Trusting God When Life Takes an Unexpected Turn
When staring into the indiscriminate face of cancer, fear and questions quickly follow, but so too can the comforting presence of God and the prayers of fellow believers.
In sharing her story, Angie reflects on the reality of shock, grief, and uncertainty, yet also on the deeper truth that hope is found in Christ.
For Angie, faith is not passive resignation but an active trust in God’s care and plan for each and every one of us, even when the outcome is unknown. Her journey is a reminder that in life’s darkest valleys, God’s promises of love and strength, remain unshaken.
Cancer. One of the most widely used and fear provoking words this century. Almost one in two of us will get it according to statistics. But what happens when you find out you’re one of those “statistics “?
Firstly, fear and the never ending questions – what type, what stage, is it curable, how long do I have, who should I call, how should I plan for the future – if indeed I have one?
Then your head starts to swirl even further with pictures of friends and celebrities who have either conquered cancer or sadly succumbed to it. Why is this happening to me? Life isn’t fair. I had so much that I was going to do and see. The list seems endless.
After the initial shock and crying in the shower or anywhere you can be alone, you breathe a deep breath and realise that life still goes on, at least for now.
As a Christian, you gladly take comfort that other believers are praying for you and supporting you. Encouraging you with Bible verses and hugs and cups of tea. This is where the rubber meets the road. Do you believe that God in his strength can heal you or does he have another plan for you, to come and meet him in glory before you really want to.
Then comes the submission to his will. After all, he is God and even though you might fight him all the way, he ultimately has the final say. That’s not to say you sit back and wait to see what will happen, but actively seek out believers who are willing to stand with you as you go through this trial.
Without belief in an all loving God and the fellowship of believers that he has given you, it must be even darker. For the Christian at least, there is the hope of eternal life and meeting up again with those believers that have gone before you and looking forward to welcoming others in the future. What a hope we have as Christians even in the darkest of circumstances.
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7
About The Author
Angie was born in the UK, but spent 26 years living in California before returning to England 3 years ago.
She attended a church in the heart of Silicon Valley with her husband Rob, where she helped with the kids and special needs programme.
She worked as an Executive Assistant, which at times, was a little like herding cats! She enjoys baking, organizing and travelling.