Jeff Balsom is a beloved elder in the Chicago Church of Christ who was diagnosed with brain and lung tumors last fall. He has since undergone brain surgery and several rounds of chemotherapy. On his blog he is sharing his struggles and victories. Here are a couple of recent excerpts from jeffbalsom.com.
January 11
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said:“In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:1 – 8
One thing that I am convinced of more than I have ever have, is that prayer is powerful! God is moved by our prayers because he does care for us and listens to the things that we are asking about and feeling in our hearts. Not only is prayer very powerful, but God equates prayer with our faith. Does God see us as faithful prayer warriors? I must ask myself if I am praying to the degree that Jesus is teaching in this scripture?
God wants us to pray constantly. I believe that your prayers have changed my outlook with my cancer and God has moved in amazing ways to bring about physical healing in my body, just from prayer! Many times when we say that we are praying for someone, it is almost like we are saying, “There is nothing else I can do but at least, I am praying.” It is great to serve and do physical things to help but there is nothing more powerful and effective than prayer.
One of my goals for the new year is to pray more. What is more? I am not sure what that will look like but I know that it will include faith, constant prayer and many people and situations. It will include a daily significant time. The widow visited the judge daily. That requires getting out, waiting, actually going before the judge. She took time and Jesus is teaching us to take time. Be on our knees each day and putting what is on our heart before God. This is what moves God and brings Him into our lives and involves God in things that concern us.
Let us all take this teaching of Jesus very seriously and have prayer be a significant part of our daily lives. Let’s go to God persistently together. Don’t give up. Prayer is something that you have wrestle with. It is part of fighting the good fight. Pulling God into our hearts and letting Him know what is important to us and how we feel.
January 6
Happy New Year to all. Thank you for all of your prayers, thoughts, emails and comments. I really want to say that Roberta and I are so encouraged because of all of you and the camaraderie and unity that we feel from your love.
My last three week cycle of between chemotherapy treatments was the easiest that I have gone through. I feel like it was just a blessing from God to have this during Christmas time. Last Thursday, I had a full body scan and a CT scan for my head and chest. This was the plan after three chemotherapy treatments. We got a report with very good news. All of the tumors are shrinking and the two smallest ones, one in the left lung and one on my liver are undetectable. The biggest and baddest tumor in my lung which was the starter of all of this mess, is down about 60% in size! I give all the glory to God and not the right medicine or smart doctors or even a body that responds to chemotherapy. I know that God has heard the prayers of many on my behalf and he is answering our prayers.
The last time we got news from a scan it was much worse than expected and so the wait for this one was extremely difficult. I was praying constantly for peace and trust but I was very anxious. I was sitting in the doctor’s office (and, of course, it was one of the longest times we ever had to wait for this doctor) and I was trying to cast my anxiety on God and asking for peace, but it was difficult. Since I have been writing about winning the battle and trusting God so much, I felt like I needed to confess the challenging nature of being ready to hear good news or bad news. It is just real life and when the rubber meets the road, it is very difficult, but Jesus knows everything we go through, He experienced everything that we have faced and understands our struggles.
I asked the doctor if this good news is cause for celebration and he said, “No, there is a long battle ahead and we need to finish the six rounds of chemotherapy.” So we decided to have a Thanksgiving Party with God, Roberta and I. There will be much more to go through and scans that may or may not reveal something, but I am determined to press on physically and to remember this scripture for my life and my own personal fight right now,
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” I must press on with my faith, press on with the medical battle and persevere.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us… Hebrews 12:1
jeffbalsom.com