What Do You Believe?

Are you struggling with sickness or disease? Or are you battling depression or discouragement? Every belief you have shapes the road ahead.

Even when circumstances feel overwhelming, there is still something sacred and powerful within reach: the ability to choose life from the very beginning of the journey to its final victory—whatever your challenge may be.

Scripture makes this unmistakably clear:

“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.”— Deuteronomy 30:19 (author emphasis)

Truth Surpasses Facts

When cancer entered my world, I quickly learned there was a difference between facts, reports, statistics, and truth. They are not the same. Facts and numbers can change.

Prognoses can shift. But truth remains constant.

My doctor explained what the tests revealed. Those were facts. He backed them up with statistics. But standing there, listening to numbers describe my future, something happened. I knew there was something higher—something more powerful than medical data alone. It is truth. And truth does not change.

“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” — John 17:17

When I chose to trust God and His Word with my life, I was stepping into uncharted territory. A life-threatening diagnosis has a way of stripping away everything familiar. Yet even then, I knew God had a way through. He always does. He leads His children to victory—every time—if we’re willing to follow the path He sets before us.

Truth wasn’t found in test results or prognoses—it is found in God’s Word. So, I leaned hard on Scripture—about God’s faithfulness, about His will to heal. Still, I also understood that this season required more than passive belief. Something deeper was needed—a time of personal growth in my whole being—body, soul, and spirit.

God’s Word reminded me again and again of what He had already provided:

“…who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.”1 Peter 2:24 (author emphasis)

“Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies”— Psalms 103:3–4 (author emphasis)

God’s promises were placed alongside the medical facts—and I choose truth. In choosing truth, I was automatically choosing life. This wasn’t positive thinking or religious language. It was making God’s Word the final authority, allowing it to shape my belief and guide my steps forward in life. There was a quiet confidence that He would teach me what needed to be learned along the way.

And of course, He did. As I was faithful to trust Him, ask and seek His direction and truth, He was faithful to provide me the way of escape.

I chose life. I chose to believe that I was “the healed.” Nothing was more real to me. It wasn’t instant, but as I continued reading God’s promises, and heard them with my own ears, my faith rose and kicked out fear and doubt.

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”— Romans 10:17

God bless you as you trust Him and follow His leading,

Paula Black

For Those Needing Healing:

If you are battling cancer or anything that is robbing you of the abundant life Jesus came to give, Paula has created compassionate, practical resources to help you move toward lasting change. You can find her support and encouragement at: Paulablack.org.