One might say 2023 was the year my husband Pete and I walked through the valley of the shadow of death – and survived.

As those who follow my blog know, Pete was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in late 2022. Then, on the first day of his chemotherapy treatments, I had a heart attack. What followed was a solid year of cancer treatments, cardiac rehab, surgeries, repeat hospitalizations and never-ending doctor appointments.

But God is good, and here we are in 2026 – healthier than we’ve been in a long time.

During an appointment this spring, Pete’s oncologist reminded us that his every-three-month scans have been coming back “unremarkable” – translation: no signs of recurring cancer – for nearly three years and the kidney problems triggered by his immunotherapy treatments have stabilized for now. The doctor was practically ecstatic as he expressed cautious optimism about Pete’s prognosis.

Besides the good news about Pete, I received some good news of my own last fall: My cardiologist said tests show my heart sustained only minor damage from the heart attack. In 2025 I was able to get a cardiac ablation to resolve some ongoing arrhythmia problems. I continue to participate in cardiac rehab, and Pete has even joined me for the exercise portion.

AND … we celebrated our 40^th wedding anniversary last October!! For a while there – given how precarious and scary our medical issues were for a couple of years running – I wasn’t entirely sure we would both make it to our 40^th.  

Thus inspired, I decided to share a few of my own sources of strength and comfort as we progressed through chemotherapy for Pete and cardiac rehab for me.

For as long as I can remember, my number one “go-to” Biblical passage in times of trouble has been the 23rd Psalm. I must confess I have a special place in my heart for the King James version, because that’s the version I memorized as a child.

Psalm 34:4 is a reminder to replace fear with trust – or at least try to, anyway. Pete and I have been working on the trust issue, both with God and with doctors, but I’ll be honest. Trust is hard!

Even though the words “fear not” appear countless times in the Bible, anyone who’s been through a truly scary time will agree these words are more easily said than put into practice. When my brain is running a mile a minute, offering up one worst-case scenario after another, Luke 12:25 asks the right question.

Another favorite, when I’m feeling discouraged and exhausted, is Jeremiah 29:11. I really want to think something good will eventually come from all that we have endured recently.

In the meantime, Psalm 46:1-3 promises that no matter how bad things get, God has our backs. Fortunately, so do several “angels” God has put in our lives – those wonderful folks who sent us cards, letters and meals and prayed for us during our walk through the valley.

Sometimes there’s nothing more wonderful than an uneventful day. No distressing symptoms. No rides to the emergency room in the back of an ambulance. No test results with nasty surprises. Just laundry, vacuuming, groceries and other soothingly routine activities. I never thought I’d learn to appreciate plain, ordinary days so much. When God treats me to one of these days lately, Psalm 118:24 comes to mind.

I first learned the Serenity Prayer when I began my 12-Step recovery journey in the 1990s. For at least 30 years now, it has been my “go-to” prayer whenever I’m under any kind of stress. I can repeat this 100 times a day if I need to. Sometimes I need to repeat it at least that many times!

The “Prayer of Good Courage” was written in 1941 by Anglican priest Eric Milner-White, and is a favorite at Holden Village, a Christian retreat center in Washington state. It has become a favorite for Pete and I as well, especially during times when we’re finding it hard to trust where God might be leading us next.

Finally, every winter, just when I uaually need a positive message the most, look what appears like clockwork in my yard to bring me that message! I’ve always thought of nature as “God’s other book,” and I adore my snowdrops. As 2023 drew to a close and 2024 rolled in, these awesome little flowers told me the long hard season Pete and I endured was coming to an end, and warm sunnier days were on their way. As for the chemo and cardiac rehab that year, we did get through the dark valley, thanks be to God!

When all else fails, Psalm 46:10 reminds me who’s in charge.