RALEIGH, NC – “Praise God! My first of a month of daily radiation treatments went extremely well today. My greatest concern has been for my heart and lung to be protected. Psalm 73:26 was in this morning’s Daily Light: ”God is the strength of my heart” – I have claimed this as His promise to me throughout radiation. Thank you for praying with me on this journey of faith.”What kind of person praises the Lord before discussing their battle with cancer? It’s a person who has rested their faith completely in Jesus Christ. It is a person like Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of the late evangelist, Billy Graham.

Lotz is one of two high-profile, American women of faith who are praising the Lord for their journey. The other is Joni Eareckson Tada, who professed her faith saying,

What good is it if we only trust the Lord when we understand His ways? That only guarantees a life filled with doubts.

Joni has been a quadriplegic and a woman of profound faith for over 50 years. She is currently experiencing her second journey with cancer. One might be tempted to think that a half-century of paralysis would make the “C” word a little less frightening. In reality, it is a word no one – even a quadriplegic – really wants to hear spoken in the same sentence with their own name or the second person singular pronoun.

Both of these women who have each had remarkable ministries in the service of Jesus Christ have been confronted by the fearsome phrase “you have cancer” recently. Yet, they count their cancer as light and momentary affliction compared to the glory that awaits them at the end of this earthly struggle. (See 2 Corinthians 4:17)

Lotz was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2018. Subsequent to successful surgery to remove the tumor, her doctors learned that cancer had spread to her lymph nodes. She began a seven-round course of chemotherapy that ended on Valentine’s Day 2019.

She is now pursuing treatment intended to prevent cancer from returning. The treatment includes daily radiation therapy. She will also receive infusions every three weeks until October.

Mrs. Lotz aptly described cancer as “a wicked disease,” which we all know that it is. But she also said,

Each day since the diagnosis God has given me promises and encouragement from His Word. God has been…and is…my refuge and strength, an ever-present help in this trouble. Therefore, I will not fear.

May we all face life’s difficult times trusting and resting in God’s promises and encouragement from His Word.

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