Today, we have an incredible story about Calise, who battled stage 4 cancer. Her story is not only uplifting and inspiring, but a great example of what Scripture tells us to do in difficult situations.

Her story is familiar. It has the same messages and issues we all face when we are on our journeys with cancer. Regardless of what type of cancer we have, the messages from the Bible are universal for all of us.

In this episode, I share several scriptures that are both my personal favorites and very applicable to everyone on a cancer journey, regardless of where you are in it. 

I hope you enjoy Calise's story. If it spoke to you, please leave a comment. Your comments uplift everyone who listens to this podcast.

EPISODE NOTES

In this episode, I want to give you real hope through cancer by sharing the true story of a young mother named Calise. Because I know how heavy this road can feel, I also want you to hear it wherever you happen to be right now — a hospital bed, a waiting room, a quiet walk, or your favorite chair at home. Wherever you are, I hope this brightens your day.

A DIAGNOSIS NO NEW MOTHER EXPECTS

Calise had just welcomed her baby girl into the world when she heard the words no one is ever ready for: "It's stage 4 cancer." The cancer had already spread, and the prognosis was poor. Doctors walked her through the treatments, the risks, and all the unknowns ahead. She was a brand-new mom holding a tiny baby, and at the very same time she was being told her time might be short.

Maybe you have sat in a room like that and felt that same wave of fear wash over you. If so, I want you to lean in — because what God did in the middle of Calise's storm is exactly the kind of hope you need.

WHERE HOPE THROUGH CANCER REALLY COMES FROM

As treatment began — scan after scan, radiation, chemotherapy — Calise and her husband made one simple decision. Every single day, they would fix their eyes on Jesus. They prayed together, took communion together, and asked God to be their strength when they had none of their own.

There is a verse many of us know by heart, but it reads differently from an infusion chair. Psalm 23:4 (NIV) says...

Psalm 23:4 — "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

Notice it does not say we walk around the valley, or skip the valley. It says through. As a result, God does not always pull us out immediately — but He promises to walk every step with us. For Calise, that meant seeing God's fingerprints even in the practical details. Insurance came through in surprising ways. Expenses that could have crushed them were covered. Meanwhile, friends, pastors, and church members surrounded her with prayer. These were not just nice coincidences — she began to see them as signs that God had not forgotten her.

THE SCAN THAT STUNNED HER DOCTORS

Four months in, after several cycles of chemotherapy, the doctors ordered another scan. If you have ever waited for scan results, you know how long those hours can feel. Every beep, every footstep in the hallway, can sound like another question mark.

When the results came back, the doctors were stunned: the scan was clear. The cancer that had spread through her body was no longer visible. It was not a gradual shift — it was a dramatic turnaround. Slowly, Calise regained her strength. She could walk into the hospital instead of being wheeled in, and eventually she returned to sleeping in her own bed. She called it a miracle, not because she thought she was special, but because she believed God had heard the cries of His children.

Still, I want to be honest with you. Not every story ends this way. Some of you are in remission, some are stable, and some have been told your cancer is not curable in this life. Nevertheless, the same God who showed up for Calise is the same God who is present with you right now.

HOPE THROUGH CANCER THAT DOES NOT DISAPPEAR

Here is why this matters. The hope Calise leaned on is not wishful thinking. Romans 5:3-5 (NIV) says that...

"Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit." Romans 5:3-5 NIV

Ultimately, this hope is rooted in a Person — Jesus Christ, who suffered, died, and rose again. Because He rose, our hope is alive; it does not depend on what the chart shows next.

And for the days you feel worn down, Isaiah 40:31 (NIV) promises that "those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." That strength does not come from staying positive or gritting your teeth. It comes from placing your fear, your questions, and your weight into His hands.

No matter what you are facing on your journey with cancer or in life, remember: you are NEVER ALONE. Jesus and the Holy Spirit are always with you and ready to help. All you have to do is ask, give it all to Jesus, and let Him go to work. May God bless you — and thank you for listening.