Friday, 07 November 2008
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What Cancer at Age 24 Did For My Faith
Guest post submitted by Felrna
You never know how you will react when something terrible happens until it happens. You never know if you will cling to your faith or lose it. Last year, at the young age of 24, I was diagnosed with cancer. In an instant, my life changed. I battled for my health and my faith. I admit I asked God why; I got mad at Him; I couldn't understand how he could allow me to have cancer. Even though I knew things happen for a reason, I wanted answers when I couldn't have them.
Looking back after a year of being in remission, I am a walking miracle. I am a walking testimony of God's power and love, and I have learned so much because I have cancer. I know what it means to cry out to Jesus: more of wailing out to him the way Mordecai did in the book of Esther. You know the fall-on-your-knees-tear-your-clothes kind of wailing. I learned what it means to put my trust in Him: total complete trust because I had no control over the cancer, but He does. I'm crying as I type this and think back to all I felt and needed.
After a short four months, four out of five tumors were gone and one had decreased from 5x2 inches to being barely noticeable on the scans. My doctor couldn't explain it, but I can - God's healing power. Prayer. God healed me. I felt his healing touch on me. During a risky biopsy, the tumor was close enough to the surface of my neck so the doctors didn't have go anywhere near my jugular. My mom's favorite is when I had blood work. I needed a shot that hurt. I prayed for it to go up. She checked again - guess what - it went up two or three points to where I didn't need the shot anymore. In seconds, a prayer was answered!
I cried every night and day. Each week I was at the altar praying with my pastors. I didn't see it, but God gave me the strength I needed. He gave me the strength even to go out in public without a wig. The only time I wore one was to my best friend's wedding. I was tired all the time, and I wasn't allowed to be a cabin director for my youth camp. God molded me for more. I see things differently and I see Him differently. I don't doubt His power. I know that when faced with adversity I will turn to Him and curl in His lap for peace. I know prayer is powerful, so powerful, more powerful than anything else in this world.
A week before I was told I was in remission, my uncle passed away from prostate cancer. I felt my world had collapsed. He was the greatest man I knew, but even to his dying day he praised Jesus. Through the three years he battled cancer he never once lost his faith, he never once blamed God. He kept praising God and his last wish was to be able to go to church with his girls. He died early Monday morning, so he got his wish. He taught me what victory was. Victory is never allowing some adversity, whether it is cancer, divorce, rape, financial problems, addictions whatever, to take your faith away because once you do, that adversity has already won.
Sure, cancer is a part of my life. Every six months I need to get scans of my neck. I could possibly have thyroid problems because of the radiation, which could also put me in risk for other cancers. I need to constantly be tested and keep an eye on the symptoms I had in the past. My immune system will never be what it was. But I have faith. I have Jesus. And I know now that nothing can take that away.
I am thankful that I have cancer.
How did you get through your last difficult life experience? How did that experience affect your faith?
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Comments (24)
I was diagnosed with basal cell cancer at 24. Nothing nearly as serious as what you had. But it was scary, and because of that, I took interest in your post. I am not a particularly religious person, but I still wondered why God would allow that to happen to me.
What helped me deal was my friends and family. One friend in particular was very helpful to me. When we met, he was dealing with a mental illness. I had just had surgery to remove the tumor. Even though we were dealing with completely different issues, something about our respective problems made us understand each other. I still believe we met for a reason, and that reason is so we can help each other.
*Hugs.*
You wrote your story so well. How wonderful that you know that NOTHING can take you away from Jesus. I think that is a blessing and a testimony of the relationship you have with Christ.
My brother found out at the age of 21 that he had cancer (testicular), so I understand how hard that diagnosis is. I am happy to tell you that my Brother turned to Christ too and he received grace and mercy too. He is now 44, and has a son, and one baby in heaven. After 5 years clean they stopped the scans and he only has to have blood work annually. He too is a walking miracle, and a testament of God's healing powers!
Wow, this is a really moving blog. I must say that I have honestly never experienced anything in my life that has truly tested my faith like that. In a way, I hope for it, but I also fear what it might be. It is very easy to be on the outside of this and say "I have faith in Jesus," but from you there is a sincerity that none could argue with.
May God continue to allow you to be a blessing to others, such as myself, and just remember that no matter what happens, that it is all a part of His sovereign plan!
Terrific testimony that shows that the mercy and grace of God is real. Thanks for sharing it. Blessings to you.
praise God =) what a wonderful blog. my daughter had a cancer scare a few years back and it had to be one of the hardest things i've ever had to go through..that feeling of total helplessness...but there was also this amazing peace in the middle of the storm too. i find myself thanking God we went through that, it brought us closer to Him, to each other and realizing what's really important in this short life.
that was so very inspiring to me. I grew up in a born-again Christian home, but strayed away from the faith I was brought up in, in search of other things...over the past 3 years, I've had a chance to soul-search, research, and just think, and realized that I've made it full-circle. I trust God with my life, and especially since I'm wrestling with a very difficult addiction(eating disorder). your entry renewed the vigor with which I will try to keep my eyes on God, because he's always kept his eye on me...
<8
Thank you for sharing. God bless you :)
thanks for sharing with us your inspiring testimony, and God bless =)
A year ago, my doctor's found a tumor in my brain and later found that the tumor had metastisized and to this day I'm fighting. Being Muslim, I clung to my faith. There were times that even I wondered how this could happen to me and such, but I held onto my faith. So I guess I'm saying, I know how you feel and I know how much faith in your religion matters at times like this, whether you're Chriatian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, etc, it doesn't matter. All that matters is that you don't lose yoru faith.
Great post, btw.
I had lupus, well I still do but since it was detected early it isn't severe.I was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 15. And I recently found out that I have the HD gene for Huntingtons. I never knew because my mom didn't want me to. Sorry......I'm 19 now and it feels like I'm dying. I feel like I'm dying. And it's sad cuz I don't have anymore fight in me.It's really bad when you pray to die, right? I'm losing ground and My FAITH. Please someone help me.
wow. i needed that encouragement. my dr found some abnormal cells they might want to biopsy and this is all in the middle of dealing with my husband who sustained a severe head injury april 1st - hit in the head with a baseball - and is still not back to work, and may never fully recover (though he is able to walk, talk, and care for himself) - he still has balance issues and many a day looks like a ping-pong ball walking down the hallway. trusting God is a day by day, moment by moment choice that i have to make and it's not always very easy, sometimes it seems next to impossible but faith only needs to be as big as a mustard seed....
**Day by day, and with each passing moment, strenght I find to meet my Savior here. Trusting in the Father's wise bestowment, I've no cause for worry or for fear.**
that was one of my aunt's favorite hymns before she died....how true those words are. thanks again for the encouragement.
Inspiring post. May God bless you always
I was diagnosed with a herniated disc at the age of 19, six months ago. Docs still aren't sure if it's degenerative disc disease, or if it's just the result of 10 years of competitive swimming.
I'm still in denial. I haven't faced my problem yet, and I'm not sure if I can.
But thank you for your inspiring post, bless you, you're an example for us all. You've given me the strength to turn to God and hand my fears over to Him. Maybe I can be 'fixed' as well.
:)
My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago and i was the one who was mostly affected. At the young age of 13... she vented on me all the pain that she felt and i was the one she talked to the most. I felt all her pain and it was really unbearable. That time, my faith got even stronger, i prayed really hard for my mom to get well and guess what? God answered my prayer. Ever since after that incident, i trusted God with all my heart. Ever since that day, all my prayers have been constantly answered, until now. Though i don't know that much about God's word, i am learning one step at a time.
You know, as i read your blog, i felt goosebumps all over my body and i got teary-eyed. God Bless you.
When you go through difficult life experiences, you question God's motives. You get very sad, and you always think of that verse, that states he wouldnt put more on you than you can bear, and you just get angry. I got through my experience trying to understand why it was happening. I got to thinking about people who may have experienced the same things as myself, and I calm down. I begin to put my faith back into the Lord. It made my relationship with God much stronger, and I'm able to understand what faith really is.
this is a very uplifting and encouraging story. it's very refreshing to hear!! God is amazing!
@EccentricSiren@xanga - My friends were wonderful too. When my hair started to fall out my best friend was at my side and my guy friends wanted to shave their heads. But with my best friend's wedding she said no lol. They helped me keep my faith because of their prayers and support.
@billgrip@xanga - It is scary when your faith gets tested. It's like you never really know how your life will be effected by something. Mainly your faith. It helped me realize how important Christ is in my life and that even through this he was there carrying me.
@Aaliyaan@xanga - "whether you're Chriatian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, etc, it doesn't matter. All that matters is that you don't lose yoru faith" I simply love that. Mind if I use it for a book I am writing :D
@Felrna@xanga - Lol, Not at all, be my guest
(Of course without the typos, please)
God bless you :) , it's a beautiful thing how much you you have touched God's love .
@cryingtearsofaclown@xanga - Jesus can help you, Jesus rose the dead, tell jesus i want you to heal me , like you did to many others, tell him , if i don't have enough faith give me, if i have surrendered to pain, heal me ,tell him i'm tired, i have tried a lot, tell him, tell him i am hopeless, i want to see your glory, tell him i want to believe you when you said that nothing is difficult for you, if you open the bible , you will find people getting healed, just because the touched Jesus clothes, you will find people that jesus rose from the dead, he can breath the life into you again, he can heal you, he did it with many, he can do it with you, tell him i want to make the best of this experience, tell him i want to make the best of this pain. cry to him , open up to him, tell him what's in your mind, please read the new testament , start reading Mark, see how much miracles Jesus did, to so many people, you can be one of them ,see how much jesus loves that you be healed, to release your pain and suffering, people had faith he healed them, and who didn't have enough faith to be healed,one said " help my loard my weak faith" jesus gave him faith and healed him, Jesus is your answer, Jesus is your cure, trust him , read mark 9 "Jesus said to him, ‘If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes.’ 24Immediately the father of the child cried out,* ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’ ...........jesus drove away the evil spirit from the man's son, jesus gave him faith, THE ONE WHO ROSE THE DEAD CAN HEAL YOU , Jesus Loves You
HUG. Know the feeling. I'm 7 mo's out, and hoping it doesn't show up again. That year of major chemo weekly, and radiation is no fun.
Keep strong.
1 in 8 women who will live to 85 will get breast cancer, I wonder if god loves them too...