While preparing a talk where I was asked to share my thoughts about how I see soil science relating to the doctrine of God, I realized what I truly believe about God determines how I receive suffering in my life.
Yes, receiving.
Not just making it through a day of what I never wanted, much less asked for, but receiving the day as a day created by God.
A day with purpose for God’s glory and the good of His people.
“It’s not about me.”
It’s not about me being brave about surgery or other cancer treatments. Nor is it about me being pragmatic about living with chronic illness and pain. And it’s not even about me looking for joy in this uncharted wilderness of cancer.
It’s about God.
Everything comes down to what I believe about God in the truth He is Who He says He is and He will do what He says He will do.
For when I hold fast to Who God is, then I can rest in the truth that God holds me fast.
God doesn’t just hold me fast when times are easy or expected. He doesn’t just hold me fast when all is well or others are welcoming. He doesn’t just hold me fast when I’m healthy or happy with life.
He holds me fast at all times, in all ways, with all peoples, for all circumstances.
And the same is true for you, too.
God doesn’t just have a grip on me. He has my name engraved on His Hands (see Isaiah 49:16). And if your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life, the same is true for you, too (see Revelation 3:5).
God is not dependent on me. Yet, He wants me to be dependent on Him. And the same is true for you, too. No matter if you have perfect health or perplexing diagnoses. No matter if you have a full bank account or no paycheck. No matter if you have a spouse or children or not. No matter if life is full of delight and dreams or seeping over the sides in despair. God wants us to know Him as the One Who is everything to us (see Deuteronomy 6:5).
There are no exceptions to God’s calling for me to abide and to depend on Him. I don’t get a “get out of jail free card” for any hard circumstance or stiff upper lip. I don’t get “the easy button” that makes everything in my life do-able or reasonable. He doesn’t change and thus, I shouldn’t change in my belief about Him when that I wished had never happened or would do anything to get rid of is in front of me every day.
God has called each and every one of us His favorite, the apple of His eye (see Psalm 17:8).
And God doesn’t make mistakes.
He is deliberate in His lavish love and long-suffering, mercy and miracles, grace and goodness, plans and purpose. What He says is truth that doesn’t fade or fall short. Instead, His truth opens the door to a freedom not constrained or contained by anything, including cancer.
And His truth is what will set me free when I choose to believe it.
John 8:32 ESV and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
Please stay tuned for part 3 on joy. And please share this post with friends and family, so more and more of us can share joy together!
“It’s not about me.” (Warren, R., 2002, The Purpose-Driven Life, Zondervan Press, Grand Rapids, MI)
written by and copyrighted to Beth Madison, Ph.D., 2025.
Soul Scientist 
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