7 Lessons God Is Teaching Me Through Cancer

I remember telling my husband by the pool this summer, “Imagine if I ever got cancer?” I said that with a chuckle, as we we talked about my upcoming heart procedure. I can only imagine God’s face, and yet it’s something that still brings a little laughter. Leukemia was not part of the plan, but at the same time, when my heart is in the right place, I wouldn’t trade it. The lessons God has taught me through it, the ways he has opened my eyes even wider to his goodness, the people I have met, and so much more, again, I wouldn’t trade it. I don’t know what you are experiencing in life, but I hope in some way you can find ways that God is teaching you invaluable lessons and in the end, drawing you closer to him.

1. Small Things Can Feel Like Big Things

One of the first lessons I learned not only through my heart failure journey, but my cancer journey as well, is that small tasks and ideas can feel like mountains. A simple errand to run, can feel like the biggest weight. When you are fighting a battle, the littlest of things can feel overwhelming because your focus is on that one thing – your disease. For me, it’s fighting cancer. But those small things are often what help us remember that there is so much more to our lives. And God’s grace covers more than we can imagine. The strength He gives us in weakness is immeasurable (2 Cor. 12:9). When those tasks seem unachievable, don’t rely on your own strength, but remember his mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:22-23).

2. No One Is Invincible, But No Christian Is Without Hope

I never saw cancer coming. Not in a million years. I thought maybe if I had a heart transplant, that life would be “good” again. Welp, God had a different idea. As humans, our goal can be to try and live a “good” life. I mean who doesn’t want to be happy and have no needs? But often we have our mind-frame all skewed. We are not promised a problem-free and pain-free life, so why do we expend so much energy trying to obtain an unreachable goal? We are not invincible, but are part of a much bigger plan in The Story God is writing. And this is why we aren’t without hope. When we set our goal to glorify God no matter what we go through, our hope is focused on the sovereign God who will never lead us astray. In fact, He will lead us all the way to the heavenly gates – what more could we ask for?

3. Allow The Faith Of Others To Uphold Your Own

My faith can get tired and weary. Sometimes I don’t even know what to pray, but just for God’s will to be done. When you grieve a diagnosis, it sometimes feels like you’re never going to come out of that grief. But you always do. In the meantime, allow the faith of others to uphold you. Allow them to pray the things that you are unable to vocalize. Allow the Spirit to intercede for your groans when words just aren’t there (Rom. 8:26). People are there for you. Tell them what you need prayer for. They want to help and that’s one of the biggest lessons I am still learning. I have a hard time talking about what others have done for us without crying because God has BEYOND blessed us with the love and support of others! But it means being vulnerable and sharing what your family and your heart needs. We are one big ole body folks, living this life together. Allow people in.

4. Some Things We Will Just Never Know

It’s not that God is trying to keep secrets from us to make us upset like little kids, but we often forget what God is NOT allowing in our lives – the grace and umbrella of protection that He is constantly holding over us. There are things that we will just never know (Deut. 29:29), and we have to remember that it’s okay. If we can see everything, we wouldn’t need faith. If we know everything, we wouldn’t need faith. We just have to “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Prov. 3:5-6). It’s as simple as that.

5. Don’t Waste Your Time

This world is filled with so many things that are unfulfilling. We run after things that don’t bring lasting joy. We strive to be a certain someone. We worry about life as if we have control of it. We allow our outside circumstances to change us for the worst, instead of letting God chisel away at our spiritual hearts, sanctifying us in the process. Some things may bring happiness for a time, but if it’s not Jesus, the happiness will ALWAYS fade. Don’t waste your time seeking after things that won’t matter in the end. Cancer has opened my eyes to my pride, my comparison issues, and worldly focus. It’s a painful process, and yet I wouldn’t have it any other way. Don’t waste your time on things that you can’t take to the grave with you anyways.

6. Joy And Gratitude Can Still Be Found

Do you struggle to find contentment? Having two fairly significant diseases, it’s hard to not want a clean bill of health. I allow myself to dream about that at times, but realize it gets me nowhere, except more frustrated and wishing God chose someone else. And this isn’t who I want to be. Our circumstances and even those around us (if we don’t choose our friends wisely), can suck the joy and gratitude out of life. Our attitudes and lenses through which we see life, can get so distorted when we are not joyful and are ungrateful. Choosing to have joy and choosing to have gratitude is LIFE-CHANGING. When I choose to wake up and say, “Thank you, Lord, for another day and help me to have joy amidst my struggles…” it changes the trajectory of your day. Try it sometime.

7. We Just Simply Need Jesus

I struggle to type about this one without crying. JESUS IS SIMPLY ALL WE NEED. Without my Jesus, I would be hopeless, defeated, overwhelmed, angry, and fearful. When I make Jesus my source of contentment, there cannot be a truer joy found. Because of him, I can live confidently, peaceful, joyously, and free. What type of life do you prefer? I personally would choose the later. But the daily choice is up to you. Make him your source of contentment. Make him your King. Trust him as your Prince of Peace. And never stop seeking him as your Savior.

There are many more lessons I have learned along the way, but I hope in some way, you will find your life resonating with at least one of these. You do not have to go through cancer to experience these lessons. God takes us on ALL sorts of journeys and through so many different circumstances. But like I often tell people, yeah, I couldn’t imagine having cancer either, but each difficulty produces the same emotions of frustration, pain, grief, etc. It’s how we choose to journey through those circumstances that makes all the difference. Choose God. Choose him EVERY SINGLE DAY and you will have a peace that surpasses all understanding.