Joseph experienced some ridiculously hard times yet God still made him fruitful! And He can make us fruitful despite cancer!
Joseph’s 10 brothers took steps to kill him by throwing him into a deep pit. They “got a conscience” and decided instead to sell him into slavery. “Gee thanks, bros.” This was just the beginning of his troubles. He was jailed after being falsely accused of rape by the wife of a high-ranking Egyptian official when he resisted her advances. Yet God delivered Joseph from all of this and more, dramatically reversing his fortunes. God gave him a platform to be a fruitful blessing to the world, including the brothers who discarded him! And God gives the cancer warrior a platform to be fruitful for Him despite cancer!
Joe later named his first child, Ephraim, which means forget. God helped him forget his family troubles. He named number two, Manasseh, or fruitful, because God had made him “fruitful in the land of my affliction” (Genesis 41:52).
Fruitful Like Joseph?
Can God make us fruitful despite cancer, to be a blessing to many in the midst of a battle or life crisis? Hmm, yes, that’s His specialty!
Allow me an important caution first. Sometimes we exhaust ourselves to keep up during a cancer battle. I know I did, and it wasn’t wise! Like the oxygen advice before the flight, we have to take care of ourselves first or we’ll be zero good to others! See more on this in a previous post.
Still, with this caution noted, God has given us “platforms” to share Him, just like He did with Joseph. You see, cancer patients and survivors know the desert like the back of their hand. And we know the locations of oases. We’ve found His comforts in hard places:
He comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1:4).
I was given “days to live” by my doctor in May 2003. I was also given a platform by God to share Him as our Stronghold in the midst of a cancer journey. Our non-profit, Stronghold Ministry, has now been a part of that platform for ten years. Not all of us will start a non-profit, but all of us who know Him as Savior (more on knowing Him as Savior here) can bear fruit in the land of our affliction. But how?
Here’s a few ideas for being fruitful despite cancer:
- Video yourself telling your story, how Jesus got you through your battle and how He saved you from sin! Keep the video short and concise – about 3 minutes. Shine that light!
- Give back when you feel strong enough. Volunteer at a local cancer center or cancer support group to help new warriors. Get online and support others in the many prayer groups on Facebook. See some online opportunities with Stronghold Ministry below.
- Connect with us here at Stronghold Ministry, we’d love to work together with you for and with Jesus – ask about our “Ambassador Project.”
Lord, lead us into Your creative and life-giving opportunities to be fruitful in the land of our afflictions!
ONLINE Prayer Opportunities
- Stronghold Ministry Praise & Prayer Gathering – 3rd Tuesdays on Facebook LIVE – at 7:00 pm CST on Joe Fornear‘s page.
- Stronghold Ministry Healing Prayer Facebook Group – Prayer and support for you! Become a member to submit prayer requests and lift up others. Join here.
*Do you know “The Two Ways to Get to Heaven“?
*¿Tu sabes “Dos Maneras de Ir al Cielo“?
