Wednesday, July 05, 2017

Sometimes Things Just Suck

My heart is so heavy.  Three people I know lost their battle with cancer within three days of each other... two of them on the same day.  Yes, sometimes things just suck.  I know, if you are like me, you hate that word.  I don't like it either, but it just seems to be the only word that fits.

I lost my dad to cancer when I was twelve.  I have lost many people I know to cancer.  And it is never any easier when you hear the word cancer.  Cancer just sucks.

I know people who are in the fight with cancer this very moment.  And I also know many people who are survivors of cancer.  And even then it still sucks.  Cancer takes so much away from you personally and so much away from your family.  But the one thing it cannot take away from you... is the love that that God has for you; and He hurts deeply for you and your family.  It cannot take away the fact that He is with you every minute of every day.  It cannot take away from you the relationships you build and the love that grows between you and those you know who are in the fight.

There are many people fighting this horrible disease every day; some that are very close to me.  They are getting better!  ... and cancer is NOT going to win!  Yet, even when cancer it not winning the battle, it takes it's toll on you.  It takes a toll on you emotional and physically and every way in between.  It is an ugly fight, but it's a fight that you do not fight alone.  God is with you every step of the way.  And if you are blessed to be a part of a community, a church, a group of close friends, they are also with you every step of the way.

For those in the fight, I know some days are literally hell.  But remember that there is one who fighting for you and holding you close even when you cannot hold yourself up.  I pray that one day there will be a cure for all types of cancer; a cure that does not involve tearing your body down to build it back up.  Until then, I will continue to trust in God.  I will continue to support those I love so dearly and continue to pray with and for them as they fight.  I will continue to walk along side of those close to me who have suffered loss because of this horrific disease.  And I will continue to pray over those in the middle of the fight, as well as the doctors working with them, as I continue to pray that God leads them to a cure.

As a dear friend said last night as we were circled up in prayer, "God knows what we are going to go through before we ever have a clue."  He is preparing us in ways we cannot imagine, for whatever unknown fight we might face. And if He already knows the pain, the heartache, the rough roads that may be ahead in any number of circumstances - then I can KNOW that He is going to be right there with us to help us fight the battle.

May God be near to us all.

Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:30-31