Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:15
The day finally came for the surgery. I had prepared my mind, my heart and my spirit as best I could. But perhaps that is a problem if I say, the best I could. I would need much more than my best, I need God to fight this battle in me and for me. Thirteen hours I was in surgery. I awoke in recovery with excruciating pain as though I had been skinned alive. I could barely breathe, my voice a faint whisper, and unable to move because of the pain. Fortunately, the nurse saw my eyes opened, whispered some words of comfort as she gave me some pain medicine into my IV. Nothing really prepares you for the pain, the struggles, the fatigue, and the total body changes that come with surgery. I needed a God’s battle plan.
FOR GOD IS ON MY SIDE
IT WAS NOT BY CHANCE I WAS AT VANDERBILT, GOD KNEW THE CANCER WAS GOING TO BE THERE AND HE ALREADY HAD A PLAN FOR MY WINNING THE BATTLE AGAINST IT. The tumor was large in diameter—about 6 centimeters; but, flat like a pancake. It was a very aggressive form of HER2/neu positive cancer cells. Because I was at Vanderbilt I was placed in two important research studies. The first was to study the sentinel node. Because I was in that study they removed the usual lymph nodes (over 25) from my right arm as well as the “sentinel” node which in my case was located near the center of my chest. It would have been ignored had I not been in the study, since this was a rare location for the cancer to potentially spread. The second study involved the chemotherapy I was going to receive. When I randomized, I was placed in the arm of the study that would receive the most aggressive chemotherapy. In fact, I was going to receive Adriamycin/Taxotere which at that time was considered 2nd or 3rd line therapy. Herceptin was barely being developed so that was not in the potential available drugs.
MY CHILDREN AND I
Terry took time out of hunting season to go with me for surgery and the week I was in the hospital. He drove me home. Then, he left. In fact, the van broke down at the side of the road. He came back, took my car and told me I would need to get the van tolled to the shop. Then, he was gone. Other than to exchange the van for the car a month later, I didn’t see him. I had to get a family friend to take me to my follow up doctor’s appointment. My sons were home. Mom came over to help. That Christmas, I spent a lot of time in the scripture. I needed to heal—body, soul, and spirit. God needed to prepare me for the next stage of this battle. I worked hard to regain the movement of my arm and to learn how to walk. I even had to learn how to breathe again due to the rearrangement of my diaphragm. January, I would return to school and start chemotherapy. My daughter flew in from California to be my helper the first two weeks back at school.
CRYING OUT TO GOD IN HELPLESSNESS
The Scripture above is one from 2 Chronicles 20. Several armies were assembling to destroy Judah. Jehoshaphat was King of Judah in the lineage of King David. He was a good King who trusted and believed in God. When he heard of the large armies that were about to attack, he was at first afraid. He called upon the entire nation to pray. In fact, he called for a time of fasting and prayer. He cried out to God in his helplessness.
“O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? Are You not our God…. For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” 2 Chronicles 20: 6,7,12 NKJV
THEN CAME GOD’S REPLY:
“You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you… Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.” 2 Chronicles 20:17
This was a lesson I was about to learn over the next decade. [bctt tweet=”Every battle I face in this life is God’s battle not mine.”]
5 STEPS TO VICTORY IN LIFE’S BATTLES
What battle are you facing today? These are the same steps with every battle.
1. Cry out to God in your helplessness
2. Position yourself with prayer and bible study
3. Stand still—quit trying to do it alone, take a moment to let God fill your heart with peace.
4. Lay aside the fear and dismay as you allow God’s promises to fill your heart with hope
5. Then go into battle, knowing that your Victory in Jesus is already won
[bctt tweet=”Victory may not be exactly the way you pictured it; but, God’s Victory is sweeter joy.”] [bctt tweet=”God’s Victory over the battles in life display His Glory through you, guaranteed”]
The song I chose for you today is Victory in Jesus as sung by David Ring.
New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2016
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.