In ALL Things

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

This verse is a favorite of many people. For many years I believed the promise of this verse, but I had "selective reading." Instead of "all things," I read "good things." So the promise I believed was, In good things God works for the good of those who love him. But that's not what the passage says. When the passage says "in all things," it means in both bad things and good things.

Cancer is not on our list of good things. In fact, we probably would place cancer on the list of bad things. So, what good can possibly come out of cancer? At first, it seems as though there won't be anything good. But as a chaplain who talks with cancer patients every day, I've seen a lot of good coming from cancer. Cancer patients often know how much they're loved by their families and friends. Cancer patients often receive support from people they don't even know, or from unexpected places. Cancer patients often draw nearer to the Lord than they ever have. Cancer patients often are able to testify to the goodness of the Lord during difficult times. Cancer patients often sense a closer presence of the Lord. One cancer patient told me that he was happy he had cancer, because it was only as a result of his illness that he realized how much he needed Jesus as his Savior.

Most cancer patients don't thank God for giving them cancer, but most of them can thank God for sustaining them through the cancer. They believe in a sovereign God who has a plan for His children and provides for them. They can thank God, not for all things, but in all things. Reflect on how God has worked for your good in your cancer situation.

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