June 13, 2013
It was almost lunch
time, on a stormy Thursday, when a woman doctor biopsied the suspicious place
in my chest. After completing the
procedure, which was surprising not painful, I bravely asked “What do you think
it is?”
Without hesitation,
she looked straight into my eyes, and said “I think it’s cancer.”
“REALLY???”
“Yes, I really
do.”
Silence
Almost believing this
was not real, I reluctantly asked “What happens next?”
My thoughts, already
spinning, heard “It’s like a race…”
Memory fails me. I wish I could retrieve the rest of her words.
What I do remember resonated with me but not in a positive way. How was this going to be like a race? Isn’t this
going to be more like a journey?
Looking back, I now see how this last
year has been a journey as well as a race. Before cancer, I considered my life events
as a continual race. Now I see how when several trials come close together,
they are like a series of small races, with each race providing the training
and strength to endure the harder times ahead. Maybe that’s how the woman doctor was looking
at it.
“Do you not know that in a race all the
runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.” 1
Corinthians 9:24
Perhaps she was also trying
to encourage me to run this race with the end in mind. The end being when all
the tests, treatments, and recovery would be over. The time when there would be
no evidence of cancer.
This journey
certainly has been race where God, in His goodness, provided a good team
diagnosing, treating, and caring for me, a good team of friends and family
cheering me on and praying for me from the sidelines, and most importantly God
sustaining me while speaking and encouraging me through His Word.
Even before I knew I’d
be running one hard race after another, God, graciously, began training and
preparing me. His continual help gave me the strength and endurance to finish
each race well.
Ordained by God for
His Glory, each race was and continues to be a part of His perfect plan for me,
a trial for my good.
“Count it all joy, my
brothers and sisters, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that
the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect,
that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4
“And we know that for
those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called
according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
God’s plan, rich in
grace, truth, and promise, sustained and encouraged me when I was most weak,
and built my strength to persevere toward the goal ahead.
“I press on toward
the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians
3:14
“Let those of us who
are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will
reveal that also to you.” Philippians 3:15
“Only let us hold
true to what we have attained.” Philippians 3:16
The small races were
the biopsy, long waits for pathology results, sharing the news to family and
friends, many more tests, surgery, recovery, chemotherapy, recovery again, and
adjustment to changes in my body, hair, and ongoing preventive treatment.
Most certainly, God
will give me many more races; trials with disappointments, pain, and suffering. With
all of this, I’ll rest in the LORD.
“The everlasting God…gives
power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength.” Isaiah
40:28-29.
“So we do not
lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being
renewed day by day.” For this momentary affliction is
preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond comparison.” 2 Corinthians
4:16-17
Whatever
God ordains, I’ll always give thanks and praise to my Savior, Father, and
Comforter.
“Therefore do not
throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of
endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is
promised.” Hebrews 10:35-36
And I’ll not cease to confidently say “I
have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2
Timothy 4:7
