Longing for Healing
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“Jesus turned and saw her. ‘Take heart, daughter,’ he said, ‘your faith has healed you.’ And the woman was healed from that moment” (Matthew 9:22).
What a jolt of reality I had at a breast cancer support meeting tonight. First a lady with short hair walked in, followed by a bald lady, and then a lady with the tiniest bit of hair. One young woman had her first chemotherapy treatment that day and soon made an exit to vomit.
As the women talked and asked questions about the side effects of chemotherapy, such as sores in their mouths, and problems with digestions, diarrhea and constipation, I felt myself getting sick. My head throbbed, and my knees wobbled like Jell-O. Before long, I sobbed, and someone passed me a box of tissues.
I noticed a table with Valentine’s Day decorations and all kinds of refreshments in the hallway. How could anyone possibly eat Valentine’s Day cookies and have a soft drink during this type of meeting? Why did I eat dinner earlier? I felt sick to my stomach. Stop the merry-go-round. I want to get off.
I wish I weren’t going through this. I wish I could hide under a blanket, wake up, and have this behind me. I wish I were free of cancer or had healing power, but God alone has that power. His healing may be physical, or he may simply help me peacefully accept my circumstances. I’m convinced he knows which is better for me.
We all face similar struggles. We may think we’re hanging on with only a shred of faith. It helps to remember that Gideon, David, Samson, the prophets and many others were not born with an unshakable faith. Their faith grew day by day. Hebrews 11 says their weakness was turned to strength and they became powerful in battle. It’s okay to admit we are scared, sick, weak, or powerless. God will meet us where we are.
Father, please tell me, “Daughter, your faith has made you whole.” I also ask for emotional healing from the trauma of cancer. May I join the ranks of those who turned from weakness to strength through faith in You. Amen.
Reprinted from Yvonne Ortega’s book, Hope for the Journey Through Cancer.
Used by permission of Fleming H. Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, copyright 2007. All rights to this material are reserved. Materials are not to be distributed to other web locations for retrieval, published in other media, or mirrored at other sites without written permission from Baker Publishing Group.
Questions: What “cancer” are you struggling with today? How can our weak faith be strengthened at a time when one is hurting so deeply?
About the author Yvonne Ortega
i went through breast cancer and know i only made through because of God that was 15 years ago
Sisters, thank you for sharing your struggle. Even though we may be going through different trials, is is true – we need God to help us through our struggles. I pray God continues to bless & help each of us today, & turn to Him completely. May He be with us during these times & may we honor Him with our hearts & mouths. I pray God continues to protect each of us right now. In the name of Jesus, Amen!
Yes, this devo struck quite a chord with me as well! It made me list all the trauma’s i could think of so i could ask the LORD to heal me from them. For me, here are some of them: Birth, foster care as a child,a step father, 6 major surgeries, cancer, rape, sexual molestations from family members, affairs with married men,a child born out of wedlock, 3 suicide attempts, relationship breakups, failed marriages, 2 divorces, my house robbed twice, bad car accidents and destroyed vehicles, having to move and leave my family behind, drunken episodes where i should be dead right now. These are just the ones i can think of at the moment. i needed healing from all of this and still do. Day by day my faith is seeing me through and according to HIS word, “i can do all things through Christ who stengthens me.”
Just the word “Cancer” makes a deep gash in my heart, but I have survived, and been healed. I can so relate to this article today. It was 2 years this month that I was diagnosed and got that life shattering telephone call. But God was there for me every day, he carried me , comforted me and even took alot of the memories that weren’t pleasant from me. I am so grateful and thankful that we have a God on the throne that keeps his promises, I have peace, happiness, and a fabulous witness to God and his love.