In the first year of Stronghold Ministry, a radiation oncologist told me I was doing a great disservice to people fighting advanced cancer. He said I should just get them ready for heaven and not give them hope that God might heal them. I said, “Can’t I do both?” I told him I personally would rather die with hope than live a single day without it.
Sooo, how does a person get ready for heaven? Click here.
Hope is warranted because God is way bigger than anything, including advanced stage cancer, and He STILL does impossible things. Yes, He healed me from Stage IV metastatic melanoma after being given “days to live” in 2003. I know many others who were healed as well. But what if He doesn’t chose to heal?
To me, hope goes way beyond physical earthly healing to the Person of Jesus Christ Himself. This is truly what Christmas is all about – He is the ultimate Consolation Prize. And by that I don’t mean receiving an inferior prize of earthly blessings just to placate us. Jesus is First Prize, God’s very Son and BEST Consoler! IN HIM is EVERY spiritual blessing! (Ephesians 1:3).
So why then is hope hard to find, especially over the Thanksgiving-Christmas season? I think from childhood, we have been encouraged to dream big about what we might “get” for Christmas! And not surprisingly, we’re caught in a cycle of disappointment over unmet expectations. In addition, many believe the lie that everyone else is doing wonderful. Thanks, HappyFacebook & InstantSlam!
It’s even harder to be hopeful when you’re fighting cancer! I had surgery on December 23, 2002 to remove a large mass in my lymph nodes under my arm which my doc thought was “just a cyst.” So I was really banged up on Christmas Eve. Then on Christmas Day, my surgeon called to give me the diagnosis that it was Stage 3 melanoma, and that I had better get strong systemic treatment asap. The news kind of spoiled that particular Christmas. My hope was not going to come from my circumstances.
Yet God is called “the God of Hope.” He is The Manufacturer of hope, and He wants us to “own” hope as well! But how? Check out four keys to finding hope at Christmas – and all year round:
1) Be Informed – In the Bible, God actually explains the purpose of suffering pretty well!
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)
2) Be Confident – Good will ultimately prevail, as God Himself is GOOD!
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)
3) Be Patient – This doesn’t all happen over night! We may not be soaring outwardly, but we can always soar inwardly.
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
4) Be Determined – Fight for hope, settle for nothing less!
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. (Psalm 42:11)
Can we have hope, no matter what? I hope so! Will you join me in sowing HIS hope together?
Lord, pour out Your hope into our minds and feelings!
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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 as you fight cancer! 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“?
In His Grip, Joe & Terri Fornear & Stronghold Ministry
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