I'm Joni Eareckson Tada with a story about my courageous friend, Bobbie. I love dear Bobbie. A little over a year-and-a-half ago, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. It came as a shock to everyone, especially her family. I mean, Bobbie looked so healthy and only struggled every once in a while with back pain. Well, that pain led my friend and her husband to the doctor's, where, after several tests, they diagnosed her with stage 4 ovarian cancer. Yikes! Bobbie and her family buckled down to tackle this disease with every resource they could possibly muster, and after six rounds of aggressive chemotherapy, Bobbie's cancer was downgraded. Her numbers and the PET scans began to look good.
Yes, the chemo drugs made her nauseous and, yes, all her hair fell out, but I remember one photo her husband sent me: it was of Bobbie taking her morning walk around the block, singing her favorite hymns with every turn of the corner. Even the doctors and the nurses at the chemo clinic were amazed and many insisted that her great attitude was having an impact on her improving numbers. But I think the reason she had such a great attitude is because she had such a great perspective on her trials. Once, in the midst of her her chemotherapy, Bobbie emailed, "Joni, just as chemo medicine is designed to kill the bad cancer cells, so God designs a toxic, painful trial to destroy, starve and kill anything in my soul that is selfish or offensive to Him. So I willingly surrender to His infusion, knowing that He has chosen what will ultimately bring me more abundant life than I could ever imagine. So I choose to open my heart, and offer my veins to be infused with His choice of trials so I might receive His beauty and perfect health."
Oh, friend, that, to me, is amazing. I love the way she likens a trial to chemotherapy medicine. Just as those drugs are designed to hunt down and destroy cancer cells, God's hand designs our trials to hunt down and destroy sin and stubbornness, selfishness, or doubts or fears. So, she willingly surrenders to whatever infusion of trials God wishes to put her through. And God has put her through a lot. Bobbie has a long way to go before she is out of the woods. And this being "Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month," please be praying for my friend as she continues treatment or for anybody that you know who is going through ovarian cancer.
Finally, don't be thinking, because of her great attitude and outlook, that Bobbie is an extraordinary or exceptional woman. I believe that if you had to go through cancer or quadriplegia or chronic pain, you could have a bright outlook, too. After all, "To this you were called," it says in 1 Peter chapter 2, "because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." Jesus Christ has left us quite an example. And I want you to join me and Bobbie in following in his steps because if Jesus learned obedience through the things he suffered, are we above our Master? I don't think so! And as far as having a good attitude about your trials, remember I Peter chapter 4, "Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he [lives] for the will of God." And what is God's will? Well, Bobbie and I could easily point to Philippians chapter 2, verse 14: "Do everything, everything without complaining."
Friend, your trials are designed by God to hunt down and destroy anything in your life that ultimately harms your soul; anything that is an offense to God. So arm yourself with the attitude of Christ who suffered in his body. Be done with sin and be free to live in his peace, joy and power. It's what my friend Bobbie is doing every day.
© Joni and Friends, 2013
Compliments of Joni and Friends
PO Box 3333 Agoura Hills, CA 91376