That dreadful news from the doctor sent her into a tailspin. Now what? How can you be sure of anything at such a time?
If you are faced with eternity, where do you stand?

     She was sobbing on the phone, this dear friend of mine.  Bone cancer, the doctor said.  She just went in to have a spider bite checked.  She had suffered with lupus, and now was having bone pain.  Wondering whether it was an after-effect of the spider bite, she had a few simple tests done and received a terrible shock.     After several blood tests, a cat scan, and a bone marrow biopsy, my friend's doctor told her she must undergo rigorous chemotherapy for a year.  Then, they would re-evaluate the situation.  She had everything to live for--a happy marriage, young children.  But she was terrified.  She hadn't been religious at all until the last year or two.  Hadn't grown up in Bible school.  But she desperately wanted to find comfort and perspective in her recently-found faith.     Her situation is familiar to any hospital or ministerial worker.  Where can a person find comfort when the world is crumbling?  I've found my answers in the God of the Bible, the Jesus of scripture.      The physcal fact is indisputable--all humans will die.  The spiritual realities are more fuzzy.  Every person needs to sort out personal faith before the defining moment comes.  My belief, my hope, my comfort is that God is real.  He loves us.  He knows our names. 

The best things you can do--before, during, or after disaster strikes:

Cultivate your faith

Know Christian people, especially strong-prayers

Read a Bible--you can get them in hotels or even at Wal-mart

Here are some specific scriptures to help in times of need:

Need forgiveness?  See I John 1:5-7 

A cure for anxiety?  Matt. 6:25-34

Relief from trouble? Assurance of eternal life? John 14:1-6

(See web pages below for more help and comfort.)