In honor of World Cancer Day, Joni shares some insights about the time she had cancer. Hear Joni talk about how God helps her in times of suffering. In your trials, he will give you power, peace, and change your outlook to endure.
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada, Sharing Hope.
Someone told me recently that World Cancer Day is coming up and that got me to thinking about all the many ways I sensed God’s hope during my second battle with cancer. That was back in 2018. That was the same year that destructive wildfires tore through southern California – I’m sure it was on your news. The hills around our office at Joni and Friends were scorched black. That same month, I found myself in the boxing ring again with stage III cancer. This time, the oncologist said it was more serious, more aggressive, and faster growing. And so, I was scheduled for immediate surgery. After that, I had underwent 33 rounds of radiation. And so, for two months or more we drove back-and-forth on the 101 freeway to the radiology lab and each day I passed those blackened hills, so scarred, and dark, and ugly. Looking at those ruined hills every day, well, it didn’t make for a pleasant drive.
But! By early spring in 2019, when I completed all those rounds of radiation. I still had to drive the 101 freeway for various medical checkups, but this time as we drove, I was so delighted and surprised to see all the spring-green grass growing like a lush carpet over the black slopes. This fresh, almost iridescent green was stunning, it was beautiful! Like a clear reminder in Psalm 121: “I lift up my eyes to the hills; where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.”
You know, after having suffered through radiation [all the stops and starts because of injury to my chest]; after all the pain, I needed to see those green hills. I needed to be reminded of renewal and hope. And how good of God to have given me that reminder all up and down the 101 freeway. As well as in Psalm 121. My help comes from the Lord, the one who blesses the hills and who blesses us with renewal and resurrection. Those green-carpeted hills lining the freeway told the story of Isaiah 61, of how God brings “beauty out of ashes.” Twice I have battled stage III cancer, and each time, God has done such awesome things in my life. My cancer made me more grateful to be alive, and to have whatever strength and stamina God would give on any given day. There were days during radiation when I was lifted from my wheelchair and onto the radiology table and as I went into the tube, I would close my eyes, mentally grab for scriptures, whispered earnest prayers, and opened my heart to grace.
I don’t think I would have sought God’s help that urgently, were it not for those times in radiation. My cancer journey has also drawn me closer to Ken Tada; and it’s made my friendships and connections with my family so much richer. Honestly, sometimes during my cancer treatments, I would lie in bed and I would have to fight back tears as I counted all my blessings. Please, please don’t think of me as some saint on a pedestal. I should not the exception. Because this is exactly what God does when we trust him. He gives us power. He gives us his peace. He changes our outlook. He causes us to endure. He helps us persevere. He strengthens faith. And he shines his hope. And all that, all of it makes us more like Christ. So, as World Cancer Day approaches, these are the insights that I trust will refresh you in your trials. Because somewhere near you there are green hills filled with promises of God’s hope and peace.
© Joni and Friends