When Faith Becomes Your Anchor: Why I Created "Praying Through the Storm"

There are moments in life that change everything. For me, one of those moments came when my sister and I sat with my mother in a sterile doctor's office, hearing the words that would forever alter our world: "You have leukemia."

I'll never forget my mother's response. Without missing a beat, she looked at the doctor and said, "I had a feeling that's what was wrong. But it will be okay. I love Jesus and I know where I'm going. No matter what."

In that moment, I witnessed something that would shape my understanding of faith forever. Another defining moment came years later when my best friend heard those same life-altering words: "You have cancer."

In both cases, I saw how faith - real, tested, sometimes trembling faith - became their anchor in the storm.

The Birth of a Heart Project

As someone who has spent over 25 years in ministry, I've sat with countless women facing various trials. But watching my own loved ones navigate cancer taught me something profound about the unique challenges this disease brings. It's not just the physical battle - it's the emotional upheaval, the spiritual questions, the way uncertainty can overwhelm even the strongest faith.

My mother's immediate declaration of faith in that doctor's office wasn't denial or false bravery - it was the fruit of a lifetime spent cultivating trust in God's goodness. But I also witnessed her human moments - the fears, the questions, the days when her faith felt more like clinging than soaring.

I began to notice that while there were many resources available for cancer patients, few spoke directly to the heart of a woman's faith journey through this specific trial. There were medical guides and general inspirational books, but where was the gentle, day-by-day companion that understood both the reality of cancer and the power of God's presence in the storm?

That's how "Praying Through the Storm: A Cancer Journal" was born - not from a business plan, but from a broken heart that had been beautifully mended by watching faith in action.

More Than Just a Journal

This isn't just another devotional. Every single page was written with a specific woman in mind - the one who just received her diagnosis, the one in the middle of grueling treatments, the one supporting someone she loves, or the one who feels like her faith is hanging by a thread.

Each of the 30 days includes:

1. Scripture carefully chosen for the cancer journey

2. Devotionals that acknowledge real struggles while pointing to genuine hope

3. Prayers that feel authentic to what you're actually experiencing

4. Journaling prompts that help you process the complex emotions of this journey

5. Space to be completely honest with God about your fears, hopes, and questions

The Power of Meeting Women Where They Are

One thing I learned from my mother and best friend was that faith during cancer doesn't always look pretty. Some days it's triumphant trust; other days it's desperate clinging. Some days it's confident prayer; other days it's wordless tears.

This journal honors all of those days.

I didn't want to create something that would make women feel guilty for struggling or pressure them to have "enough faith." Instead, I wanted to create a safe space where they could bring their real selves to a real God who understands real pain.

Why the Word "Cancer" Matters

When we were deciding on the title, I wrestled with whether to include the word "cancer." Would it turn people away? Would it feel too heavy?

But then I remembered my mother's words: "I'm not ashamed of having cancer. It's part of my story now, and God is in this part too."

Women facing cancer need to know that someone understands their specific struggle. They need resources that aren't afraid to name their reality while still offering hope. They need to feel seen and understood, not given generic comfort that doesn't quite fit their situation.

A Labor of Love, Not Just Ministry

Every woman who picks up this journal should know: this was written for you, specifically for you. Written by someone who has held the hands of women walking this path, who has seen faith tested and refined, who has witnessed the incredible strength that comes when we stop trying to be strong enough on our own.

Whether you write pages each day or can only manage a single word, whether you feel close to God or distant from Him, whether you're filled with hope or overwhelmed by fear - this journal meets you exactly where you are.

An Invitation, Not a Sales Pitch

If you or someone you love is walking the cancer journey, I want you to know something: you are not alone. Your struggle is real, your fears are valid, and your need for hope is completely understandable.

This journal was created to be a gentle companion for that journey - but even if you never pick up a copy, please know that you are seen, you are loved, and you are held by a God who understands your pain and walks through it with you.

Your cancer journey is hard. It's okay to say that. It's also okay to believe that God is with you in it, working in ways you might not see yet, and that your story - whatever the outcome - has meaning and purpose.

Because here's what I learned from watching my mother and best friend face their storms with such grace: faith doesn't make the journey easy, but it makes it possible. And sometimes, that's exactly enough.

"Praying Through the Storm: A Cancer Journal" is available now. It was created with love, written with tears, and offered with hope to every woman who needs to know she's not walking this path alone.