Growing up in Texas, I often heard the saying, “It’s not over till it’s over.” I never realized how important that idea would become until I was diagnosed with stage IV cancer.
Power Tools
Quoting and personalizing Scripture was one of my most powerful tools while fighting cancer. That old saying is not Scripture, but its truth echoes throughout the Bible. No matter how bad the news may be, the battle isn’t over until you breathe your last breath. Consider that fateful Friday: a tortured Savior hung on a cross, then was lovingly prepared for burial, and then laid in a tomb. For the disciples, Friday appeared to be the end. Nothing feels more final than death—but God had other plans. Sunday was coming, and with it came the resurrection. We don’t know what God will do, either way we can’t lose by holding onto the Creator of life and our bodies. .
“He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee.” Luke 24:6 NIV
He Cares
Jesus wept at the death of His friend Lazarus? Even though He knew He would bring Lazarus back to life, Jesus still grieved. He felt the weight of loss and honored it—and so should we. Even though we might be believing for God’s healing, Jesus showed us with Lazarus that it’s important to sit in that moment of grief, disappointment, and even anger that comes up during the journey. We just don’t need to stay there.
God has the capacity to handle every level of grief we carry. People can walk with us only so far, but He knows what lies ahead and still cares deeply about how we feel in the in-between. He remains present in the moment, giving us courage and companionship when we face painful realities.
“Jesus wept.” John 11:35 NIV
Prognoses, Odds, Facts, and Hope
A prognosis is a prediction based on medical facts, experience, and statistics. I’m a practical woman; I don’t ignore reality. While continuing to believe and fight for my life, I also planned my funeral. I underestimated the emotional toll it would take. Writing out those plans left me in a sorrowful fog for days, but God met me there. He gave me practical ways to process my grief and reminded me that He walks with us through the darkest valleys.
During the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, many people died from the disease. When missionary doctor Kent Brantly contracted Ebola while caring for patients in Liberia, he experienced the suffering he had witnessed in others. At that time, there was no approved treatment known to be effective against Ebola. I remember praying against the odds that God would heal this missionary. Brantly was medically evacuated to the United States, received specialized care, and recovered. I believe God answered those prayers through both His power and the hands of the medical professionals who treated him. Brantly later explained what gave him the greatest comfort during his illness:
“It was the words of Scripture set to music that brought me the greatest comfort in the darkest times of my illness.” Kent Brantly
We Have Hope
We do not know all of God’s plans, and some questions will not be answered this side of eternity. Medical facts and statistics have value, but they cannot tell us everything God may do. He cares about our pain and walks with us through it—even when He has a “Resurrection Sunday” planned that we cannot yet see.
Not one person is guaranteed tomorrow. So it is a wise thing to get right with God. It is the most important decision you will ever make. Yet while there is breath in your lungs, there is still hope. Seek out the stories of people who have beaten the odds. Let their courage inspire you, learn from their experiences, and above all, hold tightly to this truth: As long as you are still breathing, it’s not over.
