The True Freedom...

June 2, 2009

Danielle Joyner Kelley

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah 40:29.

This past weekend I went with my husband to Augusta, Georgia to see his aunt who is recovering from cancer surgery she had last week. These days I am in constant contact with God wondering what He is up to in my life and what lesson I can learn from everything. I am a firm believer that God sends others to us to help guide us in lessons He wants us to learn. This weekend provided that opportunity.

Cancer is not a fun subject, and is something that is feared by many across the globe. This is understandable, and I have also felt that way after watching many family members suffer from such. When it strikes, many people turn to God and ask “Why?”. I had a conversation with our aunt’s husband, and he asked me if it was okay that he was talking to God in a harsh manner wanting to know why this happened. My answer? Absolutely. God does not want us lukewarm. He wants us hot or cold. Either you don’t believe in Him or you are on fire for Him, and He tells us as much. “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:16. The Bible is full of stories of God’s followers questioning and even arguing with Him. God never loved them any less. To the contrary, He is happy that you knew where to come to question. When you ask “why” even though you feel it is bad to do, you are admitting that He has the answers, you are admitting that He is all-powerful. That is never a bad thing.

My own lesson came from a different direction, however. My lesson came from the beautiful woman lying in the bed recovering from surgery and knowing she has (or had hopefully) cancer. One of the ideas that hit me the hardest was the idea that no matter what happens, we choose our own reaction. Convinced that this is what Paul was referring to in Romans, “If at all possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18. It is as far as it depends on you individually, if it is even possible to be at peace with a certain illness or another person, and what matters is your own action or reaction and not their own.

One of the books that has helped me to see things in a different light, “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Victor Frankl said it best, "...everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."

There are things that are given to us by the Spirit that no one or nothing can take away; not cancer, not others, and not our own circumstances. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23.

Looking at a woman who has the strength to move a mountain, and was the only one sitting among family members when she was told she had cancer and did not cry but asked “so what are we going to do to cure it?” shows me that some truly live life by this principle. She has always been the rock of the family, displaying strength through every life situation, but still others expect her to be weak with such an illness. She will not allow it to.

Truthfully, it amazes me. I am human and have lived a lifetime letting the world control my mood and my actions. From now on I refuse to. There are things that we cannot control. The strongest people in the world who work to control everything cannot with 100% certainty prevent themselves from getting cancer or dealing with the world and its problems, but they can control their attitude and reaction. Still I am human and prone to fall. But my reactions to situations only lie now in the present and future, and are no longer available for me to act on in my past.

As a Christ-follower I can tell you that every thing can be taken from me except the fruit of the Spirit, and I will not let that fruit seem distant due to my own behavior. No one else can touch what lies inside of me that God gave to me, and I and only I, aside from my Creator, have the power to allow that to happen. No matter what life throws at you reaching to God renews your soul in spite of worldly damage. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16. As C.S. Lewis stated, “You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.” Disease and the world around you have no control over your soul, but you do. “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28. The ability to not fear death because of your knowledge of the One truly in control is the assurance of absolute freedom over anything we fear.

The biggest lesson of all comes from the one who is suffering physically and that everyone else is talking to God about. Yet I can tell you she is fine, completely secure in her relationship with God and who she needs to be. She is the one comforting others. “A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Luke 6:40.

Her behavior demonstrates someone who was well taught.