Precious, October 12
By Karen Wonders
How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand (Psalm 139:17-18 NIV).
When Kate turned fifty, she knew it was time to schedule a routine colonoscopy. She had been healthy her entire life, and she wasn’t experiencing any symptoms that would cause her alarm, so she didn’t think much of it. She simply went in because it was what you do when you turn fifty! Yet, this checkup turned out to be anything but routine. The doctors found a tumor that had likely been there for a year. Over the next twelve months, Kate would endure painful surgeries and chemotherapy. The chemotherapy caused neuropathy that was so bad that it became increasingly painful for Kate to walk. Each step caused her pain. The medicine she needed to get better cost her $100 every day.
Kate fell into a dark place. She had always seen herself as a healthy, vibrant woman. Now this mother of four could barely walk and was struggling to make ends meet. What was her identity now? What value could she offer the world?
Kate felt like giving up. She didn’t want to go on living. She couldn’t bear to see the person she was becoming. Slowly, she began to slip away from her family and friends.
But there was Someone who refused to let her go. Someone who thought about her continually. Someone who thought she was precious. Someone who loved her, and considered her so valuable that He died for her.
Although our personal identities may be shaped by our experiences in life, God loves us perfectly. His love is not based on anything we have done, or anything we will ever do. As believers, we must learn to receive His love. We must learn to center our identity in Christ alone. We are God’s masterpiece—no matter what cancer may be doing to our bodies. God says we are fearfully and wonderfully made (see Psalm 139:14), and that nothing can ever separate us from His love (see Romans 8:35).
Slowly, Kate began to put the pieces of her life back together. She purposed to “walk by faith” (see 2 Corinthians 5:7)—literally! Even though it hurt, she began to walk. At first, she could only go about a mile before she tuckered out. But she pressed on. She could feel God’s pleasure as she walked, and that encouraged her. Soon, she was walking several miles at a time. Not too much after that, Kate decided to give running a try. As it turned out, she enjoyed that even more! Since her diagnosis, Kate has completed four full marathons. She truly is running the race marked out for her with endurance! (See Hebrews 12:1.) Yet, she now knows that no matter what her athletic accomplishments are, her true identity is sealed in Christ, and nothing will shake that! She is precious in His sight!
Pray: Father God, thank You for loving us—not simply because of who we are, but because of who YOU are! Help us to feel secure in Your love and to put our faith in it. Help us build our identities, not on our own accomplishments, but on what Christ accomplished for us on the cross. In His name we pray. Amen.
Your Turn: Do you feel like giving up? What will help you to press on? Pray and ask God to help you walk by faith!
Karen Y. Wonders, PhD, FACSM, Cancer Caregiver
Karen is the Founder and CEO of Maple Tree Cancer Alliance, and Professor/Program Director of Exercise Physiology at Wright State University. Her passion is to advocate for exercise as part of the national standard of care for cancer. Her non-profit organization provides free exercise training to thousands of cancer survivors every month (www.mapletreecanceralliance.org). Dr. Wonders and her husband have 7 children—aged 16 and younger. If you think her hands are full, you should see her heart!
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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