To Whom Would We Go?

A dear friend of mine was diagnosed last week with breast cancer. She’s in her mid-thirties, a mom in the prime of life raising young daughters. We are of an age, walking this stage of life together. Reading her email with the words “I have breast cancer” took my breath away momentarily, even though I had been forewarned that the tests were likely to be positive.

It’s real. My friend, not some nameless woman or statistic. Someone I love.

Ten years ago our tiny church was rocked by the news that another beloved young mother had brain cancer. “Val” is my hero. Watching her walk this road, this “portion God has given” her, with grace and humor and faith has been both inspiring and heartbreaking. Such pain! And for so long! She struggles daily, even now. Often the struggle is physical, sometimes
it is spiritual. She wrestles with God, again and again and again, trusting that He will not let her suffering be in vain.

With Val as inspiration, my friend has a head start on her upcoming battle. And with my friend as inspiration, I have a head start on my next struggle, whatever and whenever that may be. She has already shared some of the good things God has wrought through this diagnosis. Among other things, she anticipates a closer relationship with her husband and daughters and a deeper communion with the Lord.

And as we, her friends, wait and pray for her, she’s been encouraging us. She posted this link to an article by John Piper, Don’t Waste Your Cancer, written as he faced surgery for prostate cancer.  She rightly told us to substitute any difficult situation for the word “cancer.” She writes, “Our perspective changes when we consider
there is a loving, eternal Hand moving and upholding all things in our
lives.”

Jesus said, “In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage – I have conquered the world” (John 16:33).

Sovereignty. In times like these we must consider our perspective on it.
Does a scary diagnosis make us wonder if God is really in control? Or
if He is, does He care? Or do we throw ourselves at His feet, believing
that He knows exactly what we need and is watching over us with love?

Val likes to quote the apostle Peter, who was asked by Jesus if he was going to leave with the other disillusioned disciples. He replied, and she echoes in the midst of her struggles, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have
the words of eternal
life” (John 6:68).

Words to live by.