Anne Graham Lotz: 15 Reasons Cancer Can Be a Blessing

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that bears no fruit, He takes away. And every branch that bears fruit, He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:1-2).

Yesterday, I had my one-week check-up after breast cancer surgery. Though there are some issues to be expected, the doctor believes that all seem to be healing nicely, for which I praise God. The surgeon then revealed, with compassion in her eyes, that she had the pathology report. As she went over the numbers, it became evident that the results were not what I had prayed they would be. A trace of cancer was found in the lymph nodes, which alters the follow-up treatment significantly. So beginning Oct. 18, I will have 18 weeks of chemotherapy, with additional treatments stretching out over the next 12 months. The adventurous journey through the valley of the shadow will be longer than anticipated. But I am still confident the Shepherd will walk with me each step of the way until He sees me safely through.

The hardest thing facing me is the need to clear my schedule. By necessity, I will have to cancel commitments throughout the next year in order to take the cancer treatments. As I looked ahead at the calendar, I could almost audibly hear the “click” of the divine pruning shears.

I’m confident that the gardener knows exactly what He’s doing. I’m more expectant than ever of bearing much eternal fruit. For His glory.

Thank you for your prayers and your concern! So many of you have sent cards, gifts, pillows, emails, texts and testimonies of your own experience. I have been blessed by every single one.

There is one devotional thought that has been sent to me by quite a few of you. It is entitled, “What Cancer Can’t Do. It then lists about a dozen things. It’s a great list, and I was encouraged when I read it. But I wanted to turn it around. Although I’ve only known about my cancer for a little over a month and so in no way qualify as an expert. I have experienced some things already, and I’m expecting to experience even more things, that cancer can do. I want to share them with you. Feel free to add to the list.

Cancer Can:

—enrich love

—refocus hope

—strengthen faith

—deepen prayer

—command peace

—bolster confidence

—increase endurance

—multiply friendships

—enhance memories

—open doors

—realign priorities

—grow courage

—create empathy

—tenderize compassion

—develop character

Cancer can be a blessing in disguise.

Cancer can be the preliminary to bearing much eternal fruit.

Cancer can be a display case for God’s glory.

Please continue to pray for my healing and that I will not miss what cancer can do for me. {eoa}

Anne Graham Lotz, second child of Billy and Ruth Graham, is the founder of AnGeL Ministries and former chairman for the National Day of Prayer Task Force. She has authored 15 books, including her latest, The Daniel Prayer.

This article originally appeared at annegrahamlotz.com.