​Faith Over Fear

Faith Over Fear

4/13/2021

Our guest blogger, Debbie, has been missing in action around here for almost a year now.

Like many of us in 2020, she's been on an unexpected journey. But Debbie's journey was different than the journey most of us have been on over the past several months. Her journey included not only all that COVID brought to our world, her journey also included that dreaded "C" word--cancer.

We all know someone who has been on the cancer journey. Maybe, you've even traveled that road yourself. The greatest thing to know is that as Christian women, as women of God, we know that we do not travel that road alone! Not only do we not travel the road alone, but God also gives us unique opportunities to share the road with those who come behind us. Today, Debbie shares that road with us in the second of a 3-part series--Faith Over Fear.

This lovely Bible study, from The Daily Grace Co., traces the promises of God from Genesis to Revelation. It traces the story that God is writing through covenant promises to His children. This study walks through the story of Scripture through the lens of the covenants and reminds us that God has always been faithful and we can be confident that He will be faithful in our lives as well.

Faith Over Fear

We all have surprises throughout our lifetimes. Some are joyful and some bring sorrow, but true of all of life’s surprises, they change us. My latest life-changing surprise came in the form of sickness.

After being diagnosed with extremely aggressive lymphoma cancer, I began a series of extremely aggressive chemotherapy treatments. They were brutal. My doctor even mentioned how terribly sick I was throughout the treatments. Interestingly, after my second infusion, a scan showed that my cancer was gone! However, I had to continue the chemo regimen to be sure no cancer cells remained. After my fifth infusion I was back in the ER, but this time with blood clots. My right leg had many and I had clots in both lungs. All this left me quite weak when it was time for the sixth and final round of chemo. My doctor decided to cancel the last infusion since I was not physically or emotionally up for it.

I am now considered in remission. My hair is growing back—although I still wear a hat or wig. There are still side effects from the chemo, but nothing worth complaining about. God chose to heal me and leave me on this earth for a while longer. I do not believe He is finished with me yet.

Here are 5 things I learned about cancer on my journey:

Cancer is a full-time venture.
Cancer can make each day different.
Cancer immediately stops life’s routine.
Cancer is a big story touching many lives, not just that of the cancer patient.
Cancer helps focus your mind on eternal truths.

Once you have had cancer, there is a chance of it returning. The doctor said if mine returns it would more likely do so within the first two years. One Sunday when I was home alone watching our Sunday service, I had a “Jacob wrestling with God” moment. I was fearful about the future and hesitant to say I was healed.

God gave me 3 verses from His Word that day:

John 16:24, “Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”
Exodus 6:1, “Now you will see what I will do.”
Psalm 30:2, 5, 11, 12, “O Lord my God, I cried out to You and You healed me. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. You have turned for me my mourning into dancing. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.”

Fear is real, but my faith must be stronger. I still occasionally review verse cards that were given to me by friends during my time of sickness. Many are “fear not” verses like Isaiah 43:13,

“For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”

It can be a strong fight between fear and faith, and I have had to pray many times, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” Did my life’s surprise change me? You bet it did! Every day I must continue to choose faith over fear realizing God has left me here for His work and for His glory.

What's your faith over fear moment?

Read the first post in this mini-series The Unexpected Journey.
You may also be interested in 12 Letters I Wrote to a Friend With Cancer.

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19 Comments

Barbara Harper link

4/13/2021 09:19:35 am

Thank you, Debbie, for sharing your journey and the way God worked in you through it.

Patsy asked about our faith-over-fear moments. I've had several, but a big one was when a virus hit my spine 25 years ago. It started with my left hand feeling funny, like I'd slept on it wrong. Within three hours, my whole left arm was numb as well as both legs, I couldn't walk on my own, and I had a whole list of other symptoms. They could not predict recovery--some people did, others did not. It wasn't likely to happen again, but it might. Thankfully, God did grant a great deal of recovery, though I am still numb in places and have balance issues. But learning to trust God in uncertainty, in the "even if" moments (Daniel 3:17-18), was beneficial even though hard. I had to rely on many "fear not" verses.

Debbie Miller

4/13/2021 06:04:40 pm

Barbara, thanks for sharing! It is hard not to let such a serious illness define us. We tend to use it as a filter for everything else in life. But this is when our faith needs to be stronger than our fear. I liked your statement about trusting God in uncertainty. I am thankful that He not only knows our future, but He has orchestrated it according to His will.

Debbie Wilson link

4/13/2021 09:34:43 am

Debbie, thank you for sharing your story. I love the scripture you shared, especially the one in Exodus! May the Lord bless you with good health and satisfy you with a long life.

4/13/2021 06:05:30 pm

Thank you so much, Debbie! God has been very gracious to me. I need to praise Him every chance I get!

Jerralea Winn Miller link

4/13/2021 10:19:16 am

Amen! This is true for any of us: "Every day I must continue to choose faith over fear," but I'm sure especially for those with life threatening illnesses.

I love that you included the verse from Isaiah, Fear not, I will help you. I'm going to have to study it out but I believe God says that more than once in the book of Isaiah!

4/13/2021 06:06:35 pm

You are right, we all have to choose if we will have faith or be fearful daily. I love the word picture in Isaiah of God actually holding our hand and helping us. What a comfort! Isaiah 41:10 is another good one, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Michele Morin link

4/13/2021 12:24:16 pm

Wow, Debbie, there's no way you could have known that right before I read this post, I had been pondering the connection between 2 words: sacred and scared.

Blessings!

4/13/2021 06:09:55 pm

I like your wording of "sacred or scared." It's the same idea as "faith or fear," but with a little different twist. In either case, both cannot exist at the same time. God bless!

Lisa notes link

4/14/2021 08:21:30 am

Thanking God that you are still here with us, Debbie! Fear is such a sneaky thing that stalks us in the dark; it's an enemy I have to face down often too. Your testimony will be a light to many.

4/14/2021 05:50:16 pm

Thank you, Lisa. I thank God every morning for each new day!

Paula Short link

4/14/2021 09:19:12 am

Debbie, thank you for sharing your blessed story. May you be a blessing, encourager, and inspiration for all. With God the possibilities are endless. You never know, you may be someone else's blessing. Blessings.

4/14/2021 05:55:56 pm

Sometimes God sends trials so we can help others. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."

4/15/2021 08:35:04 am

Yes and Amen indeed. Blessings.

Lauren Renee Sparks link

4/14/2021 10:44:11 am

Thank you for sharing this. I have also had fearful moments of my cancer returning. But most of the time, I let peace in the Lord supersede it.

4/14/2021 05:48:33 pm

Through my cancer journey I have met others with cancer. We pray for each other and try to encourage each other. I will share my 2021 verse with you. Jeremiah 17:14, “Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.”

Susan Shipe link

4/14/2021 01:08:30 pm

I have had many. And, will probably have several more. But walking in faith and kicking fear in the behind helps me every single day.

4/14/2021 05:47:58 pm

Keep at it, Susan! We already have victory through Christ, so allow the Holy Spirit to guide you daily.

Ruben O link

1/15/2025 02:15:37 am

It reminded me of a time when I was caught in a cycle of rumination, endlessly replaying worries about an uncertain future. Sleepless nights were filled with "what ifs," until I realized that my faith in a positive outcome was far stronger than any fear I held. Embracing faith allowed me to break free from the mental loop and move forward with confidence. This piece serves as a powerful reminder that sometimes, the greatest courage lies in choosing to believe.

Patsy Burnette link

1/15/2025 06:09:50 am

Thank you so much for sharing your experience, Ruben! It’s incredible how faith can break those relentless cycles of worry and "what ifs," giving us the strength to move forward with peace and confidence. Your testimony beautifully illustrates the power of choosing faith over fear, even in the face of uncertainty. I'm so glad Debbie's post resonated with you and served as a reminder of that profound truth. Keep walking in faith—you’re an inspiration!

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