“as unknown, and yet
well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as
sorrowful, yet always rejoicing…” 2 Corinthians 6: 9-10a
What does it mean to “waste” our cancer? According to the Christian
writer John Piper, it means to miss the blessings that come with our trial, and
to miss the opportunity to use the disease for God’s glory. Every struggle,
every disease, every temptation that God allows into our lives has a purpose.
Perhaps the reason He has allowed this malady is to draw us closer to Him. Or
maybe it’s to shine a spotlight on our faith to encourage those around us. We
can “waste” our cancer by not trusting God through our disease as well as by
not giving Him the glory for our daily victories. As John Piper writes—and I
couldn’t agree more—God heals by miracles and by medicine. During my early treatment,
a close pastor friend often reminded us that “God tells the medicine what to
do.” It is tempting to put our trust in the doctor and the chemotherapy instead
of in the Creator of the universe. But ultimately, the doctor and the drugs will
let us down, while the Lord will always be faithful and true. Sometimes I find
myself spending many hours researching multiple myeloma and
just a few minutes reading the Bible. Or I spend hours corresponding with other
patients on forums and only a few minutes in prayer. It’s easy to see where I
am placing my hope. If I don’t want to “waste” my cancer, then I will spend
less time obsessing over the latest medical research and more time in the Word;
I will stop feeling worried for myself and think about how I can be a blessing
to others; I’ll think less about how I will die and more about how I will live
each day; I’ll stop blaming cancer for my troubles and start thinking about how
I can use my cancer for His glory, and then maybe, just maybe, I’ll be able to
see the blessings in it, and I can even thank Him for it.
Lord, this cancer did
not catch You by surprise the way it blindsided me. You knew it was going to
enter my life, my very cells, and You allowed it for a reason. You have a
purpose for it, whether it is for me personally or for those around me. Help me
not to “waste” this opportunity to bless others and to glorify You. Let the way
I speak, write and live bear witness to You and point to You as the
source of hope, strength, and ultimate victory.
