I am thrilled to be hosting one of my favorite authors today, Wendy van Eyck of I Love Devotionals. Wendy has just recently released a book I had the privilege of reading early — Life, Life and More Life. She recounts how she holds on to hope and faith in the midst of her husband’s cancer diagnosis. Click through from the book image below to get your hands on this book. You won’t regret it. I promise. I don’t give this recommendation lightly. I was crying through the whole book, while also being inspired to focus more on the goodness of our God. But first, listen to Wendy tell us some of her story here:
I have wished that I never heard the words, “Your husband has cancer.”
They are hope-sucking words.
Those four words were the ones we heard a few months after marriage.
And these are the words God has spoken into my heart time-and-again since then.
“Just trust me.”
I don’t think anyone likes hearing that phrase either. But sometimes “Just trust me” is what I hear Jesus telling me.
When I’m worried about what is going to happen next, when I’m stressed out over what the doctors results will say, or just down because I can’t see my dreams ever being reality that’s when I hear it, quiet, firm, “Just trust me.”
They are the same words that Jesus spoke to Jairus in Mark 5:35:
While he was still talking, some people came from the leader’s house and told him, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?”
Jesus overheard what they were talking about and said to the leader, “Don’t listen to them; just trust me.”
I can’t imagine how I would feel if I had just been told that my daughter had died. I’m pretty sure that I would have felt like the words, “Don’t listen to them; just trust me,” wouldn’t fix anything.
I would have wondered if Jesus really understood my pain.
And at the same time I would have known that Jesus was my only hope.
One thing I’ve learnt in the two years since Xylon’s cancer diagnosis is that when the rest of the world is saying there’s no hope, Jesus is standing there saying, “They’re wrong.”
When everyone else is questioning if Jesus really cares about the hard things we’re going through, I listen for his voice declaring, “Don’t listen to them; just trust me.”
Perhaps what I love most about this short encounter between Jairus and Jesus is that there is mystery. Jesus doesn’t tell Jairus that his daughter is in fact dead, or that he’ll have to raise her back to life.
Jesus invites Jairus to trust him in the mystery.
And Jairus does, and as he does, he finds hope. He does not know that Jesus will make everything better, unlike us he hasn’t read the end of the story, he can’t foretell that Jesus will bring his daughter back from the dead.
Jairus only has Jesus’ words to hope in.
When everyone else was saying, “You have no hope!” Jesus was saying, “I am your hope!” (You can tweet this)
Sometimes that’s all I have too. Jesus’ words calling to me, as I hold my husbands’ hand in the oncology waiting room, “Just trust me.”
As I listen I find hope rising in unexpected places.
Wendy is married to Xylon, who talks non-stop about cycling, and makes her laugh. She writes for anyone who has ever held a loved one’s hand through illness, ever believed in God despite hard circumstances or ever left on a spontaneous 2-week holiday through a foreign land with just a backpack.
You can follow Wendy’s story and subscribe to receive her free ebook, “Life, life and more life” at ilovedevotionals.com.
She would also love to connect with you on Facebook and twitter.
That was just beautiful.
I have half-jokingly told Wendy I want to write like her when I grow up
I quickly jumped over to her site to subscribe and download the book. I’ll read it right after yours!
Thanks for the reminder — just sent it to you via FB
Thanks Carey! Great to “meet” you.
i consider myself a pretty trusting person. maybe overly so. but that’s when dealing with other people. jesus is a whole other matter. i’d like to say i trust him fully but that’s a laugh. i think of my wife and honestly don’t know what i’d do if she were diagnosed with cancer. heck, i don’t even know what i’d do if it were me. such strength, courage, and life you have, wendy.
i’m with you, chris. i want to write like wendy when i grow up, too! such beauty and life in these words.
So heartfelt, moving and inspiring as always, Wendy. You have an amazing testimony wrought in dark places that offers hope, light and life to others. Thanks very much for sharing more of your personal story here. And thanks, Chris, for hosting. Yes, we all stand in awe at the gift Wendy has at expressing biblical truth so beautifully!
Wendy, I am so grateful to read writers who use the raw and intimate details of life to share with others. Bless you on your journey
I’m really enjoying your site, Wendy!!
Thanks Christa. I think that it’s in those raw places that God meets me most.
Too much kindness Tim!
I’m still working out the whole trusting Jesus thing too. Some days are easier than others. In fact I’m consistently amazed at how much patience God has for us!
Thanks for being encouraging as always, Joy!
ain’t that the truth! god has immense patience for us. imagine if we reciprocated?
sent from tim’s iPhone
Beautiful message. Very eloquently delivered!
Wendy, I agree. It’s in those moments, when we come to the end of ourselves, where we finally allow God access to the deep hurts in our hearts.
I am always amazed and so very grateful at His patience with us in those days when we flail about in frustration and false self-confidence
hie wendy thanks for such an inspiration, every time I read your articles you challenge me with how you use you circumstances in life to explain to us the gospel.thanks for telling the truth in love and for being vulnerable. You are blessed
Thanks Emily.
The power behind the message is so challenging. Trust God no matter what