The battle to find hope amidst cancer—as a child or as an adult—can be dark and intense. To suggest otherwise would be inaccurate or unkind. But what if there was a way to the let the light into the darkness? To let this light bring hope and redefine this moment, this day you are living?

For many, the diagnosis hits like a hammer, and then comes the overwhelming fear and uncertainty.

The journey can feel dark and hopeless.

This poem called “No Escape,” by Christine Mulvihill, who faced childhood cancer captures the dreariness and longsuffering of the journey:

“My soul is a dark and gloomy place
It lacks all sense of beauty & grace
A room with an entrance but no escape
It takes on a small and lifeless shape.”

The power of hope

While the gloom can be real, there is something much stronger.

When someone faces cancer, it doesn’t take them long to realize how powerful hope is.

Hope is that expectation of good, even when our circumstances scream the opposite.

The tragedy of hope is that we often don’t realize it’s full vitality until the hope we have is threatened.

People with cancer understand this acutely.

But what if there was a way to regain hope again?

More about my experience

I understand what it is like to feel hopeless facing cancer.

When I was just 37 years old, I was diagnosed with incurable stage IV cancer. My wife and I just had a beautiful daughter and thought of contemplating me not being there for both of them was painful and unthinkable.

After finding some surprising hope and surviving far longer than I was supposed to, I started Hope Has Arrived to help others facing cancer find hope, strength and peace.

You can read more about my story in Our Story or several areas on our website.

Hope, strength and peace for all

Yet, I know that hope, strength and peace are not just for me. They are available for everyone.

I don’t know your specific situation, but I believe there is a way for you to find hope today—new hope or to recover the hope you once had.

Shining through

This line from a Leonard Cohen song speaks poignantly about finding hope:

“There is a crack, a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in…”

Indeed, light can come in and shine through the cracks of our lives, illuminating the darkness we face. In fact, light is much stronger than darkness. As this line from the book of John says:

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5).”

When we let the light in, it overcomes the dark. The darkness does not win, no matter what we face. Even cancer.

Do you want to let the light in?

Letting the light in

At Hope Has Arrived, we often talk about how prayer and a relationship with God can bring hope and light into your journey.

As 1 John 1:5 says, “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”

As hard as the experience can be, despite all the tears you have shed for yourself or someone you love, hope waits to be found.

If you are facing darkness, you can find light today by inviting God into your life.

A prayer for light

Perhaps these words express the desire of your heart:

God, I’m not sure why I have had to face this darkness of cancer, but I ask that you shine your light into it. Come into my life and live with me in my experience. In you is light and no darkness at all. Help me to see this reality. Please give me help and hope today and all my days ahead. Today, I receive your light as a gift. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, then know the light is coming. As Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12).”

If you want to discover more about having a relationship with God, see Knowing God Personally. 

Whatever you are facing, let the light of God shine into your experience and give you hope today.

 

To learn more about how to begin a relationship with God, read Knowing God Personally.

If you would like to someone from Hope Has Arrived to pray for you, submit your prayer request here. 

For more help with prayer, see Asking God for Help.

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I have a question or comment
How to know God’s hope, strength and peace

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Note: We are not doctors and we cannot answer your medical questions. However, we welcome your questions about finding hope and knowing God.

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Footnotes: (1) James 4:14 NIV (2) 1 Corinthians 13:13, NLT. (3) 1 Peter 1:3 NIV (4) Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

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