Q:
If something bad happened to one of our parents, does this mean God is going to make it happen to us also? My mom died of breast cancer when she was fairly young, and now I'm afraid the same thing will happen to me.
A:
I’m sure your doctor would advise you to take steps to guard against this possibility by being examined regularly for this disease, and I certainly urge you to follow his advice. Cancer of any type must be taken very seriously, and you know from personal experience how devastating it can be.
But you shouldn’t assume that you will definitely get the same disease that killed your mother, nor should you let these fears consume you. Nor should you assume that God wants to give you cancer — for He doesn’t. We don’t always understand why God allows bad things to happen to us or to those we love — but God is not the source of evil, and we mustn’t blame Him when evil things happen to us. The Bible says, “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble” (Nahum 1:7).
Life isn’t always the way we wish it were; sooner or later we’ll all face times of suffering or heartache. But the most important truth I can tell you is that God loves you, and no matter what happens to you, you can trust the future into His hands. The Bible says, “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble” (Psalm 9:9).
This is why the most important step you can take is to turn to Jesus Christ and invite Him to come into your life as your Lord and Saviour. When we know Christ, we know our future is secure. Put your faith and trust in Him today — and every day.