Praying Through Cancer: A 90-Day Devotional for Women

By Susan Sorensen and Laura Geist

Traumatized and terrified of cancer? Whether you or a family member is battling the disease, this beautiful, updated edition of the trusted, encouraging 90-day devotional will comfort and strengthen you. Written by women who have faced cancer themselves, this book reminds you that you are not alone and will help set your heart free from fear.

When you hear the doctor say the word cancer, your fears can be overwhelming. Thankfully, there is a place of peace you can experience. Through these pages, women who have walked this difficult journey themselves will pray through cancer with you and walk alongside you through your own journey.

This encouraging daily devotional is written specifically for women battling cancer, and it is written by women who have faced cancer themselves, containing insight, wisdom, and clarity found only through personal trial. Whether you are facing breast cancer, thyroid cancer, or any form of the disease, the testimonies and prayers in this book will strengthen and bless you in the months ahead.

This updated edition features a beautiful new cover. Each daily devotional includes:

• Scripture verse and prayer
• Inspirational story where fears and anger are transformed into confident expectation and pure worship
• Intentional tip of the day to help you personally encounter God
• Prayer references for encouragement

You don’t have to face cancer alone. As you read, you’ll feel as though you are meeting kindred spirits—old friends who will come alongside you in your journey, encouraging you and understanding what no one else can.

Contributors include Kay Warren, Pat Palau, Barbara Johnson, Joyce Wright, and many more.

Praise for Praying Through Cancer:

“What an encouraging devotional! Written by women who have walked the road and speak from experience, it demonstrates how God can enable you to come through the trials of cancer with praise on your lips, peace in your spirit, and hope in your heart.”—Kay Marshall Strom, author of The Cancer Survival Guide

“Journeying through breast cancer, the most authentic voices that encouraged me were women who have pilgrimmed ahead of me. . . . This book nourished my spirit and renewed my hope—may it do the same for you.”—Karen Hill, Author of Owen’s Walk and assistant to Max Lucado

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Aug 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9780785241591

Book preview

Refined in the Fire

1

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

—JOB 23:10

The doctor was very matter-of-fact. When he told me I had breast cancer, his inflection didn’t change, his manner didn’t warm up, and he offered nothing in the way of comfort. He left the room, leaving me to weep alone.

While this earthly man had no reaction to my diagnosis, my heavenly Father instantly offered me His words of comfort and peace. A Scripture fragment floated into my mind: He knows the way I take. In my shock and dismay, I couldn’t remember where it was from, but it gave me a lifeline to grab on to.

God, the Creator of the universe, the Almighty One, the Lord of heaven and earth, knew the way—the journey I was starting on. That meant He wasn’t surprised (although I certainly was) and had already begun to prepare all that I would need along the way. My loving, purposeful Father had factored cancer into His plan for me long before I was aware of it. His eyes were on me; He held me in His tender gaze. I wasn’t alone anymore!

God, how can I ever thank You for showing up when I need You the most? I am never alone! You promise to be my refuge and my strength, my ever-present help in trouble. You are with me when I receive exciting, thrilling news, and You are with me even when I hear news that threatens to shake me to my core. Those dreaded words, It’s cancer, don’t send You running from the room. Instead, You rush to bring me the assurance that You know exactly where I am.

There is nothing ahead of me that can detour Your will for my life. You will fulfill Your purpose for me. How I praise You for Your unfailing love. You are my God forever and ever, and You will be my guide even to the end. I trust You implicitly. May this furnace of testing show the true colors of my faith in You, and may I come forth as gold.

Kay Warren

Senior pastor’s wife,

Saddleback Church

• TODAY’S TIP: When you find yourself facing frightening moments, remind yourself that God stands with you. You are never alone!

• PRAYER REFERENCES: Psalm 46:1; Psalm 138:8; Psalm 48: 9, 14; Job 23:10

Centered on Christ

2

 . . . looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith.

—HEBREWS 12:2 ASV

I was riding an emotional roller coaster, and it wasn’t pleasant. Every day, it seemed I would talk to someone else who had been through cancer. Some stories lifted my spirits. Others lowered me to despair. My ability to empathize is a bit too good. Emotionally, I was becoming the person I had talked with last!

I am learning to first fix my eyes on Jesus. Our unchanging Lord is the only stability in uncertain times. I love the story of Peter when he saw Jesus walking on the water. After Jesus bid him to come, Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ (Matthew 14:29–30). I can just picture Peter with his eyes on Jesus, not even aware he is actually walking on water! Then he looks down, and fear grips him.

I have often joined Peter in crying out, Lord, save me! More times than I can count, Jesus has gently lifted my chin and helped me fix my eyes back on Him.

Lord, You are the author of my faith . . . the One who initiated my relationship with You, the One who chose me. You are also the perfecter of my faith. How grateful I am for the confidence I can have that You began a good work in me and that You will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. I praise You for Your promise to rescue and protect me. You will be with me in times of trouble and deliver me and honor me. You will be with me forever.

Help me throw off everything that hinders me from complete trust in You. I want to run with perseverance the race marked out for me. For my sake, You endured the cross and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. That You would do all this for me is beyond amazing. I praise Your holy name!

Susan Sorensen

• TODAY’S TIP: Take a moment to walk on the water as you read Psalm 91.

• PRAYER REFERENCES: Hebrews 12:2; Philippians 1:6; Psalm 91:14–16

An Unwelcome Intruder

3

And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!

—1 SAMUEL 17:47 NLT

I’ve always felt I could ward off a lot of problems in life by anticipating them. You know, take an umbrella in case it rains. Always have restaurant coupons in the car in case I decide to go out to eat. Have an extra wrapped gift at Christmas in case I receive one I wasn’t expecting. You get the idea.

Then bam! Cancer hit me from out of nowhere. I was young and healthy. I certainly hadn’t anticipated this, and it was too late to get prepared now.

And then something else hit me.

This diagnosis did not take God by surprise. He saw it coming, and although I wish He had stopped it from touching me, He was not unprepared to battle it. In fact, He equipped me with everything I needed to fight physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Like the shepherd boy David going up against the nine-foot-tall Goliath, I knew my Lord had what it takes. With David I could say, It is His battle, not mine.

Dear Lord, this cancer has taken me by surprise. I feel anxious, out of control, and woefully unprepared because I didn’t see it coming. Yet I also know You are not surprised or anxious, and You are very much in