We have all heard the saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” About five years ago I started a health routine where I drink about 64 oz of lemon water every day. I don’t really care for the bitter, sour taste of lemons, but when you add a bit of sweetener, it’s pretty good!

Isn’t that the way life is? It’s full of disappointments that can cause bitterness, sourness; but if we can learn to add our sweetener, disappointments can become sweet blessings.

I’m Cindy Hall and I’m a 5-year breast cancer survivor. We have all been affected by cancer in some way, shape, or form. We either have had cancer ourselves or know someone who has cancer. Cancer could be a bitter, sour lemon, but God’s Sweetness has helped to make lemonade. Here are a few ways God used my cancer journey to turn my lemons into lemonade:

1. Be grateful! Don’t focus on what you can’t have or do, but rather on what you can have or do. 

Heb 3:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Phil 4:11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

On the first year and a half of my cancer journey I was on a very restrictive diet. At times I would get very frustrated when there were no options for me to eat. Here come those lemons! I had to remind myself of what I could have and stop focusing on the negative. I found so many new and delicious foods and recipes. I learned so much about nutrition and good and bad foods. There’s the sweetness I needed!

2. The importance of humor. Learn to laugh at yourself.

Proverbs 15:13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

There are times we just want to give up and have a good ol’ pity party, or we are so focused on the negative that we miss the positives in our life. (Lemons!)

Instead of tiptoeing around reality, learn to see the humor in it. An article for cancer patients said how important humor and laughter was for healing. Watch funny movies, be around good natured people, and learn to find the humor in every day happenings. 

3. The power and encouragement of prayer. 

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

I can’t tell you how encouraging it has been every time someone told me they were praying for me. There’s that sweetener again! You can tell when it’s just a flippant catch-phrase and when someone is really praying for you. Not only is it encouraging when someone says they are praying for you, but it’s very humbling that they would take time out of their day and mention your name in prayer to a most holy, omnipotent God.

Eph 1:6 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

4. Understanding the battle isn’t only physical but also emotional.

I was handling the physical aspect of my journey pretty well. The difficult aspect for me was the emotional. Not being able to find any place where I could eat, wondering if God would heal me, hearing of others being healed and wondering if God was going to do it for me. My emotions were at times frayed with stress. It’s very difficult not to wonder why God hasn’t healed you when you hear of others being healed. You are so happy for them but you so desire to be healed as well. Don’t be a martyr. Some have it much worse than you. Try to keep others in your prayers and encourage them the best you can. Send text messages, notes in the mail, tell them you are praying for them. Share your blessings with others. God is so good. He always sends that little bit of sweetness to ease our sour lemons.

5. We need God, plain and simple.

Every day in every way we need God in our lives. He is our source of strength and healing, our energy and focus. Without the sweetness of His Holy Spirit, we just become bitter, sour old lemons. Add His sweetness to your life today!