Faith for the Hard Days: Finding Strength and Comfort in the Lord During Cancer

Hearing the word cancer can rock your entire world, even your faith. You may feel shock or denial when you get the news from your doctor. You may even feel angry at God for allowing cancer into your & your family's life. Yes, even Christians can have their hope or their faith shaken during a crisis like this.

You might feel pressure to “stay strong,” but the truth is that the cancer journey can feel overwhelming at times. If this is where you are right now, please know this: you are not alone. As a Christian counselor, I often remind clients that faith does not mean pretending everything is okay. It also doesn't mean shoving your feelings down so that others have the "appearance" that you're OK.

Our faith in the Lord gives us something solid, truthful, and eternal to hold onto while things feel uncertain. With helpful reminders from the Word and principles from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), you can learn ways to build resilience, hold on to hope, and manage your stress in healthy ways.

Resilience: Finding Strength in the Lord When Life Feels Heavy

Resilience simply means continuing forward even when things are hard. It does not mean you are never afraid or never sad. It means you keep going, one step at a time, even on the difficult days.

ACT teaches us that fighting our emotions often makes them feel stronger. They want to be seen! You can actually feel emotions in your body as your nervous system gets activated in response. Instead of pushing your feelings away, try gently acknowledging them and bringing them to God. You might pray something as simple as, “Lord, this is really hard today. Please help me to feel Your presence.”

Our Heavenly Father reminds us that we do not have to rely on our own strength:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

Sometimes our thoughts can make things feel even heavier than they already are. Thoughts like “I can’t handle this” or “Everything is falling apart” can bring you down an anxiety-filled rabbit hole. ACT encourages us to notice our thoughts without immediately believing them. Just because we think something does not mean it is completely true.

And God’s Word reminds us what to keep our mind focused on:

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:8-9)

Resilience and peace grow as we pursue the Lord in our weakest moments. This is where His grace overflows until we can see His strength made perfect in our weakness (see 2 Corinthians 12:9).

Hope: Trusting God with Your Future

Cancer brings so much uncertainty. Questions about the right treatment protocol to do, how you're going to keep up with daily life, and what the future will look like can feel terrifying. Hope does not mean we ignore these concerns. Rather, hope means we remember that God is still present and still working, even when we cannot see the full picture. Remember in 2 Corinthians 5:7, God's Word reminds us: "For we live by faith, not by sight."

“For I know the plans I have for you… plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

ACT encourages us to focus on what matters most to us. Even during cancer, we can still live out our values. We can actively choose love, faith, connection, prayer, and purpose in small ways each day.

Hope often grows in the smallest moments when we can hear His "still, small voice" in our hearts. We can choose gratitude and appreciation when getting a kind word from a friend, having a peaceful moment in prayer, or simply getting through a hard day.

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)

When we look for reminders of God’s presence all around us, hope begins to infuse every part of us.

Stress Management: Letting God Carry the Heavy Parts

Stress is a very normal response to cancer. There are appointments, decisions, physical symptoms, and many “what if” thoughts. Finances often take a huge hit as medical expenses add up and going to work is no longer possible. Our minds often want to jump ahead and imagine worst-case scenarios.

Jesus gently reminds us:

“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” (Matthew 6:34)

One helpful way to manage stress is to focus on the present moment. Ask yourself: What do I need right now? Maybe you need rest. Maybe you need prayer. Maybe you need to talk to a loved one or fellow cancer warrior.

Simple practices like slow breathing, journaling, reading scripture, or listening to worship music can calm the body, mind and soul. Remember that our Lord's "yoke is easy" and His "burden is light" (see Matthew 11:30). It is our responsibility to hand our burdens over to Him in faith, knowing that 1) He is always true to His Word and 2) His Word never returns void.

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

Another helpful step is taking small actions that reflect what matters most to you. This could be attending a Christian cancer support group, accepting help from others, spending time with loved ones, or setting aside a few quiet minutes with God.

God promises peace that goes beyond what we can fully understand:

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:4-7)

• Rejoice in the Lord, no matter what is happening.

• Show your gentleness to everyone.

• The Lord is close by, even when you can't see, hear or feel Him.

• Choose to NOT be anxious. Catch your anxious thoughts!

• Bring your requests to the Lord in prayer, being both thankful & dependent upon Him.

• God's reward for your faithfulness will be peace that passes all understanding.

• His peace will protect your heart (you won't lose hope) and your mind (anxious thoughts).

Moving Hand-in-Hand with the Lord, One Day at a Time

Resilience, hope, and peace do not happen randomly. It takes faithfulness in staying connected to the Lord, choosing to turn our anxieties and worries over to Him, and standing firm on His truth (not ours & not the doctor's!). Some days will feel easier than others. On the harder days, remember that God is with you every moment.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

No matter where you are in your cancer journey, you can choose hope. Your life still has purpose. And your Heavenly Father knows exactly what you need and will meet those needs as they come. Don't worry about what those needs or circumstances might be...His grace is sufficient to get your through TODAY.

Here's a prayer to say today:

"Heavenly Father, I lift my health and my circumstances to you in total surrender. I don't know what You have planned for me or how this will all turn out, but I do know that I can trust you to be with me through it all. Please help me to choose thoughts that reflect who You are and that You think thoughts of hope for me and my future. Please help me to meditate on Your Word instead of my anxious thoughts. I ask You to give me the strength to hand over all of this to You rather than carrying it all myself. I ask for Your peace that passes all understanding. I love you, and I thank you for my life. I know that this is part of my life's story, and I pray for You to reveal Your purpose and Your plan for my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen."

Ten Bible passages to meditate on:

1. Acts 2:25-27

2. Psalm 46:1

3. Deuteronomy 31:8

4. Isaiah 61:2-3

5. Joshua 1:9

6. James 5:13

7. Romans 8:28

8. Lamentations 3:22-24

9. Ephesians 6:18

10. Philippians 1:18-21