My last round of chemo is scheduled for Tuesday. I am definitely looking forward to this leg of the journey being finished. Satan is attacking my mind with thoughts causing fear. Thoughts such as:

1. Is the chemo working as well as the doctors hope?
2. Will surgery and radiation go smoothly?
3. How will God use this experience?
4. Will the chemo cause any long-lasting effects?
5. Will the cancer come back?

Fear is a struggle for me. I have written about it more than once. But today I am encouraged.

Psalm 34:4 says “I sought the LORD and He answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” (NASB) As I ponder this verse three things stand out. They are all obvious but, they have impacted me and my wandering thoughts.

1. I sought the LORD. Seeking the Lord is how we get answers. In Jeremiah 33:3 God instructs us to “Call to me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”(NASB) Also, I have to be the one to seek Him. Others can pray on my behalf and tell me what He says. However, as I dig into His Word and into prayer with the Spirit, the depth of our relationship increases and intimacy with the Father is gained. James 4:8a reads “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”(NASB)

2. He answers. God may not answer the way we hope but, He does answer. Too often people hold a grudge against God when He doesn’t answer a prayer the way they wanted. I am learning that sometimes He answers in a different way because He needs to bless someone else and always it is for His glory and my greater good. The Lord’s ways are higher and wiser than mine. I am grateful when my will lines up with His and He answers as I wish.

3. He delivers me from all my fears. I love the when God uses the word “all” in a positive way. For instance, Romans 10:12-13 states “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile-the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”(NIV) He delivers. The Hebrew word for delivers means to snatch away, rescue, deliver, escape. It can signify both physical deliverance or spiritual salvation. God is the one who delivers us from all kinds of things but, right now that He can set us free from all our fears means a great deal to me.

The preceding verses from Psalm 34 read, “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul will make its boast in the LORD; the humble will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together.”(Psalm 34:1-3 NASB)

My fears die out when I spend time praising God. Praising the Lord builds my confidence in Him. It also honors God and pleases Him when I lift up praise to Him. God is worthy of all praise and one day “every knee should bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.(Philippians 2:10-11 NIV) I hope you will join me in praise today.

Lord, today I praise you for delivering me from my fears. I praise you for never leaving me or forsaking me. I praise you for you are worthy and you are good. Thank you Father for being the God of love and mercy. You are good! In Your Son’s holy name, Amen.

For more read:

Joshua 1:9
Revelation 4:1
1 John 4:7-12
Ephesians 2:4-5
Psalm 34:8
Psalm 86:5