Peace and joy in the face of trial

I have peace and joy in this life because God has given me an eternal future where pain and disease won’t exist.

It was January of 2020 when my doctor ordered a CT scan to try and figure out why I was having back pain. The results were shocking for someone who had never experienced any medical issues. I was suddenly faced with a diagnosis of stage 4 kidney cancer. My left kidney and adrenal gland were entirely taken over by the cancer and it was starting to grow up a vein toward my heart. My journey since that time has been quite a roller coaster. I was close to death by the time I had a 12 hour miracle surgery at the end of April that year. I went from being bloated up and weighing over 200 pounds before surgery to 125 pounds a few months later. I have had infusions and chemotherapy treatments which caused side effects. Multiple tests and procedures, a short period where I was cancer free, and a return of the cancer on my spine which cannot be removed. My life could have easily crumbled into a mess of pain, fear and hopelessness, but God! He promises in 1 Peter 5:7 that we can give Him all of our fear and worry because He cares about us. His promises stand true, and I am able through Him to have peace and joy in the mist of this struggle.

I also know without any doubt that one day I will be in heaven with God. There I will have a new body that will be free of pain, suffering and disease. If you don’t know this peace and assurance, please trust that Jesus died for your sins and rose again, and He wants more than anything to welcome you into this family.