(A talk given by Pastor Dan Mueller for Cancer Council “Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea” at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Buderim, 9 May 2024).
Bible reading: 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. (2 Corinthians 1:3–5 NIV).
Cancer sucks.
I did some quick Internet research on cancer. I hadn’t realised that cancer is the leading cause of death in Australia. One in fifty people in Australia currently have cancer. And almost two in five Australians will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85!
Cancer’s true horror though lies in its indiscriminate assault — it can strike anyone, at anytime. It doesn’t care if you’re young or old, rich or poor, male or female. It steals vitality, disrupts lives, and carries an ever-present fear of the unknown. It can twist the body and spirit, leaving a trail of exhaustion and emotional turmoil in its wake. Despite advancements in medicine, cancer’s relentless nature can feel like a cruel twist of fate.
How can we receive comfort in the face of cancer? How can we give comfort? Here are a few suggestions.
(1) Call a thing what it is.
An important first step is to call something what it is. For a non-Christian, cancer may seem like a random act of an indifferent, uncaring universe. Or an unfortunate turn of “fate.” But Christians recognise a thing for what it is: cancer is a symptom of the Fall. Cancer is not merely a cruel twist of fate, rather it is the sin of the world manifest in the body.
We can call it what it is: Cancer is messed up. Cancer sucks. You may have seen a rise in the number of bumper stickers or t-shirts stating “F*ck cancer.” Such strong language, I feel, is appropriate in the face of this devastating disease.
God hates evil and suffering, and therefore He hates cancer. God grieves it even more than we do! In our reading, St Paul calls God ‘the Father of compassion’ (2 Corinthians 1:3). This word ‘compassion,’ often translated ‘mercy,’ means ‘to express concern over another's unfortunate state and suffering.’ God has compassion on cancer sufferers. God is full of mercy. God is concerned when someone is afflicted by the evil that is cancer. Yet God doesn't sit back in the face of cancer — he does something! He is present with those who suffer.
(2) Be present.
We can be present with cancer sufferers. Those afflicted with cancer need support. Research shows that cancer sufferers who are supported by family and friends report improved quality of life and wellbeing. They have reduced anxiety, increased calmness, improved active coping behaviour and problem-solving capabilities post-diagnosis.
Sit and listen with them. I find it easy to open my mouth, but much harder to sit with closed mouth and open ears! Receiving a diagnosis can be overwhelming, causing strong emotions. Active listening can help them express and name these emotions. Good things to say to show you are present and help you to listen include: “How are you travelling?” “What’s going on for you today?” “Tell me more.”
Being present can also involve offering specific, practical actions e.g. meals, housework, rides to appointments, someone to debrief with, a helper to take notes during often overwhelming medical appointments, etc.
Christians recognise that God is always present with us. God is present in all creation: in the doctor’s room when one receives a diagnosis; in the medical staff who provide treatment; in the actual tablets one swallows or the medicine delivered intravenously; in the hair that may fall out; as crude as it sounds, God is even in the vomit when one reacts violently to treatment; in the hospital bed or couch being lay on when feeling “yuck;” in the warmth of the sunshine that falls on a face on a good day; in the dark rain clouds of a bad day — God is never absent, but present over all, through all, and in all things (Ephesians 4:6).
God is specifically present with us in the person of Jesus Christ. God the Father has sent his very own Son into the world, to bear our pain, our sickness, to suffer with and for us. The Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53, associated with Jesus Christ since the earliest disciples (e.g. Acts 8:32–35), bears our wounds:
‘4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering …
5 [H]e was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.’ (Isaiah 53:4–5 NIV)
God is a sharing God: in Christ he shares our sufferings. But there is more. St Paul writes, ‘We share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ’ (2 Corinthians 1:5). Not only does Christ share our suffering, but we share in His suffering too. His suffering is our suffering, our suffering is His. So God is present with and for us in our pain and suffering.
(3) Speak words of healing.
Not only is our physical presence a help, but our words can have a helping and healing effect also. Often in difficult circumstances I don’t know what to say. I’m tempted to speak trite “Christianese” catchphrases. But these tend to fall flat, or do more harm that good. Some examples include:
“God has a plan.” But wait, God has a plan to give people cancer?
“It’s a blessing in disguise.” Really? My friend’s brain tumour is a blessing?
“The best is yet to come.” Sure, but what about the pain I feel now?
“There are others worse off.” Sure, but what about my hurt? And what about that poor sod who is worse off?!
“God is testing you to make you stronger.” Well, then God sounds pretty mean!
Have you heard (or even spoken) these before? Do you think they’re helpful? If not, what words could we offer instead? Here are some I’ve trying out at the moment:
“God is the Father of compassion, his guts are turning inside out like yours.”
“You’re precious in God's sight.”
“Jesus is with you, all the way, even to death to a cross.”
“God hasn’t just read the book on life, or watched the movie, but has lived here on earth. In the person of Jesus Christ, God is fully human. He bled, cried, suffered, and died. He looked upon his friends when they suffered and had compassion on them. And He looks on you too. He sees your pain. He experiences it. He knows you. And He is with you.”
“We all suffer, cry, bleed, and die, but that is our middle, not our end. Our end is to be in the green pastures with our Good Shepherd forever.”
St Paul writes, ‘For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.’ (2 Corinthians 1:5). Any comfort we give or receive abounds through Christ, the one present with and for us on the cross.
(4) Pray.
We are called to pray for and with those who suffer from cancer. I find it's when we're desperate that our prayers get real. When things are outside of our control, like having cancer, then we truly come to God as a beggar with empty hands.
God always hears our prayers, but doesn't always answer, at least the way we expect. Scripture gives us permission to ask “Why?” in prayer, yet we don't always receive an answer. The prayers of the psalmists are real: “Why, LORD, do you stand far off?” (Psalm 10:1). “Why LORD have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy? My bones suffer mortal agony.” (Psalm 42:9–10). “Why, my soul, are you downcast?” (Psalm 43:5). Perhaps spend some time finding other psalms, that are real prayers, asking “Why?” or “How long?”.
Jesus asked this very question “why?”. Hanging from the cross in excruciating pain, unable to breathe, Jesus manages a few breaths and cries out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22). Why indeed?! And guess what? He never receives a direct answer. God doesn’t call out from a cloud, “I have a plan. It’s a blessing in disguise. The best is yet to come. I’m torturing you to test you. Those other two blokes, they’re worse off than you.” No. God doesn’t answer Jesus’ question in that moment. Jesus the Son trusts his heavenly Father, committing his Spirit into the Father’s hand.
God is a God of miracles, so we can pray for healing. Sometimes God does heal miraculously! Yet our healing might be more holistic than we desire. God’s healing is comprehensive; encompassing body, mind, and soul, across all space and time. I find that God is a God who likes to works through means e.g. water at Baptism, bread and wine in Holy Communion. He also works through means such as doctors, nurses, friends, medicine, bed rest, sunlight, exercise, and other everyday stuff. We can give thanks to God for these everyday means of healing, alongside praying for a miracle.
I like to pray Scripture. We can pray for the fruit of the Spirit to abound in us and in those who suffer: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). I find praying the direct words of Scripture helpful. For example: “May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16 NIV). “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13 NIV). “[May the Lord's] presence go with you, and give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14 NIV).
Ultimate comfort
Our ultimate comfort in the face of cancer comes that Christ did not stay dead and buried in the tomb, but rose again on the third day. He is the first fruit of the resurrection. So we too can look forward to the age to come, and the resurrection of the body. As St Paul writes, ‘We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed — in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.’ (1 Corinthians 15:51–52 NIV). One day these cancer prone and ridden bodies will be healed and made new. Until then, as you receive comfort from the Father of compassion and God of all comfort, which abounds in the suffering of Christ Jesus, may you share this comfort with others. Call a thing what it is. Be present. Speak healing words. Pray. Go in peace. Amen.
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