Jen Tan: Where is God in the Cancer?

11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

In our association with Cancer Companions, a Global Cancer prayer support organisation, we have come across so many suffering with this dreaded illness. The overarching emotion is one of dread - for everyone involved and sometimes a fatalistic attitude for those suffering. The overriding question is " why me? I pray, I believe in God, what sin have I committed to suffer? Why do I have to suffer?

Cancer is not from God. Cancer is a tool of Satan to swing our mind away from God. Even if we are non-believers, it has the potential to trap us into despair and hopelessness which Satan wants us to believe.

Where is God in all this? He is the miracle provider. The healer. Our shield and buckler.

As prayer partners, we ourselves have seen and are the beneficiary of so many miracles every day. But the one top observation we have is this: While we expect or demand in our prayers that the Cancer disappear, we must remember God does not work like that.

He will not gloriously produce a miracle like healing. He does heal but not in the way we expect. Like in the quoted verse, He will speak healing in the silence, in an unnoticeable whisper. He will orchestrate the healing through His angels, people like you and me, doctors, nurses, correct medications, through grace to bear the emotional and mental havoc and the strength to bear the side effects. Like with Jonah, God did not stop the crew throwing him overboard, but he did save Jonah: by using a fish! Healing will not be instantaneous and painless - but His grace and power help us through. All this through His angels on earth who pray for us, who provide for us and who administer to our needs - medical, emotional and spiritual. People like you and me. 

Jen Tan speaks from her experience when she says- 

"Reading the Bible has changed my perspective on what an honorable life truly is. Before I started reading it, my life was centered around myself - my job, my earnings, my home, what I could accumulate, my hobbies, my family and my friends. Everything revolved around "me" and "mine". I measured life by what I could gain, control or enjoy.

This transformation does not happen overnight. It is a daily commitment to surrender and trust God even when we do not fully understand His plans and allowing him to guide us through our journey. I am learning to fully rely on him and that His will is not something to be feared, but something good, pleasing, and perfect, even in the midst of challenges".

So where is God in my cancer? In my trust of His word!

In the context of Psalm 91 and other scriptures, here is where God is found during such a difficult journey:  He is the "Secret Place of the Most High," a spiritual refuge where your soul can rest even when your body is weary. In addition, depending on one's situation, He caters to different needs as we see below: 

1. Presence in the Shadow: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me." Not an Observer, but a Companion: He is not standing at the edge of the valley waiting for you to get out; He is walking the dark path alongside you, providing "rod and staff" for comfort and support.

2. He is in the Tears and the Brokenness (Psalm 34:18) "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Psalm 56:8 says, "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle." God is so present in your cancer that He notices every tear shed in a hospital room or in the quiet of the night.

3. He is Your Strength When Yours Fails (Isaiah 41:10)

When treatments take your physical strength, the Bible points to a different source of power.

The Right Hand: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Sustaining Power: He is the one "upholding" you, meaning when you feel you can no longer stand on your own, His presence becomes the floor beneath your feet.

5. He is the "Great Physician" and the Comforter (Matthew 11:28)

In summary: According to these verses, God is not absent from your cancer. He is in the hospital room, He is in the science of the medicine, He is in the hands of the caregivers, and most importantly, He is "under whose wings you have come to take refuge" [Psalm 91:4].

The Strategy of the Mountain.

And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 

Matthew 14:23 (KJV)

Have you ever noticed how a phone battery drains faster when too many apps are running in the background? 

Our souls work the same way. We spend our days "running apps"— responding to demands, managing family, and navigating the noise of the crowd—until our internal "charge" is nearly gone. Many believers live in a state of chronic spiritual exhaustion because they have forgotten the strategy of the mountain. Jesus understood that public effectiveness is birthed in private stillness. He didn't just pray when He was in trouble; He retreated to pray so He could stay in tune with the Father. Solitude isn't about being lonely; it’s about being "apart" long enough for the dust of the world to settle so you can see clearly again. When you intentionally "send the multitudes away," you are protecting the most valuable thing you own: your connection to the Source.

Friends, your strength is renewed in the quietness of the secret place; do not neglect the "mountain apart" for the busyness of the plain. Spiritual maturity is found in the believer who recognizes that their soul needs intervals of silence to remain sensitive to the leading of the Spirit. As you shut out the voices of men, you open your heart to the counsel of God. Yield your schedule to the necessity of solitude today, and watch how He restores your soul and sharpens your vision. Let your life be anchored in the depth of His presence.

Prayer point: Heavenly Father, teach me the beauty and the power of being alone with You. Forgive me for being consumed by the noise and the crowds of this life. Restore my soul in the quietness of Your love and give me fresh strength for the journey ahead. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Copyright @Watchdis Media

The Mantra of Success: Pastor Rajiv

 

The mantra of success today is everything we gain in life is through hard work and self discipline right?

And that is why the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith can be a challenge for works-oriented people. 

Pastor Rajiv's message this morning is a message of introspection to answer the question:   are we faith-oriented people or are we works-oriented people. 

Notice: 

Pastor Rajiv is shortly going to start a weekly podcast series of his messages. We shall keep you informed so please watch this space!

An Existential Inquiry

"I will be their God and they will be my people"

Humanity has long grappled with an existential "Telos"—a question of ultimate ends. We ask not only what will become of the physical cosmos, but where we, as individuals and a community, sit within the divine architecture of time. When we turn to Holy Scripture, we find that history is not a series of random events, but a purposeful progression toward a specific resolution.

The Apocalypse as Rebirth: Beyond Judgment

While the Book of Revelation is often colloquially reduced to a manifesto of divine judgment, a deeper theological exegesis reveals a more profound narrative: the Ontological Transition. It depicts the passing away of the statu quo—the "old-world order" corrupted by sin—and the emergence of the New Jerusalem, uncorrupted and designed to be incorruptible. This is not merely the destruction of the earth, but its radical "Restoration." Revelation paints a picture of a world where the boundary between the Divine and the Human is finally dissolved.

The Covenant Formula: "I Will Be Their God"

The linchpin of this entire biblical narrative is a recurring theological motif known as the Covenant Formula: "I will be their God, and they shall be my people." This phrase is the "Golden Thread" of Scripture, appearing in the foundational promises of Genesis (17:7), the liberation of Exodus (6:7), the internal transformation of Jeremiah’s New Covenant (31:33), and finally, the climactic vision of Revelation (21:3).

Key Theological Pillars of the Formula:

Covenantal Intimacy: This is not a legalistic contract, but a formal, binding, and intimate bond—often interpreted through the lens of a "Sacred Marriage" (Hosea 2).

Universal Inclusion: Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Particulate covenant (with Israel) is expanded into a Universal covenant. The "Citizenship" of the New World is offered to all who respond in faith to the "Christ-Event."

Divine Immanence: The formula guarantees "The Presence." It signifies that God is no longer a distant observer but an indwelling companion, walking among His creation as originally intended in Eden.

The Citizen-Mission: Populating the New World

Theologically, we must conclude that if a "New World" is emerging, it requires a "New Humanity." Jesus Christ, the Architect of this New Creation, did not leave the population of this Kingdom to chance. He issued the Great Commission—a divine mandate that transforms every believer into a "Recruitment Agent" for the Kingdom of Heaven.

Stewardship of Talent and Character

Our responsibility is twofold:

Missional Stewardship: Every gift—whether it be intellectual, financial, or creative—is "Kingdom Capital." We are called to invest these talents into the "Great Work" of populating the New World by sharing the Message of Christ.

The Christ-Model (Imitatio Christi): The most potent tool for mission is not our words, but our "Ontological Witness"—the way we live. By modeling our lives after the character of Jesus, we provide a visible preview of "New World Citizenship" to a broken world. We live today according to the laws of the world that is coming, so that others may be drawn into that same hope.

Friends, history is moving toward a Covenantal Fulfillment. We are not merely observers of the end of the world; we are active participants in the birth of a new one. Through our faith and our imitation of Christ, we secure our citizenship and invite the world to join us in the New Jerusalem.

I will be their God, and they shall be my people. — 2 Corinthians 6:16

What a sweet title: “My people!” What a cheering revelation: “Their God!” How much of meaning is couched in those two words, “My people!” Here is speciality. The whole world is God's; the heaven, even the heaven of heavens is the Lord's, and he reigneth among the children of men; but of those whom he hath chosen, whom he hath purchased to himself, he saith what he saith not of others—“My people.” In this word there is the idea of proprietorship. In a special manner the “Lord’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.” All the nations upon earth are his; the whole world is in his power; yet are his people, his chosen, more especially his possession; for he has done more for them than others; he has bought them with his blood; he has brought them nigh to himself; he has set his great heart upon them; he has loved them with an everlasting love, a love which many waters cannot quench, and which the revolutions of time shall never suffice in the least degree to diminish. Dear friends, can you, by faith, see yourselves in that number? Can you look up to heaven and say, “My Lord and my God: mine by that sweet relationship which entitles me to call thee Father; mine by that hallowed fellowship which I delight to hold with thee when thou art pleased to manifest thyself unto me as thou dost not unto the world?” Canst thou read the Book of Inspiration, and find there the indentures of thy salvation? Canst thou read thy title writ in precious blood? Canst thou, by humble faith, lay hold of Jesus’ garments, and say, “My Christ”? If thou canst, then God saith of thee, and of others like thee, “My people;” for, if God be your God, and Christ your Christ, the Lord has a special, peculiar favour to you; you are the object of his choice, accepted in his beloved Son.

Monday Reset: The Prudent Check

"The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps."

Proverbs 14:15

In a world that moves at the speed of a notification, we are constantly bombarded with "facts," urgent requests, and split-second opportunities. The temptation is to react instantly—to believe the first report we hear or to say "yes" before we’ve weighed the cost.

Proverbs 14:15 draws a sharp contrast between two ways of living:

1. The Simple Path: This isn't about a lack of intelligence, but a lack of boundaries. It is a life lived on "autopilot," where we let external noise dictate our internal direction. When we believe everything without testing it, we surrender our agency to whoever speaks the loudest.

2. The Prudent Path: The "prudent" person isn't cynical, but they are intentional. They understand that every decision—no matter how small—is a seed planted for the future. They "give thought to their steps," meaning they slow down long enough to ask: Is this true? Is this wise? Where does this lead?

The "Reset" Strategy

As you start your week, don't just rush into your "to-do" list. Apply the Prudent Check:

Audit Your Information: Before reacting to a stressful email or a piece of news, verify the source. Don’t let unexamined "facts" rob you of your peace.

Pause Before the Pivot: If a new project or demand arises today, don't commit immediately. Give yourself the space to "give thought" to how it aligns with your long-term goals.

Walk, Don't Run: Haste is often the enemy of wisdom. True progress is measured by the quality of your steps, not just the speed of your stride.

Ask for a  discerning heart this week; to filter the noise around and to seek the truth before taking action. Walk with intention rather than impulse. Let your steps be guided by His wisdom so that you may move with confidence and clarity. 

Focus Question for the Day

What is one area of my life right now where I have been moving on "autopilot" instead of giving thought to my steps?

Compose:

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