Philippians 4:6-7: Be Anxious for Nothing

Philippians 4:6-7 NASB “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

So the coolest thing about cancer that I can think of is getting to wear that purple shirt at the annual Relay for Life event.  Well, that sounds pretty shallow.  I guess it is really.  And that’s kind of how I’ve felt about this diagnosis that has come my way over the past weeks and months.  Kind of shallow, like it is about as important as that purple shirt.

Why?

Well, for one thing I’ve just witnessed two other fellows die.  One was a believer, his place was secure in heaven and the other had his heels dug in deep.  He had folks knocking down his door aching to present the Gospel to him hoping along with his wife that he would respond to the good news and he did not.  I call him the nicest guy in hell.  He was, the nicest guy you would want to know but he died without the saving blood of Jesus.

So, you see my own situation is – well, shallow.

I had the early indicators and my doctor has followed up with me and we finally got the call that indeed I have cancer.  My cancer unlike the nice guy is very early and very treatable, it isn’t the type that is a death sentence the moment you hear the word.  Very early, not just treatable but curable.

So is that the reason for my peace?

I’m not so sure.  You see the treatment I’m faced with is eight weeks of radiation five days each week.  It will take its toll on my energy and there could be some other secondary treatment fallout.  But I have zero anxiety, I’m completely at peace.  Everyone keeps asking me about it like I should be upset and worried.  Maybe I’m missing something but I’m not bothered.

All I can point to my friends is the scripture that tells me what is really happening, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Have I given “Thanks” to God for my cancer?  Not so much.  That would still be on my to do list but I have been thinking a lot about things.

As my saved friend went to be with Jesus this week and my nice friend went to hell a few weeks back it does get you thinking about eternal things.  It gets you thinking about the things that matter.  In my case it helped me to stay focused on something besides my cancer – that really is a shallow issue and so I’ll get through this.

I certainly appreciate your prayers.  I suspect that eight weeks of this will bring some unknowns and perhaps some unpleasantness.  None the less, I have peace – unexplainable peace.  AMEN!