Hope When the Diagnosis Is Hard: Trusting God in the Cancer Journey

Often cancer can feel insurmountable. It can enclose me in shadows of doubt and despair. Sometimes I feel as if I’m on an elevator, riding up and down depending on my current emotions, all resulting from the disease. In the down moments, hope becomes a lifeline. Romans 8:28 offers a profound reassurance: “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” This verse reminds me that my circumstances, no matter how dire, are under God’s sovereign control and are part of His plan for my good.

Hope is not just a fleeting feeling, but a confident expectation rooted in the character and promises of God. While we can know beyond a doubt that God’s sovereignty ultimately controls our lives and emotions, we don’t know the details of His vision. Sometimes we don’t even know what to pray for. To keep our feelings and ruminations from running amok, we need to focus on what we know: His Word, our prayers, and what He has done for us in the past.

Also, Romans 8:28 assures us that God is actively working in “all things” for the good of those who love Him. This phrase means He takes what happens and weaves it into a plan for my good and His glory. He turns every moment of a cancer journey—every treatment, every setback, and every victory—into ultimate blessings according to His purpose. Believing in this promise requires hope. This hope enables us to trust that God is in control. We need to join Paul in expressing faith in the goodness of God’s purpose for us even when our situations seem hopeless.

Hope in God’s promises strengthens us and assures us He is working on our situation. The Bible has many examples of God intervening in seemingly impossible situations. We must hold onto the hope that God can and will work similarly in our lives, transforming our circumstances according to His perfect will.

Philippians 4:19 reassures us, “My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (NIV). This promise, coupled with the assurance of Romans 8:28, provides a strong foundation for our hope. We can trust that God not only understands our needs but also is fully capable of meeting them. This truth can fill us with confident hope, strength, comfort, and peace as we navigate the cancer journey.

A CLOSING THOUGHT

We can experience a profound freedom from worry because God is sovereign and working all things to our benefit. He assures us that He will make good of our circumstances, holding everything in His capable hands.

REFLECTION

Read Psalms 103:13 and 135:6.

How does recognizing God’s sovereignty over all creation provide comfort and assurance in times of uncertainty or struggle?

What specific instance do you recall wherein trusting God’s sovereignty brought you peace?

How can remembering this instance help you as you face new and seemingly hopeless situations?

This article is adapted from Walking with God Through Cancer by Wayne Hastings.