How to Carry on When Your World Stops

  By: Shari A. Miller

When I woke this morning, I was completely distraught about the day ahead of me. I had to go to another doctors appointment. One that had to be cancelled, and then rescheduled. I was hoping that it could be put off until next week but no, the doctor wanted it done this week. She wanted to go over the most recent PET scan that I had done. The one that my radiation oncologist had already gone over with me. The fact that she wanted me in sooner, sent up red flags in my mind, "Of warning! This is not good, otherwise they would have waited until next week to see me."

The news was not good, there was more cancer in the liver. Of course more cancer meant a new form treatment. My heart sank into my stomach, "Not again I thought. Why couldn't this treatment have lasted longer? Why do I always have to go to the doctor and constantly get x-rays, PET scans and MRI's? Why don't you heal me God? I've asked for forgiveness of my sins. Are you hearing me God?"

Tears flowed down my cheeks as I wondered when the pain of cancer would end. I wondered what I needed to do for God to hear me and make me whole. I've been dealing with breast cancer for 18 years and I've been dealing with metastatic breast cancer for 11 years.

 

To top it off, our precious daughter has to go in next week to have a preventative bi-lateral mastectomy, with reconstructive surgery done. This is not something we've taken lightly. It's taken 10 years for her to come to this decision. There have been different medical complications along the way that have made this a necessity. When she got off work today, tears ran down her face and across her broken heart as she began to come to terms with what was going on. Having a surgery like this is not easy for anyone, much less someone that is still in her twenty's. 

My daughter and I have choices to make, when we need to figure out, "How to Carry on When Our World Stops." We can either remain mad at God and the situation, or we can choose to learn from the situation and be a witness for God as we walk through this earthly fire. During this time, we can be so thankful for God's Word, which reminds us that God will be with us every step of the way; He will not let the waters overtake us, nor will the fires set us ablaze.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will nor be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."  - Isaiah 43:2

The first choice we should make is, beginning our mornings in God's Word, and be on our hands and knees prostrate before the Lord as we cry out, to Him, 

"Father, if you are willing, take this cup for me; yet not my will, but yours be done." - Luke 22:42

If the Lord does not take this cup from us, it's up to us to read, pray, draw closer to God, and be a witness for Him. I always feel like God has given me metastatic breast cancer to make a difference; so that others will see Jesus inside me, and want to know Him too. At times it is very, very, hard and I'm afraid of what will happen next. When I start to feel this way I remember my favorite verse in the Bible which comforts my heart, - Isaiah 41:10, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Have you ever felt like your World has stopped? Have you ever received news that has rocked you to your core? It's time to get in the Word friends; it's time to cry out to God in prayer. Ask Him how he wants you to react to whatever the situation might be. Then dig in deep friends as you carry out His will.