I’ve thought a lot about my cancer and what it means for my future now that I’ve completed chemotherapy and radiation. The verse that resonated with me the most during this time was Deuteronomy 31:6: “Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread … because it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.”
No matter your circumstance, these are powerful words of strength and companionship if you listen to them and allow God to take place in your heart. Giving up control and placing trust and faith in God is tough.
God allowed me to be strong and courageous, and my friends and family helped nourish that. Every day and in every way, silent or visible, friends were there giving me the boosts I needed.
The Lord our God goes with us. Lean on those comforting words in Deuteronomy. God might not take away the pain, but God will not fail or forsake us.
This message is excerpted from “Be strong and bold” by Syd Brinkman from the August 22, 2015, blog of the Women of the ELCA.
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