One great thing that can come out of a bad thing like cancer is the opportunity to give your testimony. Whether someone else is dealing with the same thing or something else, hearing how God showed up and showed off in your life can be very helpful and inspiring.
The Bible gives an account of Jesus miraculously healing a demoniac, a man possessed by many evil spirits, thoroughly deranged and incapacitated. Once restored and in his right mind, the man wanted to go with Jesus. Instead, Jesus told him to “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you” (Mark 5:19).
This past Sunday I had the privilege to go home to Haymount United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, NC, and tell my brothers and sisters how much the Lord has done for me and to testify to his mercy. What a tremendous joy, honor, and responsibility to return to the church I served as an Associate Pastor for 8 wonderful years.
In my sermon, entitled “How Cancer Cured Me” just like my Book, I shared how God banished my fears, grew my faith, and gave the disease a holy purpose. In everything, God displayed his love, power, and glory. Jesus the Great Physician used cancer as an opportunity to accomplish healing in every dimension of my life. All things, even bad things, really do work together for good for those who love God!
Through my testimony, we were able to “encourage one another and build one another up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV). For those who have not yet put their faith in Jesus Christ, I believe my message made a compelling case for doing so.
The Apostle Paul reminds us of the importance and power of our testifying.
“But how can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it?” (Romans 10:14-17, Message)
God desires for each of us to share what the Lord has done for us and how he has shown us mercy. If you are going through cancer or some other challenge, or have in the past, use it as an opportunity to testify. Along with so many others, I would love to hear your story. Turn your test into a testimony!
Click here to watch my testimony/sermon, “How Cancer Cured Me.” When you finish, listen and sing along to Big Daddy Weave's "My Story." God bless you!