Strength through breast cancer: am I really strong?

I have a confession to make:  all my life I’ve believed that I was a strong woman, because I had to be strong.  Now I’m not talking about personality or temperament here.  I’m talking about the “pull up your boot straps” kind of strength when times get tough.  As storms in life hit, I had to be strong.  I was a survivor, and I had to be strong to keep going and to prevent what I perceived might be total devastation and annihilation.  I wasn’t going to let these storms defeat me no matter how powerful, intense, and painful they were.  Honestly, I kept on going and made it through each one, stronger and more determined than ever.  And then out of nowhere I was hit with this breast cancer diagnosis and then a mastectomy, and the truth that I’ve learned this summer about myself has totally changed me!

The truth – nothing but the truth – that I’ve learned through this summer – in and of myself, in my flesh, I’m weak; not just a little weak, but totally weak.  There, I said it.  You see, I know now that it’s ALWAYS been GOD’S strength (Father; Son, Jesus Christ; and Holy Spirit) that has kept me going, that gave me victory, that upheld me during the storms.  It’s ALWAYS been GOD pouring His strength into me, enabling me to overcome adversity and keeping devastation and annihilation from my doorstep.   It was God’s strength during storms when I was a little girl, a teenager, and an adult that kept me standing on my feet and able to move forward. It was God’s strength that kept me going through years of battling Lyme Disease and co infections.  And it’s God’s strength that has enabled me to make it through this summer and this breast cancer diagnosis and mastectomy.

As God has been refining me on His potter’s wheel and in the furnace this summer, He has brought a deep revelation into my heart and mind, and there is no arguing with this one:  my belief in my own strength was pride and self sufficiency – pure and simple.  There’s only one response when we see our sin and that’s to confess and repent, but oh what a glorious thing this is.  When God brings revelation and conviction, and we see our sin and repent, He immediately forgives our sin and remembers it no more because of the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross.  Our sin is completely washed away and we are free – free to worship Him and to know Him more intimately; free to depend totally upon Him and free to be who He created us to be.   It truly is glorious!

There are so many verses about God’s strength in the Bible.  I’ve read them so many times, but now, they’ve taken on brand new meaning for me.  The truth has always been there in each verse, however, I really just didn’t grasp the fullness of each and every one until God illuminated my heart and mind and brought revelation.  Here are just a few (bold and italics by me):

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.”

Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.”

Psalm 22:19  “But you Lord do not be far from me.  You are my strength: come quickly to help me.”

Psalm 28:7 & 8  “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him.”

Psalm 118:14  “The Lord is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation.”

Ephesians 3:16 “I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being.”

So am I strong?  Yes, I am strong because of the strength that God, through the loving kindness of my Father, the salvation of His Son, Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit pours into to me.  I am strong because He loves me, I am His beloved daughter and He will never leave me nor forsake me.  I am strong because He upholds me with His righteous right hand.  I am strong because Holy Spirit is residing in me, and He is providing me with the grace and power to make it through each and every day no matter what comes.  OK, I just have to say this:  I am woman, hear the Lion of Judah ROAR from within my spirit because the great I AM resides in me!

Truth:  Life is hard and the Bible tells us that we will have troubles and tribulation. (John 16:33)  However, God gives us strength to overcome and to have victory in the trial.  But this strength is from Him and not of ourselves.  As we walk in this truth, rely upon Him, and place our hope in Him, we truly will soar no matter what our circumstances are; we will run the races of life with perseverance and endurance and not grow weary; and we will walk through the fires and storms and not grow faint.  (Scripture reference Isaiah 40:31)

PRAYER:  Dear Father, We praise You and thank you for Your loving kindness through the gift of our salvation in Jesus Christ, His death on the Cross and resurrection.  We praise and thank You for Your strength that pours into us and replaces our weakness.  We thank You that You make us strong.  We thank You that Your strength enables us to weather the storms, to walk in victory and to overcome life’s adversities.  We thank You that You know what we need when we need it and that You always give us exactly the provision that we need.  We thank You for your strength.  I pray for everyone struggling right now, suffering right now, and hurting in extremely difficult circumstances.  Oh Father, meet them right where they are and pour out Your love and strength to enable them to have strength, victory and peace.  We love and praise you.  In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

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