A surprising gift from God: Cancer
By Alicia Economos
My husband Ted and I were sitting in the exam room of his internal medicine doctor. It was April 2017, and he’d undergone scans and blood work a few days before. We waited anxiously for the results.
The prior week we’d been on a vacation in the Grand Cayman Islands in the Caribbean. Despite the serene environment, rather than feeling refreshed, Ted had been tired with an occasional sour stomach. I wasn’t too worried, but I nudged him to go get things checked out when we returned home.
The doctor’s words were a shock: “Ted, I’m sorry to have to tell you, but you have stage four pancreatic cancer.”
I felt like the wind had been sucked out of my lungs! Ted had all the components of a healthy life: He’d eaten a Mediterranean diet, he exercised regularly and had a deep faith. Yet his “clean living” did nothing to change the bad news.
The doctor explained that the cancer started in the pancreas but had already spread to Ted’s liver. He said there wasn’t a cure and Ted likely had a few months to a year to live.
I felt my faith vanish. Fear took center stage. Losing Ted seemed too much to even think about.
Decluttering the lies and finding Jesus’ truth
Like so many women, I had developed a long list of perceived shortcomings. I falsely believed I wasn’t smart enough, pretty enough or good enough, which caused me to see myself inaccurately. In addition, I falsely believed God was too busy to connect with me, and that He was disappointed in me.
However, after becoming a follower of Christ in 2000, I experienced transformation; I learned the truth. About my identity and God’s love. It was a gift that set me free, a gift I passed on to other women through my Christian coaching company and the books I eventually wrote.
However, despite my strong faith, the week after Ted’s diagnosis I struggled with fear. So I studied the Scriptures about healings and connected with my most spiritually grounded friends.
I also wrote letters to God, an exercise I use with my coaching clients to deepen their relationship with God. I poured my heart out to Him and listened intently.
Ted started oral chemo on April 19th. Just three days later, he was hospitalized. One night during our 19-day hospital stay, I was awakened and I felt God asking me to pick up my Bible. It literally fell open to Luke 17.
As I studied verses 11-19, God impressed upon me that He would heal Ted, but that it wouldn’t be an easy journey. God also stressed we would need to be bold in sharing about the source of Ted’s healing, and that our story would impact millions for His glory.
An unlikely detour through my Chrisitan faith
After being in the hospital for 19 days, we were released to go home and Ted restarted chemotherapy. Things went fairly well for the next ten months.
Then I in for my annual mammogram, and after having a needle biopsy I was diagnosed with breast cancer. This time, instead of fear, my faith took center stage. Over the next 18 months I had four breast cancer surgeries. And yet, I had an unshakable peace: Faith that God would provide healing. This was just another bump in the road.
I’m now cancer free and Ted’s doing remarkably well. He still has stage 4 pancreatic cancer and although there’s no cure, I’m more confident than ever that God is healing Ted in God’s perfect timing.
I don’t know why others are not healed of cancer, at least this side of Heaven. What I do know is faith provides clearer vision for God’s larger plan. Therefore, I now see our cancers as a gift because they increased my ability to trust God.
What I see as mountains that are impossible to climb, God sees as anthills.
Alicia Economos lives in Des Moines, Iowa, with her husband Ted and their dog, Mabel. In addition to their daughter, son and daughter-in-law, they spend their time hosting and laughing alongside a large network of relatives in their big Greek family. Alicia enjoys speaking, coaching and connecting wholeheartedly with others. Whether in person or online, her enthusiasm and faith-filed optimism are obvious from the moment you meet her.
Alicia is the founder and director of Wholehearted Living; a program that helps women to declutter their lives (emotionally, physically, and spiritually) so they can make their greatest impact and live their best life. Connect with her at aliciaeconomos.com, and on Facebook and Instagram. Her book, “Taking the Stage,” guides others to draw closer to God, and is available on aliciaeconomos.com.