“If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small” (Proverbs 24:10)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

When going through a difficult time in life, it is such a blessing to receive heartfelt supportive words and prayers from family, friends and loved ones. Like a strong wind that blows into a ship’s sails to push it forward, supportive words and prayers push me forward to fight against cancer and live a healthy, productive life.

Even though I sincerely embrace everyone’s supportive words and prayers, which together gives me the encouragement to beat cancer and the hope for a miracle, there has truly been some amazing blessings in the midst of having cancer; the gems within the pearls, so to speak.

Charles H. Spurgeon once wrote about how God’s mercy “...often rides to the door of our heart upon the black horse of affliction.” And according to Charles Swindoll, “If you allow it, [suffering] can be the means by which God brings you His greatest blessings.”

On a quiet Saturday morning in September 2013, I wrote in my journal the following prayer to ask God to help me grow stronger, both emotionally and spiritually, after reading the above mentioned Proverbs 24:10.

“My Dear Father, the Lord of my life, by the grace of your precious word, give me Your strength and wisdom to face each challenge and difficulty. Provide me Your patience and love so that I can handle difficult situations and people. But most of all help me to grow stronger during the difficult times in my life. Amen.” (Sep. 21,2013)

A week later, I wrote another similar prayer to Him, asking not only for strength to endure all life’s challenges, but also to help me see His beauty around me.

“Dear Heavenly Father, it is my sincere desire to draw near to you and experience your presence and strength. Help me, my dear Father, to learn to endure all challenges in the way that Jesus would. But more importantly, help me to see the beauty of Your Hand all around me so that I can appreciate and abide in Your blessings. Amen.” (Sep. 27, 2013)

Then, just over a month or so, I was diagnosed with cancer on November 5, 2013.

Now, I do not strive to be a masochist or someone who enjoys suffering, but I have embraced the blessings in life’s afflictions; for they have served as a means to make me stronger. I believe one can accept both joy and grief amidst the storms of life, for both enrich a sojourner’s character and inner strength.

With cancer, He has indeed helped me to grow stronger during these past three difficult years, as well as give me deeper insight of the beauty all around me.

An easy life could not have given me such blessings; for only one can grow with both joy and grief.

ajh