In my early thirties, I experienced a heart-wrenching diagnosis: stage 3 cancer. I needed four surgeries, five months of hard chemo, 28 radiation treatments, and a full year of IV drug therapy. Altogether, my treatment lasted over 15 months.
But please don’t think, “poor her”. God was unbelievably gracious during that entire journey. Through that time, He taught me about faithfulness. Not only His faithfulness. But my faithfulness.
Before my diagnosis, I had established a practice of rising early before my three children (then ages nine years down to a newborn), awoke.
First, I would have quiet time with the Lord before exercising. I had learned I needed to care for me before I spent the day caring for my family.
After diagnosis I continued with that routine (although the mileage of exercise decreased!) I also chose to sprinkle moments of prayer throughout my day: over the dishwasher, in the laundry room, or hiding out in my closet.
I never felt closer to God than when I clung to Him through cancer.
Eventually I finished treatment and after about two years, I fully recovered. Today, over eighteen years later, I am cancer-free!
Here’s what I learned about my faithfulness:
It’s easy to cling to God when I feel there’s no other option. It’s simple to consult Him for every single thing when it feels like my life depends on it. I had to rely on God to get me through cancer.
But when life returns to ‘routine’, and my needs felt ‘normal’, I tended to drift into doing things on my own. But, I learned that is when the full test of faithfulness comes: when there is no crisis.
God is faithful. He promises in 2 Timothy 2:13 that even when we are faithless, He remains faithful.
How can I practice faithfulness to Him?
Every day, it takes intentionality.
Every day, it takes commitment.
Every day, it takes trusting in His promises to provide for my needs.
He knows when a heart is seeking Him. He knows when I wrote Him in ink on my to-do list. And He certainly knows my frustrations when I fail. He also knows when I choose to stop, turn around, and return back to Him.
Maybe like me, you found this peace in forgetting productivity and intentionally doing what really matters.
Not only recognizing God is faithful, but that we are called to be faithful to Him.
By my five-year survivor anniversary my life had returned to ‘normal’. I had firmly identified God’s supreme place in my life and I learned I needed to work hard to keep Him as my first priority. I have learned it’s not just a box on my to-do list. Showing up is a great start. But then I must yield my heart.
Maybe you like me, need to ask Him to author today.
Teach me.
Grow me.
Because every single day is a gift. And, after surviving eighteen years, it could easily be forgotten.
But I must remember the lessons I learned of my need to remain faithful to Him.
God is stability through a crisis. But let’s not forget that we need God’s guidance and directions just as desperately each and every day after the crisis is over.
Will you join me in asking Him for just that?
Prayer: Dear Lord, You know. Thank You for supplying my needs during times of crisis. When life returns to a little more ‘normal’ please help me prioritize time and relationship with You. In Jesus’ name, amen.