I’ve never been imprisoned against my will, except after a prison outreach when the guards forgot to let us out of a holding room. But fighting Stage IV metastatic melanoma cancer was certainly against my will and definitely felt like prison. I recall constantly thinking, “I want my life back.” Can freedom even be found in such circumstances?
Bloom or Kaboom Where You’re Planted?
After turning down the boss’s wife’s romantic advances over and over, Joseph was falsely accused of attempted rape by her and imprisoned. He had to wonder what redeeming purposes could possibly come from such injustice. But Joseph refused to be locked up in his mind and moods by self-pity or despair. He focused on the Lord, leveraging the season for good.
“But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer. The chief jailer committed to Joseph’s charge all the prisoners who were in the jail; so that whatever was done there, he was responsible for it.” – Genesis 39:21-22
How did Joseph do it? Though it was written centuries after him, Joseph practiced Psalm 37:3, “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.”
Some Bible translations of this passage shift the focus from feeding on God’s faithfulness to being faithful ourselves (“cultivate faithfulness”). Let me try to combine both concepts with one thought: Good luck being faithful without first feeding on His faithfulness to you!
Break Out
So let’s be like Joseph in hard times and soak up God’s comfort, peace and joy. God has already provided these to us in the Person of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:3 & 2 Peter 1:3-4), so we can always experience Him and His freedom from the prison of trials. He never leaves us! As much as He asks us to delight in Him, we need to realize why – it’s because He delights in us so much. He craves a fulfilling relationship with us! If you haven’t yet asked Jesus to be your constant companion, Savior and Lord for life, read this.
I have felt the confinement and isolation of what doctors believed to be a terminal case of cancer. They gave me days to live in 2003. Honestly, during that time, quite a few of my tears were bitter. Yet I’m here to tell you how sweet so many other moments were with Him! Cancer does not own you – Gods does.
Lord, refocus us to feed on Your faithfulness to us and Your delight of us during our cancer journeys and hard trials.
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.
- “Fighting Cancer While Raising Kids” Facebook Group– A new Stronghold Ministry sponsored Facebook group for warrior parents to connect. Join here.
*Do you know “The Two Ways to Get to Heaven“?
*¿Tu sabes “Dos Maneras de Ir al Cielo“?
