Be Joyful and Do Good!

“I perceived that there was nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live.” Ecclesiastes 3:12

King Solomon was given the gift of wisdom. In his reflections on life, he came to the conclusion that the best way to enjoy this time on earth was to BE JOYFUL and to DO GOOD. If we want to live lives of peace and contentment, then we will choose joy. Finding joy is easier some days than others. When I hear about disappointing lab results, or my doctor tells me that the treatment is not working, I can easily slip into fear and depression. The wind is pulled from my sails, and I lose all energy and enthusiasm for life. These are the most important times for me to choose joy. I force myself to sit down and write out all my blessings, to focus on an “attitude of gratitude”, to thank God for how far He has brought me and to trust Him for where He will take me. I thank Him for the little things, like the privilege of helping my middle schooler with homework, or the gift of being able to walk to the mailbox. I remind myself that I am alive in Christ, and that I’m just as alive today as every other day. I then rouse myself to do good. I prepare a nice dinner for my family or pray for them as I straighten up the house. Sometimes I write a letter of encouragement to a friend, or make a call to someone who is lonely. The best way to be joyful is to focus on the gifts of this life and to do something nice for someone else. Keep the focus on the moment, not on the future. The future is uncertain for everyone. Trust God to take care of yours.

Lord, your servant Solomon was so wise! Help me to have the same understanding. Guide all my thoughts and enable me to have a joyful heart condition. Remind me every day that “the joy of the Lord is my strength”! My joy doesn’t come from anything external, but from the hope that I have in You. Protect my heart and my mind from any thoughts that seek to rob me of this joy, and grant me daily opportunities to “do good”.

God Still Has Work for Me to Do

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

Cancer survivors often feel a sense of loss—of devastating loss— as though all our hopes and dreams have been ripped away from us. Dwelling on our “losses” can quickly lead to despair, especially if we continue to focus on our own hopes and dreams, and on what we want from this life. But if our hopes are centered on what God’s will is for us, and if our dreams are in line with His plans, then we have nothing to worry about. Cancer cannot disrupt God’s perfect plan. We do not need to fear that our lives will end “unfinished”. God’s plan for our lives will always be brought to completion. After all, God is not surprised that we have this disease. He was not blindsided by the diagnosis, as we were. He has it all under control, and His Spirit is still at work within us to bring His perfect plan to completion. Let your hope be in Him. Let your dreams be His! His plans for your life are more perfect, more valuable, and more lasting than anything you could dream up on your own. Before my paternal grandmother died at 91 years old, she often commented, “I’m still here, so I guess God still has work for me to do.” He still has work for all of us to do. He has plans for you and me this day and every day that we live and breathe. Our lives have not lost purpose and meaning. Let us not retire too soon, but embrace the plans He has for us this day!

Dear Lord, Forgive me for holding on so tightly to my own plans and dreams. Help me to see the work that You would have me do today. Help me to see the hurts of others, and the ways in which I can be a light to those in need. Lift me up gently whenever I begin to sink into the pit of despair, whenever I begin to mourn my own losses. Remind me that in Christ there is no loss, but only gain. 

Why NOT me?

“I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” Exodus 33:19

If there’s one thing I’ve learned through this journey, it’s that my thoughts and feelings are not unique to me. I thought they were at first—I truly thought that I was one of the only people to move from “Why me, Lord?” to that humbling awareness of “Why NOT me??” We realize that we are not immune, not exempt, from the dangers and diseases of this world. Our diagnosis has shattered that feeling of control and invincibility. Although it was a false illusion, we once felt powerful, in charge of our destiny, even immortal. We now realize that we are no more special than the next person. This conscious thought is often followed by an even more troubling discovery, and that is the realization that we are much less worthy of rescue from this trial than others who have suffered from this disease. We have known some amazing Christians who were not healed. What makes me so special that God should have mercy on me? Truthfully, not a thing. But thankfully, God is sovereign. We can trust Him, because “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” (Romans 8:28) His decision on whether or not to heal me from this disease depends on what is best for me. In my eyes, healing is always best! We should never stop asking for what we want, but we should trust Him and thank Him for what He gives.

 Father God, forgive me for not trusting you with my whole heart. Forgive the doubts and fears that assail me, and help me to remember that Your strength, Your grace, and Your mercy are enough. My life is safe in Your hands, and I need not fear the arrows that fly by day, or the pestilence that stalks by night. I only need to commit my life into Your safekeeping. Remind me daily, Lord, that You are in control, and that You will always act for my good.