You’re In A Good Fight
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and its Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
You know cancer is a word that can curdle the blood, and I should know. The chance of developing invasive breast cancer, they say at some point in a woman’s life is around 1 in 8 (yikes!); and I was that one. However, eight years ago when I learned I had Stage III cancer, my fears were somewhat subdued when I was told that cancer is no longer labeled a terminal disease (isn’t that good to know?). Thanks to improvements in treatment and early detection, today millions of women are surviving breast cancer.
And one of them might be you. Chances are, there’s someone listening right now who is either worried about either developing breast cancer, making decisions about treatment, or trying to deal with the ups and downs of chemotherapy. And I have learned from my own struggle that there are things you can do to make the most of your battle. Because first and foremost, yes, it is a battle. You are in the battle of your life –for your life—but hope abounds. Millions of women have gone through what you are now facing. And they have survived. In every community across America, there are breast cancer support groups. It’s why October, as you know, is always referred to as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. There is plenty of help, information, and plenty of hope to go around.
And rest assured, (and here is the good news) Jesus has a tight grip on you in the battle. Even with cancer, Psalm 139 verse 10 says, “Even there Lord Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will lay hold of me.” Don’t you love that? When you hear that bad medical report, you are not going to faint because God is laying hold of you. And because the Lord is holding you fast, there is always hope. He even believes your fight against cancer should be a good one. We are told to fight (what?) the good fight, right? And even though you may feel as I once did, overwhelmed and a little fainthearted, you can find courage. It’s possible. When I was sick and nauseous from chemo, I discovered wonderful anchors for my soul that bolstered my spirit during the roughest days. So, if you don’t mind may I offer you some real hope with the following facts from God’s Word? Because the Lord Jesus in this good fight, this battle against cancer, is your ever-present help in this very trouble you are in. God says in Isaiah 46, “I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Don’t you love that? When you are faced with life and death decisions, you can say with the Psalmist, “[God] I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel.” So friend, cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Oh friend, these are all scriptures I have just quoted and those insights can bolster your soul just as they did mine, it’s why I just had to pass these same anchors of scripture along to my fellow patients in that chemo lab, as well as the nurses and technicians who were helping us all.
Because as John Piper has said, cancer doesn’t win if you die; cancer only wins if you fail to trust Jesus Christ. So please, if you are struggling with cancer or cancer treatment, or if you are struggling with other sorts of serious ailments, allow me to share more wonderful anchors for your soul, would you? After my battle with that dreaded disease, I put what I learned into a booklet called Diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Friend if you are looking for encouragement, either for yourself or for a friend who is facing cancer, go right now to joniradio.org and ask for my free booklet called Diagnosed with Cancer. It’s my gift to you and it’s yours for the asking at joniradio.org. And please remember today whatever battle you are in, God thinks it’s a good fight and so should you.
© Joni and Friends
