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Jul 31
2007
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Cancer EncouragementPosted by Bryan in suffering   |
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As I read through the prayer list today I couldn't help but notice all the requests related to cancer...
A little over a year ago, I ran accross an article that was really helpful for me in dealing not only with cancer (that of my mom) but also other areas of pain and trial in my life. You can read it in this article entitled "Don't Waste Your Cancer" by John Piper, pastor and cancer survivor. -Bryan
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written by Tamie Webster , September 28, 2007
My Mom passed away from cancer in July 2006 and my Dad in November of 2001.
I have been estranged from God and the church since my Mom's death because I have been angry, let down and confused.
God recently began speaking to my heart thru troublesome areas in my life and has made it clear it is time for me to make him the center again.
I have reconnected with God,the church and have started reading my Bible again. After reading my Bible this evening I got a pang to come on the website to see if there was anything new. Well, I never read blogs, but tonight I decided to take a peak and see what it was all about.
As God would have it, I came along this blog. At first I scanned thru it and said "ahh, I dont want to read the article. My Mom and Dad are already gone, what's the point?" But again, Gods voice was louder than mine, and I clicked on the link.
As soon as I started reading I was brought to tears. Thru each example that was stated I realized that my Mom had wasted her cancer. From not accepting that she was going to die, to obsessing about her cancer and only reading passages in the bible pertaining to God's healing.
There were times while my Mom was sick that I was very upset with her for not allowing us to talk to her about her possibly dying. She had tunnel vision faith that God was going to heal her and that was that.
In watching her so whole heartedly believe that she would be healed, I to started believing in God's powers to miraculously heal her, even though all wisdom given to the doctors by God, said just the opposite.I started to share my in my Mom's tunnel vision faith. No other answer from God was going to be accepted.
Needless to say when my Mom passed it was very hard for me. I adopted an attitude of if God didn't answer the prayer of someone who prayed so faithfully and believed so faithfully that she would be healed, what could he possibly do for me. And on top of that what kind of God takes both parents away from someone who hasnt even hit 30.
Like I stated earlier, God has really impressed on my heart that it is time to let go and come back to his arms.
Like I also stated earlier, the article brought me to tears as I read it. Some might think that the tears were for the pain of losing my Mom.
But the reason why the tears came was because it made me realize that I have spent the last year wasting my Mom's cancer. I have given the glory to Satan, by letting him eat away at my trust and faith in the Lord.I have wasted my Mom's cancer by not allowing God to help me thru my struggle and grief. I have wasted my Mom's cancer by not giving glory to God for the fruit that my Mom's cancer and eventual passing produced. One amazing gift that comes to mind is the 14 people who gave their hearts to Jesus for the very first time at her funeral(her church ends funerals in the message of salvation!). The fruit that was bore by bringing a beloved family member back into our lives after 5years of no contact, and then subsequently being able to see her to prom, graduation and finally off to WSU. There are so many others I could mention.
I am not going to let Satan win. I am not going to let Satan have the glory for my Mom's cancer. I am going to start with a new mindset and realize that even though my Mom's cancer and passing were hard, they were for a purpose. I will no longer waste my Mom's cancer. My Mom's cancer will be the storm and I will allow my life to be God's rainbow at the end. Thanks be to God. Thanks to my Mom for never ceasing to teach me, even though you are gone.
With Love
written by Laurie Bisset , August 06, 2007
I read this article by John Piper as well when I received it in my email and found it to be a reminder also to give Him the Glory. It is a great article. Glad to see that I wasn't the only one who thought so!
written by Jack Harding , August 06, 2007
I encourage every Christian to read the Don't waste your cancer article by John Piper. It's an awesome and refreshing reminder on where the Glory belongs and where our hearts should be focused. I don't have cancer, but this article was very meaningful to me.
Often I hear Christians sincerely promise to pray for someone when they hear of others pain. That's the right thing to do, but I'm uncomfortable with the "Jesus please heal this person" type of prayer. It seems kind of lucky rabbit foot to me. I think the focus should be on adding Glory to Christ and seeking His will. For me, in my limited understanding of Christ, it seems the more appropriate prayer would be "Jesus, use this pain and situation for your Glory, in whatever you do with it."
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