in life would be like until it was happening. The Lord brought these two incredible Christian women into my life at the perfect time. They became family to me.
God provided the blessing of these two friends thirty-three years before my cancer diagnosis, to be His hands and His feet during one of the biggest battles of my life. I didn’t know what was ahead, but He did. For the totality of my cancer journey, Dana and Brenda stood by my side to help me fight this battle. They were always ready to love, support and pray for me, as servants of our Lord, and they did it with gladness. They embodied these verses of today’s psalm, which helped me to do the same: “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.”
Soon after my diagnosis, feeling overwhelmed, I found a package at our front door. I opened the box to find a beautiful basket of goodies put together by Dana. I could feel the love and sunshine radiating from that basket, making my heart smile big. God surprised me with the precious blessing of friendship that I needed at that moment. I felt the love and adoration that Psalm 100 expresses, “Be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
During my recovery from my double mastectomy, the Lord called my friends into service to share His light with me again. Brenda and Dana made the journey to Fayetteville. Our time together was full of love, laughter, fun, and encouragement. It was the exact medicine that God, our Great Physician, had ordered for me to aid in the healing process and dispel any darkness.
“For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting.” Not everyone in my life was there to help me navigate through this very difficult time, but God provided what I needed. Dark times come, especially in a cancer journey. How we need His light to break through! Open your heart to Jesus, the light that dispels every darkness. Receive the blessings God has designed for you. Be grateful for how He provides for you, and praise His holy name.
Pray: Loving God, You are the light in the darkness. We thank You for the blessings You bring to help overcome the darkness. Amen.
Your Turn: In awesome wonder and humble adoration, listen to Carrie Underwood sing the words of “How Great Thou Art.” What do the words say to you?
Ashley Taylor, Cancer Survivor
Ashley is married to James, and they have two daughters, Grace and Hannah. All four are big Tar Heel fans, having attended the same school, UNC-Chapel Hill. In 2020 Ashley obtained her roofing license to help with her family's business. She is a breast cancer survivor. She has been grateful for the opportunity to join the devo team for Cancer Companions, to reach out to others for God’s glory for His goodness in her cancer journey.
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.
