In February 2012, I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer.  Although there are many aspects to a cancer journey, from the emotions to the physical scars, for me it was also a spiritual journey.

It was an intimate walk with God through the valley of the shadow of death where I encountered faith, hope and love. 

Through deafening silence and blinding darkness I was left with nothing but God’s promises and His strength being perfected in my weakest moment.

The deepest valleys produce the darkest surroundings. 

It takes away every sense and leaves only His presence. 

Desperate to hear His voice and see the path, yet He chose to hold me in silence. 

When nothing is left but His presence I must trust in the One who created the valley and allowed the darkness.

By it’s very nature, darkness surrounds with fear and desperation. And though I cried out to be removed from the desolate place, He chose to bring peace to the storm that raged in the valley.

All He requires is faith, believing in the promises of His Word. Without fail, I poured over scripture in a desperate hunt for every life-promising truth. 

I wrote them in a special journal so I could find them easily on days when the storm raged loudly and I needed to grab it like a life preserver. 

In fact, His promises became the very object to indeed save my life.

I would love to give some profound, newly discovered revelation to enduring the hard of life.  But, that simply is not the case. 

There is nothing to be added to God’s unchanging words.  He instructs us throughout scripture to seek Him, pray and believe.

Being diagnosed with cancer isn’t the only circumstance of life in which faith is tested deeply.  There are so many situations we face that make us wonder if we will ever see our way through the darkness. 

And that is why I share my story openly and honestly.  In doing so, I hope that others will find peace knowing their journey may look different, but it is the same God with the same promises journeying with you along the path.

Remind God of His promises, not because He forgot, but so you remember.

It is so simple.  It is about trust. It is simply faith.

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**This article is one of a six-part series of articles on The Healing Process of Survivorship **