Beyond the Diagnosis: Allowing God to refine you through illness
By Wanda Burgund
One test, one call from the doctor changes your life forever. When you learn that you have cancer, a new journey begins. First you share the news with loved ones and with others who daily depend on you and your good health. After the shock wears off, a new balancing act begins. Surgeries, tests, more tests, insurance hoops, radiation, chemotherapy … not to mention the balancing act of your real, regular life.
Even people who are pathologically positive find themselves face-to-face with exhausting challenges. When faced with cancer, you can feel sorry for yourself and become isolated, or you can celebrate what matters most.
In 2007, I was the one receiving the news of breast cancer. After the shock and numbness wore off, I was catapulted on my personal cancer road. Through the process, I was surprised at how quickly my faith was refined and subsequently strengthened. I became more deeply aware of my responsibility to prioritize my daily activities in order to reflect my faith. I committed to making all of my cancer activities glorify God.
This heightened spiritual awareness and urgency gave me strength when I was alternately exhausted, anxious, preoccupied and even occasionally absolutely normal. As I reminded myself of God’s goodness, I was able to stop obsessing about surviving cancer and start focusing on my gift of faith, life, family and purpose.
Now more than five years beyond my diagnosis, the blessing of being able to encourage others during their cancer journey remains fresh and current in my life. I am privileged to live out the Scripture that challenges us to “praise the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (II Corinthians 1:3-4).