Most people in my generation know or have known someone who has died of cancer.  Each person has a personal journey to go through.  God alone knows what that entails and where it will end.  There is no room for judgement on how they handle it. 

My friend, Joan, had breast cancer at the same time I did and we became very close friends because of it.  She was about 15 years older than me and we were in very different circumstances.  She ended up going home to the Lord within a few years of her diagnosis and I am still here.  Why?  Only He knows and I trust in His perfect timing.

From the journal . . . February 1991

Lord, Joan’s cancer has gone to stage 4, but she won’t accept death for herself at this time.  Lord Jesus, be gentle.  I wonder why she is holding on so tightly.  Is it direction from You, fear of death or something else?  Maybe she isn’t sure of how great life with You will be.  Lord, please speak to her.

And I Believe God Said:

Tell her to look at Me.   Hold on to Me.  Let go of life but hold onto Me.  If you hold on to your life, you will lose it.  If you give it to Me, you will find it. *  Trust Me .  The plans I have for you are good, to give you a future and a hope.^*2  Your mind, your feelings, your body are not your strong point.  I am.

*Matt 16:25. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.
^*2Jer 29:11 For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for good and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope. NLT
 

Joan, it will be okay.  Trust Me.  You don’t need to understand or think the right way.  I love you because you are My child.  I am your father.  I am perfect!    You don’t have to be a perfect daughter.  You have a perfect father who loves you to perfection.  Come to Me and I will give you rest.  Give Me your burdens, the burdens of life.  I will give you a peace and a joy of life that you have never known.

At some point Joan did accept the likelihood of her impending death and made significant plans to make her remaining life meaningful.  She took each of her four adult children on separate trips before she left this earth.  It was a beautiful plan and I’m sure very meaningful to her children.  I look forward to seeing her again!