Beauty for Ashes: God's Grace for Cancer SurvivorsSample

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By the time February 19, 2021 arrived, my faith had been rebuilt bigger and better than ever! I was back in the Holy Ghost ring and was fully anticipating a miracle. Reminder, this was also smack-dab in the middle of the pandemic caused by COVID-19 and at that time, visitors were not allowed to wait with patients before surgery. My Mom, husband, and daughter dropped me off at the hospital and my sweet hubby walked me to the breast center (as far as he was allowed to go). My favorite realization that occurred (way) after surgery was that even though I was technically alone from that moment until it was time for me to go home, I never FELT alone.

I was COVERED. There was absolutely no fear in my spirit. I remember being in my pre-surgery room (in true fashion) sharing encouragement with my medical team and assuring them that I believed in them and that I knew they’d take good care of me. I also was walking in expectation of Ephesians 3:20 manifestations all throughout the day, which I’d coined “Miracle Day.” God proved His Word to be true! The tumor that was once 1.7cm shrank to 1.2 cm in less than 3 weeks….REVERSING itself. The lymph nodes had no signs of cancer in them. The needle didn’t even hurt going in my arm AND I went home in less than 12 hours after my arrival.

None of that is “normal” protocol for what could happen in a situation like this and I share this with deep sensitivity because I know it is not the story of every person diagnosed with cancer. It was certainly not my story the first time around when I experienced surgery and chemotherapy and radiation and pills and extreme nausea and blood transfusions and bone marrow transplants. Please know I FULLY understand the miracle that occurred. My hope is that as you read my story today, you are reminded of just how beautifully God can turn any situation around when we accept our healing as ours, put full trust in Him to be in control of our situation, and walk with expectancy.

Christ died so that we can have life ABUNDANTLY. Fellow Survivors, I don’t know where you are in your journey, but I deeply hope you take your power back from the enemy. What he meant for evil, God can certainly use for our good. By His stripes you ARE healed. It’s time for you to LIVE. Be intentional with every morning granted to you by His grace. Share the good news; be walking billboards of God’s healing powers. And if you’ve lost someone to this disease, LIVE in honor of them. Make healthy choices and decisions that would make them proud. Don’t wait until tomorrow to live. Live *abundantly* today.