Where is your focus?

All sorts of thoughts and feelings are going through my mind right now.  Ever since we heard, a couple of weeks ago, that my brother Phil had been diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus, and that humanly speaking the outlook was bleak, we have been joining with many others around the world in praying for Phil's healing.  Subsequent to the diagnosis, Phil underwent a CT scan which did not reveal any indication that the cancer had spread significantly.  The next step was a PET scan, designed to give more information which would help the medical people to make decisions about possible treatment. After the relatively positive results from the CT scan, we were brought back down to earth with a bump by the results of the PET scan.  Phil writes,

'The PET scan revealed that the cancer has grown around my aorta, and spread into my kidney and abdomen, so is now completely inoperable. All they can offer is palliative care - slowing down the growth of the cancer, and reducing my pain. It means I have maybe six months left on planet earth. We are absolutely in "only a miracle will do" territory.'

I must admit that my emotions are all over the place at the moment.  There are odd moments when, unexpectedly, the tears begin to flow (there must be something in my eye!)  At other times I feel full of faith and hope for the miracle for which we are all praying.  The truth is, it's when the tough times come that the reality and strength of our faith is put to the test.  We make a big mistake if we think that being a follower of Jesus will make us immune from troubled times.  Becoming a Christian is not an insurance policy against problems in life.  In fact, Jesus told his disciples, 'Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows' (John 16:33); not one of my favourite promises of Jesus!

We have probably all heard the story of a dog whose ownership was disputed.  Two people each claimed that the dog was theirs.  To decide whose dog it was, the judge decided to put the two claimants in a room with the dog, and ask each to beckon the dog.  The person to whom the dog responded would be judged to be the rightful owner.  To whom would the dog turn?  

That story comes to mind because it has a relevance to the situation we are facing in our family at the moment.  In our situation, we have a choice.  Do we allow cancer to dominate our thoughts, or do we look to the One who is far bigger than cancer?  It is easy to allow a particular problem we are facing to so dominate our thoughts that we feel crushed and overwhelmed.  How much better it is if we seek to keep our focus on the God who loves us and for whom nothing is impossible?

There is a story in Mark's gospel (chapter 9) of a man whose young son is terribly troubled by spiritual oppression.  The man approaches Jesus and says, 'If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.'  Clearly the man didn't have vast quantities of faith, as he wasn't even sure that Jesus was able to help his son.  This is the next part of the conversation:


‘“If you can”?’ said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for one who believes.’  Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’

Even though the man's faith was very weak, Jesus received that faith and responded by bringing wholeness and healing to the boy.  The key is not so much the size of our faith, but in whom our faith is placed.  Jesus himself said that even faith the size of a mustard seed can move a mountain (Matthew 17:20).

Tomorrow I and two of my sisters head off to New Zealand to spend time with Phil and his family.  Though we acknowledge the medical prognosis and the reality of the situation, I hope and pray that our focus will not primarily be on the cancer or the diagnosis, but on the God for whom everything is possible.

As one of my daughters pointed out this morning, the first part of our prayer for Phil has now been answered - no surgery!  We now focus on the second part - no cancer.