What a Crisis Reveals
A crisis is defined as a “turning point; a crucial situation.” Being diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer last year constituted a crisis in my life! Not having any family history of the disease, it caught me off guard. It was an interruption to my well laid out plans for the year; my life. It lead me into unknown territory. But through it all, I came out enlightened; with strengthened faith in God, others and myself.
I came across a quote by Oswald Chambers that summarized my crisis experience. He says, It’s not the crisis that builds something within us – it simply reveals what we are made of already. I considered myself someone who was able to withstand a challenge – but often times in my own strength. One of the many things you lose during cancer treatment is your strength. It was during this time of physical and emotional weakness that what I was made of was revealed. I was reminded of three important facts:
God’s Promises are Personal
I love the Psalms; they seem so personal to their authors. But I never personalized them for myself until I needed to cling to hope. In times of crisis, you need to claim these verses as truth. One of my favorite promises is from Psalm 46:1-3:
God is our (my) refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we (I) will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
God’s Presence is Permanent
I know that God is always with me; watching over me; protecting me. But that knowledge was revealed to me during my time of greatest weakness. I knew I was never alone, even though I was in physical pain. God was by my side going through it with me – not necessarily taking it away. 2 Timothy 4:17a is a great reminder of this truth:
But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength…
God’s Peace is Perfect
I’ll be honest, at times this was the hardest truth to believe. A crisis stirs up many emotions, and if dwelt on, can actually intensify the side effects. Worry, anxiety, “what if?” “why me?” doubts, fears, etc. We cannot create peace within ourselves – it’s just not natural. Only God’s peace is perfect and that’s what we must dwell on. Isaiah 26:3 reminds us of this:
You (God) will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
What did my cancer crisis reveal to me? It showed me what I was made of. It revealed that my faith was stronger than I thought. It confirmed that I can’t do much in my own strength and peace can only come from God.
Whether your crisis is/ will be physical, financial, spiritual or personal – allow it to be a turning point. Turning you to God’s personal promises, permanent presence and perfect peace.
