God and Cancer by Tim Chaffey

Author:Tim Chaffey
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Health & Fitness, Diseases, Cancer, Christian Life, Religion, Inspirational
ISBN: 9781607913733
Publisher: Xulon Press
Published: 2009-02-15T13:33:47+00:00

Hope in the Midst of Trials

Getting out of the hospital was a huge thrill, but finding out that the leukemia was still present was very disappointing. Not only did it mean that there would be more difficult times ahead, it also meant that the cloud of cancer, along with its potential to kill, was still over my head. I knew that I had many more trials to come.

There are several ways to define the word “trial.” One of the definitions found in Merriam-Webster’s is “a test of faith, patience, or stamina through subjection to suffering or temptation.” To call a cancer diagnosis and its subsequent treatments a trial is probably an understatement. Nevertheless, all of us face trials at one time or another. How can we make it through these situations? How come some people handle these situations well, and others do not? If there really is a loving and all-powerful God, then why does He allow those who love Him to go through such awful situations? Once again, these are great questions. I will deal with the first two in this chapter and the final question will be dealt with in the final three chapters of this book.

There are a number of possible reasons why some people deal with trials better than others. It would not be fair to say that Christians always do a better job than non-Christians, because there are some Christians and non-Christians who do a great job of dealing with trials. At the same time, there are also some in each group that do not do a great job during these times. So the answer must be a bit more complex than that.

I think it would be accurate to say that those who deal well with trials do so for different reasons, but they all have one thing in common: perseverance. Perseverance is the ability or drive that a person has to “stay in the fight” even when you may have seemingly legitimate reasons for giving up. It is what some athletes have dubbed “stick-to-it-iveness.” A person whose character includes this trait is able to focus on the goal rather than on the difficult circumstance itself.

Life is full of examples of people who have exercised this ability. Think of a young student who excels despite difficult surroundings, learning disabilities, and/or inadequate training. Perhaps it is an athlete who continues to strive to play despite being setback by serious injuries. Perhaps it is the person who pulls himself up by his own proverbial bootstraps. Or maybe it is the soldier that refuses to give up after being wounded and continues to put himself in harm’s way to save his fellow soldiers and people. In addition to many other qualities, these people have all demonstrated perseverance.

This is what is really needed during a cancer diagnosis. For some people, the natural response would be to give up, get down, and engage in self-pity. Of course, unless you have been in their shoes, it is unfair to criticize them for that.

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