Guest Devotional #1: Faith in the storm
-by-
Jenny Entsminger
“We walk by faith and not by sight” 2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful”
Hebrews 10:23 NIV
“May your unfailing love be with us Lord, even as we put our hope in you.” Psalm 33:22 NIV
I have found that doctors sometimes go to the worse possible places when a cancer diagnosis is given. Hearts sink upon receiving the news, and pressures mount. Besides the innate concern for survival is an immediate life change of diet, daily care, exploring treatment options, decisions regarding work, and mounting financial concerns. Its enough to make you scream and run for the hills!
Reeling when you hear those words: “You have cancer” while observing the doctors grim look - plus simultaneously, managing the thousands of questions bombarding your thoughts - is more than overwhelming. I often think of my daughter who mentions in her testimony she did not know how to act as one labeled with cancer. She knew she had to be strong for her family. While feeling rotten with chemo and radiation, her life transformed without her control, which was the scariest part!
When you don’t feel good, your faith is affected. Yet, this is the most vital time you need to feed your soul with faith! Feed your soul on the life-giving word of God. Meditate on scriptures that are meaningful, plant hope, and choke out discouragement. This is not a pie in the sky solution, but one that roots deeply in our inner being. Roman 10:17 NIV says: “Faith comes by hearing the message and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” My daughter finds strength not only through her favorite Scriptures (some on notecards placed in her room) but also through her Christian music. Before every scan, when “sanxiety” is high, she rests her soul to the sound of beautiful timeless hymns. We can never loose our hope!
As explained by the popular Christian website GotQuestions.org,
“Biblical hope is built on faith. Hope is the earnest anticipation that comes with believing something good. Hope is a peaceful assurance that something that hasn’t happened yet will indeed happen…The relationship between faith and hope can be illustrated in the joy a child feels when his father says tomorrow. [They are going to an amusement park.] The child believes he is going to the park…based on his fathers’ word. – that is faith. At the same time, that belief within the child kindles joy- that is hope.”
The child s natural trust in his father’s promise is faith. The child’s squealing delight and jumping in place are the expressions of hope.
Without faith, there is no hope. Find time to combat the overwhelming fight with cancer in mind, soul, and body and with FAITH. Feed your mind, your heart, your soul with faith! Enjoy reading scripture and finding encouragement. Thus your hope will bloom and flourish! And as always pray! Prayer has a powerful effect on us. When you are too weak to pray, enlist others to pray for you. Dear friends, never forget God is on your side! He loves you beyond measure! May his arms of peace and comfort protect you and give you inner faith!