A reader asked me this thoughtful question:

I was recently diagnosed with cancer. I am struggling with whether I should go through treatments from a biblical perspective. While I am not asking for advice on whether or not to undergo treatment, I would like to know how Randy and Nanci made the decision to go through treatments that are extremely difficult. Does Randy feel like they made the right decision?

Nanci and I had no regrets about the treatments we chose. Yes, some of Nanci’s treatments were difficult, but it was always what she wanted, and the Lord gave her four more years from her diagnosis. She wasn’t desperately clinging to this life, nor was she giving up her quality of life.

Nanci really did look forward to being with Jesus and one night asked me, “Can we change our prayer? Instead of asking Him to heal me, like we have for so long, can we ask Him, ‘If you don’t plan to heal me, would you please take me home?’” There was no bitterness or desperation; we were both content to change our prayer, which was hard in some ways, but not because we felt like we were giving up. Rather, we were giving ourselves over to God’s plan.

Nanci wanted to fight the cancer, knowing that sometimes treatments work. Finally, she didn’t want the chemo anymore because it wasn’t working.

In her last journal entry, written about a month before she died, she wrote:

Very important consultation with my doctor. It was decided that I will go on chemo pills, and I told her that I don’t want to fight the cancer in order to give me more time. She thinks maybe I have 1½ years or so.

So now we have a better feel for a game plan.

I am so relieved, and honestly excited! I will see Jesus pretty soon!

If you choose to take reasonable steps to give yourself more time, and you feel it’s worth it, go for it. We are promised that we will be given wisdom when we seek it from the Lord, who gives generously (James 1:5). By all means, seek advice from your doctors and from wise people in your life who love you and love the Lord.

But always resolve that when the right time comes, if it does, you are willing to quit treatments and go to Jesus whenever He wishes. “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:8).

Meanwhile, meditate on Scripture and read good books to prepare you to meet your King. And use your remaining time to have good interactions with your loved ones and say whatever needs to be said sooner, not later.

God is good and kind and absolutely faithful. Nanci and I knew that to be true before her four plus years of dealing with cancer, but we saw Him in so many ways it brings tears of profound gratitude to my eyes right now as I type this.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

    for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

    great is your faithfulness. 

Lamentations 3:22–23

Here’s what I wrote on the three-year anniversary of Nanci’s homegoing. And here’s an index of many other blogs about Nanci’s cancer journey.