When patient’s are diagnosed with cancer, I often hear:

“I’m OK with it.”

“I’ve accepted it.”

“I’m going to fight this.”

“God will pull me through.”

In the middle of the fight, no matter if it’s going well or not, I often hear the following phrases:

“I’m tired but I’ll be ok.”

“The pain meds are working pretty well.”

“I’m eating pretty good.”

At the end of the cancer fight, when patients accept their inevitable death, I often hear:

“I’m here to say goodbye to you.”

“I’m tired of fighting and want to rest.”

“Thank you.”

If you read my last few blogs on prayers in medicine, I discussed survival and cancer recovery. Today, however, I’m going to address patients who die from cancer.

I can’t tell you why God allow some to live and some to die.

I can’t tell you why certain people get certain cancers. I can tell you risk factors for certain cancers but I can’t tell you why some people get cancers and others don’t.

But I can tell you that they are prayers during their cancer battle are answered.

When a patient has nausea and vomiting to the point where they can’t enjoy any meals, they pray for peace. And they are given it.

When a patient has severe pain that is difficult to manage, they pray for peace. And they are given it.

When a patient faces the possibility of death every single day, they pray for peace. And they are given it.

There is a supernatural level of peace that is given to people in their most desperate times of need. And I see it in all of my cancer patients.

It is a peace beyond my understanding. Beyond my comprehension. Beyond my own peace in life.

And it is a peace that can only come from Jesus.

These patients face life and death with an aura of confidence that there is more after their death. They face life and death with a living hope of a new body, a healed body, in the afterlife.

These patients, despite their internal physical war, have peace.

God answers prayers. He may not answer “yes” when you play the lottery but he’ll provide you with financial stability.

He may not answer “yes” right away when you pray for a spouse, but he’ll provide you with love and peace while you wait for that spouse.

And He may not answer “yes” when you want to survive cancer, but he’ll promise you peace during your fight, comfort during your depression, and eternal life in heaven after death.

God answers prayers. Even in medicine.