Crisis had been ruling my life for month after brutal month and I was done. I told God, “I want my life back.” Like many of you now, I had been fighting cancer, Stage IV metastatic melanoma in my case. Pastimes and passions were shelved, so no basketball, fishing, work, preaching, or watching my kid’s sports. I couldn’t even eat because of tumors on my pancreas.
Then God broke through my malaise and reminded me of “the path of life,” the secret of contentment – HIM (Philippians 4:11-13). There are many blessings in this life, but there are no substitutes for the Blesser! King David got this:
“You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” – Psalm 16:11
I had been through this before. In my youth, I searched for life in drugs, alcohol, and other things. The emptiness of that lifestyle gave way to its destructiveness. At my lowest point, He drew me, and I found His peace and lovingkindness was indeed “better than life” (Psalm 63:3).
Isaiah called seasons of hardship, like cancer battles, “scorched places.” Yet he emphasized true life is not in absence of hardship, but in His Presence with us.
“And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” – Isaiah 58:11
The true life He provides is available in any and every situation – no exceptions. This is because once you invite Him in as Savior and Lord, He never leaves! More on inviting Him to be your Savior here.
Even during cancer battles, His Presence is fullness of joy! Let’s rest with Him together!
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