Cancer is a devastating disease that impacts millions of people worldwide. As Christians face cancer, whether personally or in someone they love, they naturally turn to the Bible for comfort, hope and direction. Here is an overview of some key biblical themes related to cancer.
God’s Sovereignty Over Suffering
The Bible affirms that God is sovereign, meaning He is in complete control over all things (Psalm 115:3). This includes human suffering like cancer. Though we may not understand why God allows cancer in some cases, we can trust His wisdom and sovereignty. Romans 8:28 assures believers that “for those who love God all things work together for good.” While cancer is evil, God can use even this for His glory and purposes.
Examples in Scripture illustrate God’s sovereignty over illness. God allowed Satan to inflict Job with terrible sicknesses (Job 2:7-8). Jesus healed various diseases to reveal His power and glory (Luke 4:40-41). Paul wrote that his “thorn in the flesh” which God refused to take away actually advanced the Gospel (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Just as God could allow or prevent illness in biblical times, He remains completely sovereign over cancer today.
The Problem of Sin and Death
Scripture teaches that human death and suffering entered the world through Adam’s sin. “…sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin…” (Romans 5:12). Prior to the Fall in Genesis 3, cancer did not exist. All sickness results from living in a fallen creation under the curse of sin (Genesis 3:14-19).
Our physical bodies are still subject to the effects of sin. As 1 Corinthians 15:26 states, “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” Only when Christ returns to fully redeem His people will sickness and death be forever defeated. Until then, the devastating effects of sin like cancer remain.
Cancer Ultimately Results from Our Fallen State
While individual sins do not necessarily cause cancer in a particular person, humanity’s collective rebellion against God resulted in a fallen creation where cancer could exist. Specific cases of cancer likely result from the interplay between genetic predispositions and environmental exposures within the broader context of the curse of sin on creation.
Occasionally cancer results directly from personal lifestyle choices contrary to God’s standards. For example, some cancers clearly stem from smoking, excessive alcohol or promiscuous sex. But often the actual cause remains unclear. The commonality is that cancer stems from our fallen state.
Jesus rejected the idea that particular sins directly cause various illnesses. When asked about a man born blind, He responded, “…it was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:3). The connection between sin and suffering is real but not always individualized.
Cancer as an Opportunity for Spiritual Growth
Though painful, cancer can produce spiritual benefits. Romans 5:3-5 describes how “…we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…” James 1:2-4 echoes this idea that trials develop Christian maturity.
Cancer provides opportunities to trust God, cling to His promises, obey Christ’s commands and grow in godly virtues. Faith and hope in God’s eternal purposes help us persevere. As we endure cancer’s challenges and look to Christ, spiritual fruit such as patience, kindness and self-control can grow in our lives.
God sometimes uniquely meets and ministers to people spiritually through their encounter with cancer. Though still difficult, cancer in this light can be seen as a privileged invitation to draw closer to the Lord.
God Comforts and Sustains His People
The Bible contains many promises of God’s comfort, help and strength to endure trials. For example, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5), “…Fear not, for I am with you…” (Isaiah 41:10), and “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Psalm 23 depicts God as a caring Shepherd leading His sheep through “the valley of the shadow of death.” Isaiah 43:2 promises that when we “pass through the waters” and “through the rivers,” God will be with us. God’s presence and strength enable His people to endure cancer’s challenges.
God also sustains and comforts His children through other believers. The Church is called to bear one another’s burdens during trials like cancer (Galatians 6:2). Christian fellowship brings needed support and encouragement.
God Can Heal Cancer, But Not Always
The Bible recounts many examples of Jesus and the apostles healing the sick miraculously. In response to prayer, God sometimes heals cancer today. Complete healing glorifies God and demonstrates His compassion and power (John 11:4). We should pray earnestly for healing while submitting to God’s perfect will (Matthew 26:39).
Yet Scripture makes clear that healing in this life is not guaranteed. Paul speaks of fellow minister Epaphroditus who “was ill, near to death…God had mercy on him” (Philippians 2:27). Here God healed but only after the illness became extremely severe. God graciously preserved Epaphroditus but did not immediately heal him.
Paul also writes about leaving his co-worker Trophimus “ill at Miletus” (2 Timothy 4:20). These examples show that God does not always heal. While He is able to heal cancer, His purposes may involve not healing for now.
God’s Compassion for Those Suffering
Christ’s compassion toward the sick and hurting models God’s heart of mercy. Jesus willingly healed multitudes of diverse illnesses demonstrating His grace and kindness (Matthew 4:23-24). He felt deep empathy for suffering people, so much that when He encountered a grieving widow, “He had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep’” (Luke 7:13).
Similarly, Jesus was “deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled” upon seeing grieving friends of Lazarus. They noted “‘See how he loved him!'” (John 11:33-36). Jesus identifies with our pain in cancer and profoundly cares.
As Hebrews 4:15 notes, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses…” Through Christ, God intimately understands the challenges those with cancer face. His compassion comforts us.
The Need to Persevere by Faith
The Bible often encourages perseverance through sufferings like cancer. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial…” James later adds, “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord” (James 5:7-8). As cancer persists, we must choose to patiently endure.
Hebrews 12:1 instructs believers to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Like running a marathon, battling cancer demands endurance and perseverance empowered by faith. We must firmly trust God and not lose heart (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
Scripture gives hope that our present trials are producing glory: “…this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17). Persevering through cancer by faith results in eternal blessing.
The Hope of Heaven and Resurrection
While Scripture showcases God’s power to heal illness, ultimately it points to the hope of heaven where all suffering will cease. Revelation 21:4 declares, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore.” In heaven, cancer’s effects will be forever gone.
Christ’s own resurrection from the dead ensures that believers who die from cancer will also live again through Him. 1 Thessalonians 4:14 promises, “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” Our future bodily resurrection brings hope.
Thus cancer ushers Christian sufferers closer to the presence of Christ in heaven, where “He will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:20-21). Our eternal glory eclipses present pains. The hope of resurrection sustains hurting believers.
God’s Purpose in Cancer
While the causes of cancer often remain unclear, its presence always has purpose in the lives of believers. Romans 8:28 promises that for followers of Christ, “…all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Cancer falls within God’s broader plan.
Though Joseph faced terrible injustices, he later told his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…” (Genesis 50:20). Similarly, cancer results from evil in a fallen world. Yet God can powerfully use it for the spiritual good of His people if they submit to Him in faith.
Ultimately cancer offers believers an opportunity to honor God. As 1 Peter 4:19 reminds, “Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” Despite the pain, we must continue serving God and entrusting ourselves to Him.
God Will Judge and Defeat Evil
Though it often seems otherwise, cancer does not have the final say. Scripture assures that God will ultimately judge all evil, including the presence of cancer in the world. Revelation 20:10 promises that in the end “…the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire…”
The Bible categorizes sickness as a form of evil whose power will eventually be broken. Acts 10:38 depicts sickness as oppression by the devil. But the day is coming when all evil powers, including the death and suffering caused by cancer, will be eradicated and judged.
The redemptive work of Christ guarantees the eventual end of cancer: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20). In eternity, just as Satan will be completely defeated, so cancer will no longer afflict God’s people.
Cancer Reflects a Longing for Redemption
Our heartache over the reality of cancer stems from the fact that this world is not what God originally intended. Cancer’s existence reminds us that our present bodies and universe are broken and cry out for future redemption.
Romans 8 declares that “the creation was subjected to futility…in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption…” (v.20-21). Just as we “groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (v.23), so all creation groans under bondage awaiting full redemption.
The evil of cancer will completely disappear with Christ’s return when “…there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying…” (Revelation 21:4). Until then, cancer prompts longing for God’s eternal kingdom free from all sickness and suffering.
Exhortation to Pray for Cancer Patients
God calls all Christians to fervently pray for those battling cancer. James 5:13-16 instructs believers to earnestly pray for each other so “that you may be healed.” We should petition God to heal and help cancer patients according to His perfect will.
We must also pray for God’s unique work in cancer patients to draw them closer to Himself. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 explains that God “comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. We should pray that God uses cancer to advance His purposes in their lives.
Finally, we need to faithfully support and walk alongside fellow believers battling cancer. Galatians 6:2 says to “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Through prayer and tangible help, we can aid cancer patients to endure and honor Christ.
Call to Hope and Perseverance
While cancer ushers in profound struggles, Scripture urges believers to maintain hope and persevere with joy. Romans 12:12 counsels to “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Cancer patients can obey this command by God’s grace at work in them.
An eternal perspective helps refocus us during cancer’s challenges. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: “So we do not lose heart…For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory…” Afflictions like cancer are brief compared to the glory to come for believers.
1 Peter 1:3-9 provides similar encouragement. Despite “various trials,” believers can “rejoice with joy.” We have a “living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” So amid cancer we “rejoice, though now for a little while…you have been grieved by various trials.”
By clinging to Jesus, we can faithfully endure cancer. The testing of our faith through cancer produces steadfastness and Christlikeness in our lives (James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 1:6-7). As we fix our hope on eternity, God gives grace to persevere joyfully.
Exhortation to Use Cancer to Bless Others
Though difficult, cancer patients can use their illness to glorify God and bless others. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 states that God “comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” Comfort from God equips us to comfort others.
Paul modeled this by saying “Blessed be…the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction…” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Despite his hardships, he sought to bless others.
One way believers with cancer can comfort others is through sharing lessons learned through their illness. 2 Corinthians 1:6 notes that “…If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort…” Cancer patients can share insights that provide hope and perspective to struggling people.
Cancer patients can also minister to and build relationships with others battling cancer. Those enduring the same illness can uniquely encourage each other. By turning struggles into opportunities to bless others, patients use cancer for redemptive purposes.
Conclusion
Cancer remains an ugly intrusion in a fallen world, but Scripture provides perspective and hope for believers facing it. While God does not always heal now, He walks closely with His children through cancer’s journey. He promises to work for their good and eternal glory if they trust and obey Him.
God calls Christians to pray earnestly for cancer patients and provide comfort. Most importantly, He invites believers with cancer to turn their eyes upon Jesus and endure with joy. By His grace they can persevere in hope and use cancer to minister to others. While awaiting the day when God forever defeats cancer, may He fill His people with faith, hope and love.