Fighting fear in this Cancer Battle

As the days pass, my emotions have crossed the line from anxiety to fear in this battle with breast cancer, and the battle with fear is real.  I’ve been fighting it on a daily basis, especially as the surgery date becomes closer and reality sets in.  Google fear on the internet and you find this definition:  noun – an unpleasant feeling caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain or is a threat.  I really don’t need to define fear for you though,  because you know what it is.  We all experience fear in one form or another as we walk our individual journeys through life.

Cancer is definitely fear provoking as it’s “dangerous, likely to cause pain and is certainly a threat”.  (Honestly, I can’t even believe that I’m writing about cancer in my own life.  I’m still in shock.)  There are many things to fear with a cancer diagnosis, and that’s why it’s so important to focus on the truth of God’s Word and not the facts about cancer.  Focusing on the cancer and facts about it, only increases fear and can lead to panic (sudden uncontrollable anxiety or fear) and much misery.  I’ve been battling all of these in the last few weeks.

Two months ago, I bought my grandson a book for his graduation, Joshua, Mighty Warrior and Man of Faith, by W. Phillip Keller who also wrote  A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23.  I failed to change the address on the shipping information and the book came to me.  I thought that I’d take a look at it before I mailed it on.  The book is amazing so I kept this copy and sent my grandson another one.  Reading the book has made me want to be a Joshua as he was a man with unshakable, fearless faith that no matter what, He trusted and obeyed God without question and hesitation.  Keller writes about faith versus fear and what he writes about fear is absolutely accurate and on point.  He says that focusing on facts through our intellect rather than focusing on the Spirit realm and what God says, leads to fear; and fear leads to fantasy of foreboding and terrifying fantasies which lead to failure.  In this case of battling cancer, failure is losing peace and living in anxiety and fear.  When we look at the facts through the lens of anxiety and fear, we see giants that seem insurmountable and impossible to overcome, and we can become fainthearted and weak.

Fear is probably the greatest tool that the enemy uses to discourage, disarm, destroy, and defeat God’s children.  Fear can be a stronghold which holds believers captive to the enemy, and is an argument that the enemy uses against the truth and knowledge of God.  Combine fear with arguments against who God is and then bombard us with lies and unbelief to draw our attention away from Jesus and you have a recipe for disaster – which includes emotional and mental issues as well as physiological changes such as pounding heart, increased blood pressure, depression, and the list goes on.  This is the strategic plan of the enemy.  He can’t steal a believer’s salvation, but He can attempt to steal our joy and peace as well as our effectiveness for the Kingdom of God.

If fear is one of the greatest tools of the enemy, what are our tools as God’s children?  The truth is, God gives us many tools and they are greater and more powerful than the enemy’s tools.  Actually God’s tools are weapons that we use to combat fear because we are in a battle – a battle for our faith, peace and joy, even in the midst of a battle with cancer.  But we must pick up these weapons and use them, although there are times that we just can’t wield our own weapons and we need the body of Christ to come along side to fight for us.  Second Corinthians 10:3-5 says,  ^{3 “}For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not [a]carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. ”   

In order to pull down the stronghold of fear and cast down every high thing (fear in this case) that is speaking against God in our minds and hearts, we must use our weapons that include but are not limited to reading our Bibles, individual and corporate prayer, worship, Bible study, and gathering with other believers.  First, I believe that we must know what God has to say, and He has a lot to say about fear.  He tells us at least 80 times to fear not.  For God to tell us something that many times, it’s obvious that He knows that fear is a big deal, and that the enemy is going to use it against us.  To combat fear and to pull down this stronghold of fear, we must saturate our minds in the truth of God’s Word through knowing His Word, memorizing His Word, and declaring His Word out loud.  Remember that “faith comes through hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).  I’ve come to the realization that I can’t make it through this battle mentally without saturating my mind in His Word so I’m trying to memorize more scripture and speak it over and over.  The main verse that I’m focusing on right now is Isaiah 41:10,

“Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Focusing on God’s word doesn’t change the fact that I’m in a battle with breast cancer, but it does bring me back to the truth that I’m not in this battle alone and that God is sovereign over all of my circumstances.  It brings me back to the truth that I belong to Jesus Christ, that He loves me, that He will never leave me, and that He is working a good plan in my life.  Is this all hard?  Absolutely but I want to be a Joshua who Phillip Keller wrote had “fearless faith”, and I want to walk in the peace that only Jesus Christ can give.

Deuteronomy 31:8 “He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” 

Isaiah 43:1 “Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine.” 

1 John 4:18 “Perfect Love Casts Out All Fear”

Psalm 18:2 “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer.” 

Dear Father, thank You that You are our God; that even now You are strengthening us and helping us through the trials and battles of life.  Thank You that you are holding us up and that You will never let us go.  Thank you that we can rest in Your loving arms during these really tough battles or just when we’re weary.  Father, we do pray that You will heal those battling cancer or other diseases and that You provide whatever we need for total healing.  We thank You, we love You, and we praise You!  In the mighty name of Jesus Christ e pray.  Amen.

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