Sept/ Oct 2007 Devotional

Longing for Healing
Published by TruthMediaat August 13, 2007 in Devotional.

by Yvonne Ortega

Hope Builder: Hebrews 11:32-34

Matthew 9:22: “Jesus turned and saw her. ‘Take heart, daughter,’ he said, ‘your faith has healed you.’ And the woman was healed from that moment.”

What a jolt of reality I had at a breast cancer support meeting tonight. First a lady with short hair walked in, followed by a bald lady, and then a lady with the tiniest bit of hair. One young woman had her first chemotherapy treatment that day and soon made an exit to vomit.

As the women talked and asked questions about the side effects of chemotherapy, such as sores in their mouths, and problems with digestions, diarrhea, and constipation, I felt myself getting sick. My head throbbed, and my knees wobbled like Jell-O. Before long, I sobbed, and someone passed me a box of tissues.

I noticed a table with Valentine’s Day decorations and all kinds of refreshments in the hallway. How could anyone possibly eat Valentine’s Day cookies and have a soft drink during this type of meeting? Why did I eat dinner earlier? I felt sick to my stomach. Stop the merry-go-round. I want to get off.

I wish I weren’t going through this. I wish I could hide under a blanket, wake up, and have this behind me. I wish I were free of cancer or had healing power, but God alone has that power. His healing may be physical, or he may simply help me peacefully accept my circumstances. I’m convinced he knows which is better for me.

We all face similar struggles. We may think we’re hanging on with only a shred of faith. It helps to remember that Gideon, David, Samson, the prophets, and many others were not born with an unshakable faith. Their faith grew day by day. Hebrews 11 says their weakness was turned to strength and they became powerful in battle. It’s okay to admit we are scared, sick, weak, or powerless. God will meet us where we are.

~Father, please tell me, “Daughter, your faith has made you whole.” I also ask for emotional healing from the trauma of cancer. May I join the ranks of those who turned from weakness to strength through faith in You. Amen.

Reprinted from Yvonne Ortega’s book, Hope for the Journey Through Cancer.

Used by permission of Fleming H. Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, copyright 2007. All rights to this material are reserved. Materials are not to be distributed to other web locations for retrieval, published in other media, or mirrored at other sites without written permission from Baker Publishing Group. http://www.BakerPublishingGroup.com

Questions to ponder: What “cancer” are you struggling with today? How can our weak faith be strengthened at a time when one is hurting so deeply?

About the Author
This devotional was written by Yvonne Ortega. Read more about Yvonne: http://tmdevotionals.com/women/authors/yvonne-ortega/