Soul Scientist

This morning, I received my last IV chemotherapy treatment. Needless to say, my husband and I have been looking forward to this since the day the oncologist laid out my treatment plan for breast cancer last November.

12 sessions of one drug + 17 sessions of another drug = almost a full year of days full of prayer and nausea prevention medicines, trips to the cancer center and trying not to think about food, hair loss and hats, fatigue and facing my fears, and a myriad of other experiences. Experiences previously unknown and still presently unwanted but we never faced any of it alone. Because we were never without our Jesus right there in the middle with us all along the way.

Did you happen to notice the word, “received”, in the first sentence of this post?

I deliberately chose that word. “Received” is most fitting because I received chemo and cancer as for something way bigger than me. I received cancer and chemo as opportunities for the Goodness of our Good God to be made known in my life for His glory and the good of His people (see John chapter 9). Please hear me on this – I’m not saying that God gave me cancer for my good. Rather, I’m saying that God lets me choose for Him to use cancer for good in my life and others, just as He’s promised to do in Romans 8:28.

With that in mind, please take a minute or two now to read this verse aloud and let it soak deep into the soil of your soul – Moreover we know that to those who love God, who are called according to his plan, everything that happens fits into a pattern for good (Romans 8:28 PHILLIPS). We can rely on that promise just like every other promise God has made in Scripture. Romans 8:28 isn’t just reserved for a few; it’s available for all of us. And the power of that promise is available to us in cancer centers and churches, doctors’ offices and dormitories, elevators and everywhere else in between.

God doesn’t reserve good and working for good when our bank accounts and bedrooms are full, our calendars and colleagues make us smile, or our friends and family are gathered together. Good isn’t limited to clean homes or full closets. Good isn’t guaranteed by piles of gifts or plenty of tasty food.

Isn’t it wonderful how God can and does bring good from what we consider as not good?  

God has been exceedingly gracious to show me glimpses of how He’s working good from cancer in my life and others’ lives, too. Those snatches of seeing how little is much in His kingdom alongside how nothing is wasted when given for God to use. God takes our little stories and uses them. He uses them to help many when we choose to let Him work. And His best work is done in a contrite heart seeking to be a living sacrifice for His glory (see Psalm 51:17 and Romans 12:1-2).

Now, God didn’t say His using of all things for good would be easy. Rather, He said He’d always be with us in all things, at all times (see Hebrews 13:5). This past year hasn’t been easy, enjoyable, or anything I’d like to repeat. My oncologist calls chemo “a necessary poison.” And it surely is.

But chemo is a good gift from our very Good God. A good gift for healing and humility, vulnerability and valuing what really matters, wisdom and working together, love and lasting purpose. For me, cancer and chemo has been a whole new world of people to love like Jesus does. I’ve met lots of people whose biggest need wasn’t healing, but rather, hope.

A hope that’s strong and supplying, lasting and not letting down, present and providing.

A hope that doesn’t fade or fail, but meets them right there in the waiting room, the doctor’s office, the chemo room, the radiation suite. A hope that doesn’t waver or wane when test results return as not good or when side effects steal their dignity.

They need a life-giving hope for this minute and the next.

And so do I.

It’s been JOY, my heart’s delight to tell folks at the cancer center about my Jesus, my hope of glory (Colossians 1:27 ESV). Jesus isn’t just my hope for days without chemo, scans, or doctor appointments. He’s my hope of glory for all my days, including today and tomorrow and every day after that.

If Jesus isn’t already your hope. He surely wants to be your hope for every day starting today.

And if you want to know how much Jesus wants to be your hope (and the hope of everyone every day), please take a minute or two to let these words soak into your soul like a gentle rain after a long hot summer – God loved [you] this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life (John 3:16 GW).

There’s no exceptions to everyone in that verse.

Everyone means you and me and our families and friends, neighbors and nations, coworkers and communities.

Everyone.

No matter your past or present, job or journey, decisions or denials.

No matter your income or inclinations, social standing or sinfulness, talents or lack of them.

Everyone.

[God] is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance (2 Peter 3:9b AMPC).

On that note, what person (or people) has God put in front of you to love like Jesus would today? And what message of hope has He put in your heart and mind to share with that person (or people)? Remember, that person (or people) might be the one you see every morning in the middle of your street or in your home.

Thank you, dear friends, for your prayers and support this past year for Andy and me. We are thriving in the goodness and mercies of God following us all the days of our lives (see Psalm chapter 23). And we are praying for you to do the same in whatever life joy or challenge you are living in today. Nothing or no one can stop or slow the goodness of our Good God.

(Just in case you can’t read what’s on my shirt, it says Grateful! The perfect word for today in victory and every day in vision for the glory of my Good God and the good of His people.)

Written by and copyrighted to Beth Madison, Ph.D., 2025.