What Would I Say to Amy?

I recently watched “God’s Not Dead” (again), and of all the faith components in the story, the one that lingered with me was Amy’s trial. Amy, a young, brilliant, ambitious, and sassy leftist blogger, gets shelled with the tragic news that she has cancer that already appears to have metastasized. She is coping with her circumstances seemingly alone. I watched her character fall to pieces trying to share her diagnosis with her blog audience, and my heart went out to her. Her situation struck me more than emotionally, though. Inwardly, I was almost burdened. What would I say to Amy? The question almost spoke out loud in my mind.

Surely there are no perfect words in such a situation. At best we can convey love and compassion to someone facing such a horrible trial, be it disease or any other tragedy. I pondered for days what I could say, and everything that came to mind at first seemed too hollow. Most anything could sound hollow against that gravity, though. Eventually, words surfaced from the imprints on my own memory that I could not dismiss, words of a mature faith and compassionate spirit that have meant immeasurably much when spoken to me in my own times of need. We’re going to pray. We’re going to trust God. We love you.

These words held up my heart when I was in trouble. They didn’t diminish the seriousness of my situation but pointed me to true hope. Why did such simple words mean so much? Maybe it was because I knew they were backed up with genuine love, concern, and prayers to the God who changes things and sustains us every step of the way. Encapsulated in those words was the weight of understanding, the employment of the only weapon we have to fight with (prayer), the giving over of authority of outcomes to a just and merciful Heavenly Father who sees what we do not see, and assurance that I was not shouldering my burden alone. Maybe they weren’t perfect words, but they were powerful in my time of need. Maybe they’d help someone like Amy.

Psalm 27, KJV:

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.

5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

6 And now mine head shall be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.

9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.

11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.