Category: Encouragement
God’s Purposes Can Often Be to Change Us Rather Than Our Circumstances.
The following was added today to this website section entitled “Lessons Learned”.
We know that God has specific plans for our lives and knows in advance what we have to experience, both positive and negative. God told Moses in advance that Moses was to specifically lead Israel out of bondage. Yet Moses loudly proclaimed his weaknesses to God basically saying, “I can’t do this, You need to find someone else.” But as we know, Moses’ and Israel’s circumstances did not change but God changed Moses by showing him a series of examples of God’s power. So while our own personal circumstances may not change, God may use other people, methods, events and especially His Word to change us, “perfecting” us for any task we need to accomplish according to His will.
The Trap of Discouragement
Photo BJ Gabrielsen
Do you ever feel as if you are stuck in discouragement? Do you feel that you are facing a condition (such as prostate cancer) alone and that God Himself and family or friends truly do not understand your situation? If so, you are not alone. In the Old Testament biblical book of the prophet Habakkuk, the prophet writes “how long O Lord, will I call for help and You will not hear? I cry out to you…., yet You do not save.” (Habakkuk 1:2).
At some point, everyone experiences dashed hopes. Perhaps a PSA test did not produce the result you had hoped for or as in my own case, a cancer detected early and removed surgically returned (a biochemical recurrence) dashing hopes for a quick cure. Disappointment – an emotional response to a failed expectation – is the normal initial reaction. But allowed to linger, it can turn into discouragement, which hovers like a dense cloud. When that’s the case, there is no sense of joy or contentment regardless of what you do.
The circumstances that trigger these emotions may be unavoidable, but how we as men respond to them is a choice. Either we can let sadness overwhelm our soul or we can face the situation with courage and bring it before the One who can help.
Living in discouragement will divide the mind, making it hard to focus on anything besides our pain, apprehension and dashed hopes. Then as anger becomes habitual and desired results do not happen, we may blame ourselves or God Himself.
Frustration and disappointment that isn’t handled well may develop into despair, which in turn can estrange us from those around us who do not enjoy the company of someone who is bitter and defeated. Finally, in the fog of discouragement and isolation, we can make poor decisions, attitudes and actions based on crushed emotions and expectations instead of truth. Obviously, this self-destructive path is NOT God’s best for us.
Though we all face disappointment from time to time in many areas not just those that are health-related, those whose faith is in God and His Son Jesus are not to wallow in it. Instead, God wants us to trust Him with everything – even unmet expectations and deep sadness. Remember to us as God’s children, there is a divine purpose for everything He allows to touch our lives. As Romans 8:28 states, “and we know that God causes all things to work together for good” (even if we don’t see it at the time), to those who love God who are called according to His purpose.” For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope”. (Romans 15:4).
If you cannot relate to these admonitions, or if you are unsure that you have a personal relationship with God and therefore cannot trust Him, you can know Him intimately. See the following link.
(A portion of the text above was excerpted from the July 11th, 2016 In Touch devotional written by Dr. Charles Stanley.)
Anxiety!!!!
Three weeks ago, a good friend called me from his vacation to say his PSA had jumped from 4-5 to 8-9 within a few months. My friend was a Christian who definitely had a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. But he was very anxious as we probably all would be or have been at one time. He and I prayed and after a few days of consideration, my friend obtained an ultrasound-guided biopsy. Fortunately in his case, his 12 samples all came back negative for prostate cancer. But his experience reminded me again of the following devotional entitled “Anxiety” from Dr. Charles Stanley of In Touch Ministries which could apply at some time or other to anyone with health problems including cancer. The scripture text was Matthew 6:25, “do not worry about your life”.
“Has anxiety become a way of life for you? Are you living in a constant state of uncertainty and worry? Fear will arise whenever you respond to a problem or troubling situation on your own-without going to God first and seeking His help and power. The Lord gives you the gift of free will-you can choose what you do, how you feel, what you think about, and even how you’ll respond when faced with a problem.” Personally, anxiety is a signal that I must pray. Peace is a sign that I have given it all over to God. I am to pray until I have God’s peace according to Philippians 4:6-7 (‘let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and mind through Christ Jesus.’)
With this in mind, the Father may allow an overwhelming situation to arise in your life in order to develop and strengthen your faith, mature you spiritually, or to change a bad habit or negative attitude. Through your circumstances, He gives you the opportunity to seek Him, trust Him, obey Him and cast your care into His able hands. Therefore, understand your anxiety is an indication that you need God. Every time you sense fear rising up within you, go to your all-powerful, infinitely-wise Father. And give Him thanks that He is at work, teaching you to trust Him more, obey Him faithfully, and receive more of His blessings. A sample prayer could be ‘Father, I won’t be anxious for You are with me. Thank you for releasing me from this bondage of fear, amen.’ In His presence….find freedom from anxiety.”
If you are not sure of your relationship with God, see the following link.
What Did I Learn After My July 3rd Post? God’s Grace Is Sufficient!!
Please allow me to share lessons learned after my July 3rd post where I concluded that in the midst of unexpected results, I still believed wholeheartedly in God’s plan and faithfulness for my life especially as related to health issues. As a result of undergoing radiation treatment for my prostate cancer twelve years earlier, I am experiencing an undesirable but common side effect called radiation cystitis. Studies cited that it can be cured with up to sixty 2-hour sessions of hyperbaric therapy in a glass chamber wherein I am exposed to 100% oxygen under three atmospheres of pressure, equivalent to being under 50-60 feet of water. I had great hopes that since God made this therapy available to me, He would also cure me. The end result is that as of today, I am not totally relieved of all symptoms but there remains only an occasional trace which I can definitely live with. My Johns Hopkins urologist says that it will be a “constant issue”. So even though the treatments helped and I had hoped for a complete healing, God chose not to totally cure me. God has other plans. What have I learned?
The apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:7-10, “But we have this treasure” (as Christians we have Christ in us) “in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed” (note the word, I am at times!) “but not despairing; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus” (just as He died, we have to die to ourselves); “that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our body”. I prayed many times that God would totally heal this condition but while it is inconvenient, He chose to leave me with a vestige. Like the oft-stated example of the apostle Paul who had a bothersome “thorn in the flesh”, God chose not to heal him totally even though Paul entreated the Lord three times for its complete removal. God’s answer was always the same, namely that “my grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in (my) weakness.” ( 2 Corinthians 12:9). Recently in my quiet time, God told me the same thing and reminded me that He would take care of my body as I continued to minister about prostate cancer. I purposed in my heart to do just that.
As often happens, when I commit an issue to the Lord’s control, He tests me shortly thereafter to show myself whether or not I had truly committed it or not. It happened again recently. After a few days of positive symptom relief for which I was thankful, suddenly one day I regressed. After a few minutes of self-pity, I purposed in my heart and echoed the words of Job when he said “though He should slay me, yet I will trust Him.” The next day my condition improved significantly. I don’t always pass the “faith test” but this time I think I did.
God’s desire is for us to develop Christ-like character and grow in intimacy with Him. He wants us to experience the richness of His love and wholeheartedly show Him devotion. He will use trials and difficulties to accomplish His good purposes for us. Our inner man is being renewed in anticipation of eternal life in a new heaven and new earth with a new body. Life brings trouble to us from many sources, but the common thread in all trials is the Lord’s desire and ability to use them for our good and His glory. While I am forever grateful for the knowledge and care I receive from excellent physicians, I rest in a paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 1:25, “my faith doesn’t rest in the wisdom of man, it rests in the power of God.”
God’s blessings are not only for us but also for others. Our Father comforts us in our sufferings and asks that we share what we have received from Him with other people. Difficult times can even be ordained by God. Regardless of the source, our Father works in them to benefit us and to bless others. Hence I write this. Thank you for reading it.
Do I Really Trust Everything I Have Been Writing About? YES!!! Read, Pray,Trust and Obey (Submit).
I have written quite a few blogs on this website the purpose of which was to encourage men with prostate cancer. Personally at the time I wrote them, I found them to be an encouragement to me as well. However, at this moment in time, I find myself in the role of “encouragee” as opposed to “encourager”. Hence I am asking myself some hard questions. I have a serious but non-life threatening condition related to prostate cancer. I was told it could be “cured” with 40-60 specific treatment sessions. I also believed that God had opened the doors for me to receive these treatments at this particular time. But after about 40 treatment sessions, I found my condition worsening. It would improve after a few treatments, getting my hopes up, only to have them dashed when my condition worsened somewhat. I found myself questioning why God was not delivering me from this condition as He seemingly promised or at least I had anticipated. Perhaps some of you who read this have found yourself in a similar situation related to prostate cancer or other conditions. So I asked myself, “do I really believe all the things I have written?” and the Biblical references (“spiritual medicines”) I have quoted? When I don’t see God’s hand working in my situation as I had hoped or hear His encouraging words, do I still trust Him? I am not alone in this situation as famous Biblical men such as Abraham, David, Job and Elijah asked the same question many times. For example, early on Abraham struggled with doubt. His efforts to produce a son by his servant instead of his wife was a less-than-successful effort to bring about God’s promise through human effort. But in the end, when his son Isaac was conceived through Sarah his wife, Abraham was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He promised. God waited until Abraham and Sarah were too old to have children by any other means than divine intervention to show that the promise came from God. Meanwhile, as I continue my multi-week therapy. what have I learned over these weeks?
As stated above, these weeks have been a roller coaster of worry, anxiety, and the “what if” fear that I might have to live my entire life with this condition. Worry defeats us when it replaces needed rest with fearful emotion. Reacting in fear based only on emotion or incomplete facts will detract from our present quality of life status while doing nothing to prepare us for the future. The Bible treats “worry” as an emotion of choice that impedes our relationship with our heavenly Father. The primary New Testament word for “worry” (merimnao) means “to be anxious, distracted or have a divided mind”. It is an emotion or state of mind in direct opposition to “trust”. Anxiety becomes our alternative to relying on the faithful presence and provisions of God. Merimnao is the word Jesus used when He said “do not worry about your life” (Matthew 6:25). Paul also used it when he wrote “Be anxious for nothing” (Philippians 4:6). A familiar hymn states “day by day and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet my trials here. Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment, I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.”
Over the weeks, I have come to realize, practice and rely on the following four-discipline solution to “worry” namely to “read, pray, trust and submit (obey).” The first discipline “read” means to read at least a small portion of God’s Word daily asking God to specifically show how His Word applies to my individual situation. The second discipline “pray”, basically means to communicate with God, telling Him exactly how I feel and sense my current situation. Pour out my heart and hopes before God. However, it also includes a time to “be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10) thereby allowing God to speak to me through His Spirit. The third discipline “trust”, is often the most difficult. It demands that we trust God for things we cannot control; releasing them, not into thin air, but to God. But who else could we trust other than God for the things we cannot control? The fourth principle is “submit or obey”, laying our burden totally down at Jesus’ feet. Set the burden down and step back from it. God wants us to submit our burdens and obey Him in all things we can control as He reveals them to us.
The four disciplines, reading , praying, trusting and obeying interact with one another. This interaction means that there are some things for us to do. But as we do them, it sets God free to do the things only He can do. So we find less and less reason to worry.
These four disciplines cultivate a more intimate relationship with God through Christ, developing more confidence in Him. He begins to prove His sufficiency at small levels leading to trusting Him more and more. God can do more for us than anything we are feeling at a given moment. We are able to root ourselves in God’s love and promises even when our feelings and emotions are telling us something different.
Great pain often drives us to God. Holding on to hope can be difficult when miserable circumstances show no signs of improving. For believers, this can be even more discouraging because we know God could have fulfilled our hopes but didn’t. Sometimes what we strive to hold can be kept only by surrendering it to God. This applies to our hopes as well as to our very lives (Luke 9:24). He alone can fulfill our desires or change them to match His will.
The bottom line is when “push comes to shove”, medical help carries us just so far for which we are grateful; but God, His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit may be all we have but are all we need now and forever. Read, pray, trust, obey! Don’t drift but stay anchored in God’s Word and promises. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid.” ( John 14:27).
Revised: Peace and Contentment in Place of Fear and Anxiety
On Friday May 13th, I posted this most important blog. However, when I received the e mail version by subscription, I saw it was impossible to read. Therefore, I am re-sending it hopeful that it can be read as an e mail as well as on the website. I apologize as I am not very proficient with the WordPress technology.
The word “prostate cancer” evokes anxiety and often fear in every man with whom I have ever spoken. “Is my PSA value normal?” “Do I need a prostate biopsy?” If cancer is detected, what can be done to rid me of it?” “If I have metastatic cancer, what is my life expectancy?” All these questions are understandable. Life is filled with uncertainties. In addition, there are the “what if” questions. “What if I undergo a specific treatment, will it cure me or will there be undesirable side effects?” Sometimes we don’t even need a current stressful situation in order to worry. We can borrow from the future and carry anxiety for what may or may never happen. Personally, I have often found myself conceiving the worst possible scenario figuring any actual result could only be better. Prostate cancer can evolve into a lifestyle of anxiety. It can become a constant companion, hovering over us like a cloud, stealing any peace, contentment or joy of life.As Christians, this is not what God desires for His children and He has made every provision for us to live in contentment and peace. The apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:11 that he learned to be content in whatever circumstance he was facing even death and that the power to do so came through Christ who strengthened him. If we have a personal relationship with God through Christ, our confidence is also found in Him and we will not be swayed by our circumstances. True contentment is based on a Person, and not what’s going on around us.
Many people feel that prayer is the solution because Paul tells us to pray about everything and not be anxious about anything. While such prayers are good, we may simply want God to solve the problem without digging up its root. However, if we know the source of our anxiety, we can actually discover the key to overcoming it.
Dr. Charles Stanley, a well-known pastor and author, identifies three roots of anxiety that feed into our worry. The first root is fear and the key to overcoming it is faith in God’s Word. Fear might be the dread of our current situation or what could happen in the future. “Will my cancer be cured or what happens if it comes back?” The problem is our focus and God’s Word has been written that we may have hope. On more than one occasion, Christ’s disciples were faced with an impossible situation such as feeding 5,000 men not counting women and children with a five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus’ answer to them and to us is the same; “with people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matt. 19:26). The Word of God is filled with examples, promises, commandments, and principles that reveal our Lord is bigger than any problem we may encounter.
The second root of anxiety is doubt and the key to contentment is trust in God’s ways. We may know in our mind that God is capable of dealing with our need but we are not sure if He will do it. We may acknowledge His limitless power, yet He doesn’t seem to be doing anything to change our current situation. We would readily trust Him if He’d jump the first time we called and did exactly as we asked or hoped. But He’s the one in control, not us. True contentment comes when we are willing and able to lay our burden at His feet, trusting in His plans and perfect timing. Proverbs 3:5-6 states we are to “trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not to our own understanding. In all our ways, we are to acknowledge Him and He will direct our paths.” After all, God loves us more than we know.
The third root of anxiety is control, and the key to overcoming it is surrender to God’s will and plan. When circumstances are going well, there is a calm sense of security. A surgeon may tell you, “we got all the cancer and you can consider yourself cured”. In fact, my cancer was found so early that I was told “if we can’t cure you, we can’t cure anyone”. I felt secure and confident till it came back eight years later. In cases like this, the balance is upset and we feel out of control. In reality, we were never in charge of our body. Psalm 103:9 says “the Lord has established His throne in the heavens and His sovereignty rules over all.” That includes all the details of our lives. When we know the Lord and trust in His goodness and love, surrendering to His will and letting go of our desire to control, then we will experience the contentment that comes with knowing we are safely held in His hands, no matter what conditions rage around us. Like a child being led by a loving parent crossing a dangerous street, our security is not simply dependent on our holding God’s hands, it rests in the fact that He is holding ours.
Peace and contentment can become a reality in your life even as you face prostate cancer. It has nothing to do with circumstances and everything to do with God Himself. In the midst of storms, His peace is like a shelter around you, guarding your heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). Nothing comes your way without His permission, and if He’s allowed something difficult, you can be sure that He will use it to strengthen your faith and build your character. God desires to give you peace in every circumstance.
The message above is applicable to anyone whose life is based on experiencing a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. If you are not sure of your own personal relationship with Him, consider making such a decision. God truly loves each one of us and has a unique plan for our lives. But we are all sinful beings and none of us match up to God’s character and requirements of true holiness. We have all violated His laws at one time or another. Therefore a penalty has to be paid to satisfy God’s character as a just and impartial judge. God’s Son, Jesus came to this earth to do just that, namely give His life as an payment for the sins of each one of us. By placing our faith in Christ’s sacrifice alone and not our own works, God’s requirement is fulfilled and He then sees us as righteous, forgiven and justified through the filter of Christ’s death on a cross. God’s spirit then comes to live within each of us as our divine guide and “helper”. Through Christ’s resurrection from the dead, we are also given the gift of eternal life in a new heaven and a new earth with a new perfect cancer-free body. So if you have never done so, please consider placing your faith in Christ alone and submitting your life to the plans the Creator Himself has formulated. Then the promises in God’s Word as described above become your very own.
Fear and Anxiety vs. Peace and Contentment
The word “prostate cancer” evokes anxiety and often fear in every man with whom I have ever spoken. “Is my PSA value normal?” “Do I need a prostate biopsy?” If cancer is detected, what can be done to rid me of it?” “If I have metastatic cancer, what is my life expectancy?” All these questions are understandable. Life is filled with uncertainties. In addition, there are the “what if” questions. “What if I undergo a specific treatment, will it cure me or will there be undesirable side effects?” Sometimes we don’t even need a current stressful situation in order to worry. We can borrow from the future and carry anxiety for what may or may never happen. Personally, I have often found myself conceiving the worst possible scenario figuring any actual result could only be better. Prostate cancer can evolve into a lifestyle of anxiety. It can become a constant companion, hovering over us like a cloud, stealing any peace, contentment or joy of life.As Christians, this is not what God desires for His children and He has made every provision for us to live in contentment and peace. The apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:11 that he learned to be content in whatever circumstance he was facing even death and that the power to do so came through Christ who strengthened him. If we have a personal relationship with God through Christ, our confidence is also found in Him and we will not be swayed by our circumstances. True contentment is based on a Person, and not what’s going on around us.
Many people feel that prayer is the solution because Paul tells us to pray about everything and not be anxious about anything. While such prayers are good, we may simply want God to solve the problem without digging up its root. However, if we know the source of our anxiety, we can actually discover the key to overcoming it.
Dr. Charles Stanley, a well-known pastor and author, identifies three roots of anxiety that feed into our worry. The first root is fear and the key to overcoming it is faith in God’s Word. Fear might be the dread of our current situation or what could happen in the future. “Will my cancer be cured or what happens if it comes back?” The problem is our focus and God’s Word has been written that we may have hope. On more than one occasion, Christ’s disciples were faced with an impossible situation such as feeding 5,000 men not counting women and children with a five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus’ answer to them and to us is the same; “with people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matt. 19:26). The Word of God is filled with examples, promises, commandments, and principles that reveal our Lord is bigger than any problem we may encounter.
The second root of anxiety is doubt and the key to contentment is trust in God’s ways. We may know in our mind that God is capable of dealing with our need but we are not sure if He will do it. We may acknowledge His limitless power, yet He doesn’t seem to be doing anything to change our current situation. We would readily trust Him if He’d jump the first time we called and did exactly as we asked or hoped. But He’s the one in control, not us. True contentment comes when we are willing and able to lay our burden at His feet, trusting in His plans and perfect timing. Proverbs 3:5-6 states we are to “trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not to our own understanding. In all our ways, we are to acknowledge Him and He will direct our paths.” After all, God loves us more than we know.
The third root of anxiety is control, and the key to overcoming it is surrender to God’s will and plan. When circumstances are going well, there is a calm sense of security. A surgeon may tell you, “we got all the cancer and you can consider yourself cured”. In fact, my cancer was found so early that I was told “if we can’t cure you, we can’t cure anyone”. I felt secure and confident till it came back eight years later. In cases like this, the balance is upset and we feel out of control. In reality, we were never in charge of our body. Psalm 103:9 says “the Lord has established His throne in the heavens and His sovereignty rules over all.” That includes all the details of our lives. When we know the Lord and trust in His goodness and love, surrendering to His will and letting go of our desire to control, then we will experience the contentment that comes with knowing we are safely held in His hands, no matter what conditions rage around us. Like a child being led by a loving parent crossing a dangerous street, our security is not simply dependent on our holding God’s hands, it rests in the fact that He is holding ours.
Peace and contentment can become a reality in your life even as you face prostate cancer. It has nothing to do with circumstances and everything to do with God Himself. In the midst of storms, His peace is like a shelter around you, guarding your heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). Nothing comes your way without His permission, and if He’s allowed something difficult, you can be sure that He will use it to strengthen your faith and build your character. God desires to give you peace in every circumstance.
The message above is applicable to anyone whose life is based on experiencing a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. If you are not sure of your own personal relationship with Him, consider making such a decision. God truly loves each one of us and has a unique plan for our lives. But we are all sinful beings and none of us match up to God’s character and requirements of true holiness. We have all violated His laws at one time or another. Therefore a penalty has to be paid to satisfy God’s character as a just and impartial judge. God’s Son, Jesus came to this earth to do just that, namely give His life as an payment for the sins of each one of us. By placing our faith in Christ’s sacrifice alone and not our own works, God’s requirement is fulfilled and He then sees us as righteous, forgiven and justified through the filter of Christ’s death on a cross. God’s spirit then comes to live within each of us as our divine guide and “helper”. Through Christ’s resurrection from the dead, we are also given the gift of eternal life in a new heaven and a new earth with a new perfect cancer-free body. So if you have never done so, please consider placing your faith in Christ alone and submitting your life to the plans the Creator Himself has formulated. Then the promises in God’s Word as described above become your very own.