Chemo Chair Prayers

If you or someone you love has cancer I don't need to persuade you that pain and suffering are real, that it can strike at any time, or that no one is immune to it. Our pain and heartache often leave us asking the big question, "Why does God allow suffering?"  Going back to episode 7 we look at the question behind this question; "What kind of God allows suffering?" 

 Here, as we go beyond unpacking the purely theological answer, we discover a God whose love is so deep and wide that it meets us in our pain and deals with the beliefs that trap us in it.// Listen in and discover a new side of the familiar Christmas message. 

You've likely heard that sugar literally feeds disease and you may have been told to cut out sugar altogether, but have you considered the spiritual benefits of fasting from sugar? 

In this conversation with Wendy Speake, we consider what it would look like to stop running from sugar high to sugar high or beating ourselves up for every bite of sweetness and start running to The Most High during our battle with cancer.  

Whether on the stage or on the page, Wendy ministers to women's hearts through storytelling and Biblical life application. With a background in Hollywood as a trained actress, she utilizes the power of drama, poetry, comedy, and spoken word in the study of God’s Word.

With summer in full swing and travel opening up, people are on the move, which can mean loneliness sets in for those less able, too sick, or too immunocompromised to travel. 

If that's you, then listen in to this episode from earlier in the year - Valentine's Day to be precise - when we talk and pray together through the loneliness of cancer.  

David, who wrote this Psalm23, could say he wasn’t afraid of anything, not even the valley of the show of death. It wasn't because there was nothing there to be afraid of, but because he knew He wasn’t alone. These familiar words might be encouraging but at the same time, it's one of those bible verses that’s easy to believe when life is all roses and butterflies, but when the rubber (AKA cancer) hits the road… not so much.  

The reality is, cancer is often a long dark journey through the shadow of death where it’s easy to feel alone. We wonder where God’s got to, and, however much our friends and family love us, we’re the only one that sits in the chemo chair or has the tumor growing inside us.  

That’s why we’re tackling the battle with loneliness in this episode. 

Asking and finding solutions to questions like;  As we journey through the shadow of death, why do we so often feel alone and what can we do about it?  How do we find the confidence to say I will fear no evil because I know I am not alone!! 

Join us as we dive in and then pray through our guided prayer practice using the acronym TRUST. Listen in and strengthen your trust in God.

What do you do when your child's dying of cancer and God doesn't answer your prayers or do what you thought he'd do? How can you trust him again? This unthinkable tragedy happened to Stacey Henagan, but somehow she managed to learn to trust God again. 

In today's episode, she shares her story and how she manages to trust God today, before she prayers for us and with us. 

Fear, anxiety and worry come free of charge with every cancer diagnosis. We fear the unknown, the pain of surgery and recuperation, and the terrifying prospect of recurrence. We worry about leaving our kids behind, we fear for their futures as we worry about our own and we fear time might just be running out. 

Fear tightens its grip with every ache, pain and scan. So what are we meant to do? How do we fight the fear? 

Starting our summer series of interviews and most listened to episodes, I revisit our fear episode and we discover a roadmap for leaning into the fear before we pray using our TRUST guided prayer format and I offer a small invitation to move forward in the days ahead. 

Is there a purpose in the pain of our cancer? If so, how can we discover what it is? And the apostle James encourages us to "consider it pure joy...whenever we go through trials of any kind" but that's easier said than done. 

This week, we dive into how James's words help us uncover what God is doing in our cancer and we unpack two questions that will always lead us to more - more of what God has for us. These questions always work to uncover the purposes God has for us. 

Resources:

If you've ever felt caught between trusting God with your cancer or trusting your doctors, this episode is for you. Cancer survivor Rev. Percy McCray from Cancer Treatment Centers of America's Hope, Health & Inspiration podcast, helps us unpick this this tricky conundrum and find balance between the two so we can move through confidence with more confidence and purpose.  

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With the fear, uncertainty, and exhaustion of a cancer diagnosis, our spiritual energy can quickly dwindle. We'd rather flop in front of the TV than get on our knees before God, devour a box of Oreo's than a book of the Bible, and it's easy to find ourselves procrastinating rather than praying.

If you feel like your spiritual get up and go has got up and gone, or you never had much to start with, this episode offers small bites of spiritual food to revive your soul, refresh your heart and put a spring back in your steps of faith. 

They'll help you recapture your spiritual get up and go when your energy and motivation are at their lowest. 

Resources:

A cancer diagnosis sends us reeling and leaves us scared, overwhelmed and not sure what to do next. Yes, doctors put us on the treatment train but what else can we do to make sure we don't fall apart? How do we navigate the days ahead, talk to our kids, or process the life altering news? 

Whether you were diagnosed last week, last year or have been on this journey for a while, these tips will help you overcome the overwhelm so you can focus on what's important and plot a path for the days ahead with the strength and peace that seems so out of reach right now. 

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Resources:

Cancer throws up a ton of questions and this week I'm answering the ones you've sent in. If you're wondering how to love the person you've become,  what to do when you're Jesus loving friends don't stand by you, or even what kind of tea I drink, listen in before I pray over you using a beautiful love letter, written to you, from God, entirely in scripture. 

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Fear hits us from every direction when we have cancer. It messes with our minds as we churn the what-ifs of our journey into the night, it bombards our bodies as we hold onto stress and tension in unseen ways, and it sucks the life out of our souls leaving us empty and untethered. 

In today's episode,  Pastor Al Hardy talks about how to fight fear in each one of these areas so you can find peace in your mind, body and soul and overcome all that overwhelms you. Listen in so you can not just face today but all your tomorrows with the calm confidence you long for. 

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Worry, anxiety and fear come free of charge with a cancer diagnosis and it's impossible to get rid of them once and for all. Whether you're up at night worry about your scan results, pacing the kitchen anxious about how your kids will react when you lose your hair, or understandably afraid of all the unknowns that lie ahead, your not alone. We fight the fear and worry in our minds and with our faith but today's three ways to wage war on worry will help you fight fear on an often forgotten and underestimated way, your body and find the peace of mind and calm you long for.  

Fear is cancer’s #1 sidekick. Where cancer goes, fear’s right behind it like a menacing bullying adding insult to injury.  

Yes, the fears, worry and anxiety are very present and horribly real, following us around wherever we go. How do we conquer our fears? How do we not let them get a say in the way we live our life or how we feel about our lives. These five steps will help you rob your fears of their power and stop them ruling your life so you can find the peace and calm you so desperately need. 

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One of the biggest things people struggle with during cancer is fear. We fear the unknowns ahead, we fear the cancer spreading or coming back, we fear not living the future we'd planned and hoped for.

Fear bosses us around and rules our life if we don't fight it head on and fear walk through it. On his way to the cross Jesus faced pain, humiliation, torture, mocking, and ultimately death. Yet he didn't let fear boss him or deter him. 

On today's episode, we dive into what Easter teaches us about walking through fear and how we too can fear walk through our cancer journey. 

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When cancer strikes, we can feel spiritually alone and question the presence of God. We wonder whether he's real? Has he left us? Is he mad and ignoring us? 

It's easy to feel abandoned, and we long to be sure God is not just real but near. We wonder if there's any tangible evidence that God hasn't left us? Whether we be certain of his presence and affection, strengthening our faith against any assault? 

When cancer upends your life and you can hardly catch your breath it's easy to hunker down, put life on hold and assume the abundant life God has for you is waiting off in the future somewhere - when this is all over. But that's simply not true. But how do we grab hold of all he has for us and start living it when we're knee deep in cancer? 

Well, God says to us in our cancer "STOP WAITING!" And today I'm giving you 3 things you can do to do just that and start living the full life he has for you, right now. 

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When cancer upends your life and you can hardly catch your breath it's easy to hunker down, put life on hold and assume the abundant life God has for you is waiting off in the future somewhere - when this is all over. 

But that's simply not true. 

But how do we grab hold of all he has for us and start living it when we're knee deep in cancer? Well, God says to us in our cancer "STOP WAITING!" And today I'm giving you 3 things you can do to do just that and start living the full life he has for you, right now. 

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From pain and anxiety to medical bills and talking to your kids about your diagnosis, the shock waves of our cancer impact every part of our lives. 

So what can we do to minimize the fallout, make life easier and more enjoyable for ourselves and everyone around us, and get through with not just our lives but our relationships, finances, faith, and sense of humor stronger than ever?

 Listen in as I gallop through 20 ways to cope with cancer (and grab the FREE 20 Ways to Cope with Cancer Checklist).  

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Going through cancer is exhausting. 

Yes, the treatment beats up our bodies and robs us of sleep but the impact and toll it takes hits every part of our lives not just our sleep. If you've ever said "If I could just get a good night's sleep I'd be okay" then woken up exhausted, it might be because sleep is on one of the many types of rest you need.

 Listen in to my exhaustion-busting conversation with Dr. Dalton Saundra Smith. As a physician, author, and speaker -  she's an expert of the 7 kinds of rest we need, how to know which one we're missing and then how to ensure we get them, especially during cancer.  

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No one gets far into a cancer diagnosis before encountering the reality of pain. Pain from the disease, pain from the surgery, pain from meds, pain from the myriad of poking and prodding our bodies are confronted with. 

If you are in pain today I want to say I am sorry, my heart goes out to you because I've been there. That's why we're getting personal today. 

In part because pain is personal but mainly because I am not a doctor and cannot advise you on the right drugs to soothe your pain. However, I have experienced this kind of pain and what today's episode holds will be soothing medicine for your soul. 

Listen in and find relief from the pain of your cancer.

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David, who wrote this Psalm23, could say he wasn’t afraid of anything, not even the valley of the show of death. It wan't because there was nothing there to be afraid of, but because he knew He wasn’t alone. 

These familiar words might be encouraging but at the same time, it's one of those bible verses that’s easy to believe when life is all roses and butterflies but, when the rubber (AKA cancer) hits the road… not so much.   

The reality is, cancer is often a long dark journey through the shadow of death where it’s easy to feel alone. We wonder where God’s got to and, however much our friends and family love us, we’re the only one that sits in the chemo chair or has the tumor growing inside us.  

That’s why we’re tackling the battle with loneliness on this episode. 

Asking and finding solutions to questions like;  As we journey through the shadow of death, why do we so often feel alone and what can we do about it?  How do we find the confidence to say I will fear no evil because I know I am not alone!! Join us as we dive in and then pray through our guided prayer practice using the acronym TRUST. Listen in and strengthen your trust in God. 

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People say the stupidest things when you have cancer. 

Like me, you've probably heard things like "Oh, my uncle died of that!’ or the old platitude, " Don’t worry, God won’t give you more than you can handle" or the old chestnut "God uses all things.” 

It drove me bonkers. 

We’re already hurting and wrestling with doubt and fear, and the last thing we need is to be nervous about what people are about to blurt out or have the hurt of their unthinking words piled on top. It hurts and it is terribly hard to just shrug the words off. 

What if we could just carry on, not letting them rattle, hurt or annoy us?  What if there was a way to rise above the careless comments and walk in a place of peace...where things people said didn’t impact us. Well, my friend, there is. Listen in. 

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Whether you were diagnosed yesterday, last week, last month or you’ve been on this cancer journey a while now, you can’t have escaped times of not knowing. We wait for test results - will they show the cancer is back or spread or will I get the all-clear? We don’t know how we’ll tolerate the chemo, we don’t know how our kids are going to be impacted by our disease, we don’t know if or when we’ll ever get better and we certainly don’t know if this is it. 

There are sooo many unknowns.

 We live in them daily as cancer survivors and if we’re not careful they can become all-consuming. I’ve heard from so many of you saying these unknowns turn into fear, what-ifs, sleepless nights, and as we talked about in Ep 8 catastrophizing. 

So what are we meant to do? 

It’s not like we can change anything - unknowns are a reality we have to live with. So how do we do that so they don’t just consume us, but we can actually use them to build our faith and trust in God?  

Listen to my CHEMO CHAIR CHAT with Marissa Brewer Henley as she not only shares about being diagnosed with cancer when her kids were little and the unknowns she faced as she walked through cancer and still lives with today. I love that she gives us some super practical things we can do when we're living in the fear and anxiety of the unknowns before praying with and for you.

When life's easy trusting God is too, but when we're diagnosed with cancer we often struggle to trust him. It just doesn't seem as simple as it once did. We want to trust God, we know we should trust him but it's still hard. We find ourselves asking if God really is trustworthy and if so, how can we build our trust in a God who allowed us to get cancer. 

 In this week's episode,  I give you 10 simple steps to trusting God when you don't feel like it before we pray through our prayer practice using the acronym TRUST. Listen in and strengthen your trust in God. 

When life's easy, trusting God is too, but we often struggle to trust Him when diagnosed with cancer. It just doesn't seem as simple as it once did. We want to trust God, we know we should trust him, but it's still hard. We find ourselves asking if God really is trustworthy, and if so, how can we build our trust in a God who allowed us to get cancer. 

In this week's episode, I give you 5 simple steps to trusting God when you don't feel like it before we pray through our prayer practice using the acronym TRUST. Listen in and strengthen your trust in God. 

How do we build great faith, especially when we have cancer? 

 We long to have great faith; a faith that doesn’t waver and wobble in the hardest storms. We want our faith to hold us firm, keep us safe, calm. and full of hope and peace when our cancer journeys are the hardest. We long for solid ground beneath our feet, but more often than not, then, it feels like shifting sand.  

One moment our faith feels pretty good then in the dead of night or as we lie on the scanning machine as it whirs around us, it seems to give way beneath or, if it doesn’t crumble completely, it lacks the robustness we need. And we end up back at square one, struggling to believe we have enough faith and assuming what little faith we do have isn’t strong enough.

 I’ve been there myself, but it's the biggest tragedy we face because just at a time when we need great faith most, we start to doubt it. 

Out of the hardest times of my life, the Lord has taught me some powerful things about finding faith, great faith, and about finding solid ground when everything else around us is shifting and shaking and quaking. I’m not saying my faith is 100% rock-solid 100% of the time - oh no, far from it - but I am saying that what the Lord has shown helps me rebuild my faith and find solid ground, Every. Single. Time. 

If you want that too, this episode is for you and it all starts with discovering that great faith isn't what we think it is. 

We're finally saying goodbye to 2020 and I'm sure I'm not the only one delighted to see the back of this year. The trouble is, just because the ball drops and we raise a glass to a new year, it doesn’t mean all our problems are going to disappear in a puff of smoke. Oh if that were true. 

Our cancer and and all that goes with it will roll in right on with the new year. So what's the one thing we can do to love ourselves well and not end up merely surviving another year ticking by? 

It's time to STOP CATASTROPHIZING!

Listen in as we unpack the three things we can do to stop our fears spiraling out of control and veering off into worst case scenarios.  

If you or someone you love has cancer I don't need to persuade you that pain and suffering is real, that it can strike at anytime, or that no one is immune to it. Our pain and heartache often leave us asking the big question, "Why does God allow suffering?"  This Christmas Eve we look at the question behind this question; "What kind of God allows suffering?" 

Here, as we go beyond unpacking the purely theological answer, we discover a God whose love is so deep and wide that it meets us in our pain and deals with the beliefs that trap us in it.

Listen in and discover a new side of the familiar Christmas message. 

Dealing with cancer is tough enough but load a global pandemic on top of that and many of us are left weary, worried, and waiting for things to change. Each Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus and hear Isaiah's call to sing a new song and overflow with praise, but this year we'd be forgiven for wondering if this message is still relevant. 

Isn't it a message for when life is easier and more rainbows and butterflies than masks and lockdowns? 

 Listen as we dive into how this call to sing a new song is actually more relevant now than ever and how we can turn our weariness, worry, and waiting into worship and wonder, bringing light to our darkness and hope when it's hopeless. 

Have you poured out your heart to God, pleading for things to change until you've got nothing left? Maybe you've given up and simply stopped praying - your energy to pray has been eroded by the constant silence and seeming permanence of the situation. God seems at best silent, at worst, disinterested, as if your cancer doesn't matter to him. 

In today's episode,  we discover an often-overlooked footnote in the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth's prayer journey that encourages us that not only does  God hear and answer the prayers we no longer pray, but we are seen and not forgotten. Despite our cancer telling us otherwise 

Cancer’s like a bulldozer, barging into our lives, destroying everything in its path. What’s not destroyed completely gets dented and damaged and it’s hard to know if it will ever be repaired and back to normal. 

 Whether we’ve just been diagnosed, been fighting cancer for a while, or are living in that untethered space of being NED (no evidence of disease), our health, energy, relationships, patience, and sense of humor, have all taken a serious blow. 

 If that’s you and you need to laugh again, this my friend is the episode you need to hear. 

They say laughter is the best medicine and of course it is. It’s been proven to send those feel good hormones, endorphins, rushing around our bodies, lower our heart rate, and reduce stress. // In this episode we’re going to learn to laugh again because when we’re up to our eyeballs in appointments, treatments, and nausea, laughing can become a distant memory. 

Today I want to remind us how wonderful and life-giving it can feel. 

Honestly? Sometimes, I just don't feel thankful.

When life's hard – really hard - and I'm assuming it is for you too - it's surprising how often we look around us and not see anything we can or want to give thanks for.

Despite the Hallmark sentiments and overstuffed turkeys of Thanksgiving, sometimes we can't summon the energy, let alone the desire, to be thankful for a life that's left us overwhelmed, exhausted, frightened of what's to come, and gasping for air.

We don't feel grateful.

We don't feel blessed to be living the life we've been dealt.

We're tired, fed up, and ready for things to change.

But in the back of our minds, despite how hard everything is right now and how ungrateful we actually feel, we know we really should give thanks anyway.

Hello, Thessalonians 5:18!

So, what are we meant to do?

Today on Chemo Chair Prayers, I share how the answer to this conundrum came in the unlikely form of a workout class and the five things I learned to help us be thankful when we're not.

No matter how far along in our cancer journey we are, fear, worry, and anxiety hang around like ever-present shadows clouding over what little sunshine hits our faces. 

We fear the unknown, the pain of surgery and recuperation, and the terrifying prospect of recurrence. 

We worry about leaving our kids behind, we fear for their futures as we worry about our own and we fear time might just be running out. Fear tightens its grip with every ache, pain, and scan. 

So what are we meant to do? How do we fight fear in the midst of cancer? 

Join me as we discover a roadmap for leaning into the fear before we pray using our TRUST guided prayer format and I offer a small invitation to move forward in the days ahead. 

Whether we’re physically alone or surrounded by people whose love is loud and tangible, cancer can be a lonely place. 

No matter how much our friends and family love us they can never truly understand what it feels like to be where we are. At night, we stare at the ceiling asking God if he's there in the silence or if he's left us to journey on alone. 

Today, we wonder whether we really are as alone as we feel and ask what God has to say to us as we journey on. 

Join me as we pray through our simple TRUST prayer format and I invite you into a simple practical exercise to take with you into the week ahead.

Links::

Episode Shownotes: https://nikihardy.com/chemochairprayers/episode1