Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and welcome to "Joni and Friends".
And along with all the emphasis this month on cancer — it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, there are a thousand stories that could be told. But I don’t know too many that would be more inspirational than the story of my dear friend, Bobbie Wolgemuth. She’s my friend who coauthored the books I wrote on hymns of the faith — both of us are often called the hymn ladies, and whenever we’re together, not only do we share cancer stories, but we sing hymns to glorify the God who sustains us. And Bobbie needs sustaining: More than 2 ½ years ago, she was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer — it has been a long and difficult battle, and earlier this year after much chemotherapy and other experimental treatments, the doctors told my friend there was not much more they could do.
My husband Ken and I have been praying faithfully for Bobbie and her husband for some time, now. Not long ago, when I called her on the phone and asked how she was doing, she told me that, yes, she is delighting in singing hymns morning, noon and night. The words of these timeless hymns speak of God's goodness to her, His sovereignty and His faithfulness, just the things that my friend needs to be reminded of as she faces the future. I’ll never forget she told me, “Joni, I'm at complete peace about dying, but I told my doctor two days ago that the one thing I did fear was pain. Well, after I left his office and when I got home and rested, I heard God say to me, ‘Bobbie, why did you tell your doctor that? Haven’t I seen you through pain in years past? Didn’t I see Stephen, the martyr who was stoned to death; didn’t I see him through his pain as he was being stoned? And didn’t I see all the martyrs of centuries past who were burned or stoned or thrown to lions; didn’t I see them through their pain? And wasn’t I able to sustain my Son, Jesus, through the pain of His cross? Bobbie, I won’t abandon you; I won’t forget you; I will be with you every step of the way.’”
Well, the next day Bobbie got up and went back to her doctor’s office to tell him not to worry, don’t be concerned, she knew her Savior was going to see her through whatever pain lay ahead with ovarian cancer.
I hung up the phone so inspired and refreshed. Because her words about facing pain with confidence in Christ really spoke to me. Isaiah chapter 43 says, “When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God.” Now to be sure, God is not saying that floods and fire will never physically harm His children; but what He is saying is, that our souls will not be swept away; our souls will not be set ablaze and destroyed. God has removed from us the only kind of suffering that can ever harm us, and that is separation from Him. This means all suffering that now touches Bobbie’s life, my life, or your life, all of it is designed by God to make your soul great; to strengthen our souls through the flood of trials; to refine our souls through the heat of fiery troubles. So train your soul today not to think otherwise about your hardships.
And if you’d like more encouragement, especially if you are struggling with cancer, please visit my radio page today at joniandfriends.org and pick up your free copy of the booklet I wrote on cancer — believe me, the insights will be good for your soul — just like those insights were good for Bobbie’s.
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