This has been a crazy year in our household for sure! The more I’ve prayed for God to help my heart break for what breaks His, though, I’ve been amazed at how much I have come to hate cancer. Most of us have a person close to us that’s been affected by cancer in one way or another and it really stinks; thus, my hatred of this dreaded disease. I’ve seen people fight, I’ve seen them die, I’ve seen their lives changed overnight, and I’ve seen it change lives slowly and create a new normal. Any way you look at it, cancer affects every part of their lives!

During my prayer time, I’ve come to see cancer as a byproduct of sin in this world. I can’t blame God for this dreaded word because I’m reminded that God is saddened by evil. We, the human race, chose to go our own way from the very beginning with Adam and Eve. God hurts for us when we are not in His will. He was the one who designed humanity to walk with Him in the Garden of Eden. He desires relationship with us. So, when we walk away from Him, we are essentially sick. We are struck with a “cancer” of separation that affects every part of our lives. This separation becomes our death.

Separation from God provides:

• Isolation – no one knows how I feel
• Loneliness – feel alone and unloved
• Despair – this is so bad
• Hopelessness – I’m going to die
• A Yearning for More – never satisfied

God, our Healer, provides:

• Comfort – He listens to me
• Companionship – He sits with me
• Peace – He’s got my back
• Hope – He provides ultimate healing
• Fulfillment – He satisfies my desires

Yes, I cry with those who hear they have cancer. My heart aches over the changes this will produce in their physical bodies. At times, the ache is overwhelming. God is truly opening my eyes and answering my prayer to make my heart break for what breaks His. Through this process, I’m aching daily for those who don’t know Jesus as their personal Savior. I long for them to know His comfort, companionship, peace, hope, and fulfillment. The thought of their separation from God is gut wrenching.

I hate cancer. I hate the physical cancer and I hate the spiritual cancers we create for ourselves. I’ve constantly turned to Scriptures to remind myself that God is our healer.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT): Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Without such knowledge of Scriptures, and without God, I don’t know how else to get through the physical cancers of life. More than ever, I’m determined to not allow the effects of physical cancer become a spiritual cancer for me. I will not give it a foothold on my attitude, my hope, my outlook on life. God is still in control, He still desires good for your life, and He still longs to fellowship with you.

Do you hate cancer? In what area of your life do you need God most? Where do you need comfort, companionship, peace, hope, fulfillment? Call upon God to provide your healing.

© 2017 Susan M. Sims

Picture courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net / dream designs

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