Four Powerful Faith Lessons Following My Husband’s Lymphoma Battle
Oftentimes I am asked, “What powerful faith lessons did I learn through cancer?” Well, a few lessons were immediate while others were like a slow burn that took time to etch themselves into my heart. So, I made a video and linked resources for each lesson in the blog post. You see, my husband was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Our story through cancer can be read here:
**HE is healed and in remission.
Watch the video or read below for the four powerful faith lessons I learned through watching my husband battle cancer.
No. 1 | Control is a LIE!
You do all the right things. Eat all the right stuff. Exercise all the time. Sleep the right amounts. Work the good job. Lessen your stress. Rest when appropriate.
BUT
Ultimately, life is like a vapor so brief and fragile that in an instant it could all be snatched away. Truly, life’s brevity is one of the main reasons I started this little blog. You can read about it here.
It was reiterated the day we learned of my husband’s tumor which was an eye-opener. Moreover, a day I will carry with me because…
Control is a LIE!
Control is a fallacy that also will lead to disappointment. It was a shock to hear my husband’s predicament was much more than a sore throat. Furthermore, it was a shock that it happened to HIM! A man that was a wonderful steward of his body, mind, and heart.
Being a good steward is important and we should be sheparding our lives well YET when circumstances beyond our CONTROL are turned topsy-turvey we can’t blame ourselves.
Proverbs 16:9, reminds us that we can plan our lives but the intricate day-to-day steps are established by the Lord almighty.
Give Control to the Lord
All in all do not allow this to steer your heart away from being a good steward of your mind, body, soul, and life. Above all there is freedom in knowing that even as we plan our lives the LORD will govern the day-to-day circumstances, some good and some not-so-good, however, we have the ability to change our PERSPECTIVE through prayer and petition.
Did our circumstances change in 2019? No.
We battled cancer with the power and freedom found in CHRIST. Fortunately, we came out victorious over Lymphoma! But no matter what the outcome-God gets the glory in this story. (Because we know where we are going.)
Peace was our true aim through the battle not control. There is joy in trusting God with your plans.
“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28
RESOURCES:
YouVersion Bible study on control: Trapped by Control
No. 2 | Stop seeking Man’s Approval
Seeking the approval of man will lead you to more disappointment and eventually set you up for idol worship – performance-based relationships vs authentic relationships.
As a wife and mother, my DUTY was to serve my family not other people’s expectations which leads to bitterness.
THE LORD LOVES ME in my MESS! He knows my heart and has ALREADY granted approval. Trying to perform a miraculous job as a caregiver will lead to burnout which serves absolutely nobody! Luckily, the counsel in my life during this rocky first phase of cancer was superb. My community rallied in around us from all sides and listened and provided such wise counsel.
THANK YOU! Thank you to each and every person who supported us.
God’s approval is FREELY given
HE loves my mess and HE loves your mess! You do not have to earn HIS approval because it comes FROM him freely. One does not have to perform FOR others FOR their approval. God knows our hearts. He knows the deepest darkest most private areas of our lives and will meet us in those depths.
Welcoming the LORD into the cancer battle and allowing HIM to take control gave us peace and joy.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
Psalm 139:7
RESOURCES:
YouVersion Bible study on Seeking Approval: Seeking Approval
YouVersion Bible study on Approval and Identity: Approved
No. 3 |Spiritual Disciplines Matter
One of the Four Powerful Faith Lessons is understanding just how important it is to practice spiritual disciplines.
Life can get busy and doing spiritual disciplines can become robotic almost monotonous. However, the Lord commands us to press into HIM out of obedience because eventually a relationship – a deep personal relationship built on a covenant is built. By practicing the following habits, you will strengthen your “armor” for the battle:
- Spiritual Disciplines:
- Meditation
- Submission
- Solitude
- Prayer
- Study
- Service
- Confession
- Worship
- Guidance
- Fasting
- Simplicity
- Celebration
Practice the spiritual disciplines that are outlined in the Bible because they will equip you to handle any trial that may come your way.
RESOURCES:
YouVersion Bible study on Spiritual Disciplines: Spiritual Disciplines and Evangelism
No. 4 |Total Surrender
Salvation is a TOTAL surrender. You become a new creation in Christ Jesus and let go of the ways of the world. No longer conformed but transformed through the renewing of your spirit in Christ Jesus.
However, as life gets complicated people slowly start to take back what was freely given to the Lord. Burdens of this world will weigh you down and hold you captive – once again!
Then, it becomes time to let go again to turn away – surrender and repent – again and again and again.
Surrender means the action of yielding one’s person or giving up the possession of something especially into the power of another.
For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God,
which is in you through laying on of my hands.
2 Timothy 1:6 NIV
RESOURCES:
YouVersion Bible study on Surrender: Giving God 100%
SUMMARY
In this article I only discuss the TOP Four Powerful Faith Lessons yet the Lord is constantly teaching us lessons and transforming our hearts to be more like Christ.
Join the journey as we discover HIS truths in our daily lives and encourage others to live a life intentionally.
