Throughout this entire stormy life-season, my heart’s desire has been that this trial wouldn’t be wasted. By that, I meant that I wanted to suffer well and for people to see God and His faithfulness in the midst of it. I am so thankful that He has already given me two opportunities to peripherally enter into another person’s cancer diagnosis and share hope, both spiritual and functional.
A couple weeks ago, I sat at my desk, typing into an email the scriptures that have been most meaningful and encouraging to me in this season. I took a moment to examine why each verse or passage elicits such profound calm in my heart, and made note of each reason. Slowly it dawned on me that, through His Word, God had provided a refutation to every false claim my heart tried to levy against Him. He is so faithful!
Because, theoretically, I can’t lose things I post on the internet, I’m placing my little list here, today. These were the anchors in my cancer storm, Jesus whispering, “Be still!” to the waves crashing around me. I hope they encourage you profoundly and that you’ll post your anchor verses beneath this post.
When I am tempted to grumble:
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
When I lose perspective and focus on earthly circumstances:
2 Corinthians 4:16-18; also: Psalm 16, Psalm 42
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
When I question the love of God:
Romans 8:31-39
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Also: Lamentations 3:21-26 (This became my banner verse for this season.)
But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
When I question the goodness of God:
Lamentations 3:31-33
For the Lord will not cast off for ever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love, for he does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men.
When I question the faithfulness of God:
Romans 5:3-5
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Also: 2 Corinthians 12:8-10
Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 1For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
When I question the nearness of God:
Psalm 46:1-3
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
When I question the power and authority of God:
2 Corinthians 4:7-10
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 1always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
What passages anchor you in the storms of life?
Always Anchored 
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3
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