Barbra Gentry-Pugh

Faith That Outlives the Flesh ~ Anchored in Eternal Healing

October 12, 2025

“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely, I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (NASB)

“For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 2 Corinthians 5:1 (NASB)

As a former volunteer with the Cancer Society and Chairman of the Nurses Committee many years ago, I witnessed countless faces of courage in the battle against cancer. Although I was never diagnosed with cancer myself, I understood the disease from an intellectual and clinical perspective. Having cared for patients in the Intensive Care and Cardiac Care Units, as well as postoperatively, I often recall heartfelt conversations with patients as they processed their diagnosis and treatment at various stages of their journey.

However, during my time with the Cancer Society, I recognized that knowledge alone could not convey the full impact of this disease. I reached out to cancer survivors to share experientially, to give life to what I knew only in theory. That experience profoundly deepened my understanding and compassion, especially as advancements in treatment and care have continued to evolve over the years.

Sickness, pain, and suffering have a way of shaking even the strongest among us. Whether it’s a diagnosis we didn’t expect, the pain of watching someone we love suffer, or the exhaustion of perceived unanswered prayers, illness can leave us feeling crushed and uncertain.

Over the years, I have lost three dear friends to breast and bone cancer, women of faith, strength, and resilience. Walking closely with them on their journeys reminded me that while cancer can touch the body, it can never conquer the spirit. Their faith outlived the flesh because it was anchored in the eternal promise of God’s healing presence. I am reminded of what the Apostle Paul penned in 1 Corinthians 15:53-55, “For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “death is swallowed up in victory. “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (NASB)

Reflecting on the lives of those who fought this battle with unwavering faith, I’m reminded that God’s definition of healing reaches far beyond what the human eye can see. Some are restored here on earth, while others receive their complete healing in eternity, in the presence of the Lord, where there is no more pain, sorrow, or suffering. Revelation 21:4 says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (NLT)

As Believers in the risen Christ, we believe that death does not have the final word; faith does. As previously noted, our hope is not confined to this life but anchored in the eternal promise that one day, these perishable bodies will be exchanged for imperishable ones. Through those encounters, God showed me that true healing is not limited to the physical body but flows from His eternal promise of wholeness in Christ.

Nevertheless, in the midst of our physical frailty, we must remember there is an anchor that holds. Hope in God is not wishful thinking; it’s confident trust that His hand is steady, even when our strength fails. Hope is beyond the physical; it is our faith that endures even when the physical body fails.

Remembering the journey of my mother’s illness and subsequent death at the age of 43, it became clear that some healing comes on this side of eternity, and some in the presence of the Lord. Death does not defeat us; it ushers us into complete wholeness. We are reminded in 2 Corinthians 5:1, which says “ For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands ~ HALLELUJAH. (NLT)

How many of us as Believers live with eternal perspective and trust God’s definition of healing. Honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month and God’s eternal healing faith transcends disease.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month was founded in 1985 in partnership between the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical division of Imperial Chemical Industries (now part of AstraZeneca, producer of several anti-breast cancer drugs). The purpose was to educate women about breast cancer and to promote mammography and early detection as essential tools in the fight against breast cancer. The aim of the NBCAM from the start has been to promote mammography as the most effective weapon in the fight against breast cancer.

Betty Ford, a former First Lady and breast cancer survivor, played a notable role in raising the profile of breast cancer awareness. Her openness about her diagnosis and treatment helped destigmatize the disease and brought more public attention to the cause. The pink ribbon as a symbol of breast cancer awareness was popularized in the early 1990s.

Key October Cancer Awareness Days:

October 2nd: World No Alcohol Day
October 13th: Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day (in the U.S.)
October 15th: Global Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day
Third Friday in October: National Mammography Day
October 17th to 23rd: Male Breast Cancer Week

In the midst of honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month and God’s eternal healing, the promise of wholeness that goes beyond the physical body, let us turn to the wisdom and comfort found only in the Word of God. The Word reminds us of God’s unwavering love and His promise to be with us in times of difficulty, pain, and suffering.

Isaiah 41:10 – “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

In the face of a breast cancer diagnosis, it’s natural to feel fear and uncertainty. But remember that God is with you every step of the way. His strength is greater than any challenge you may face, and His love is a source of comfort and courage.

Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

During moments of pain and vulnerability, know that God is near. He sees your tears, He hears your prayers, and He is there to lift you up when you feel crushed by the weight of illness.

Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Even in the midst of adversity, God has a plan for your life. Trust that His plan includes hope, healing, and a future filled with His blessings.

Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

As you navigate the challenges of breast cancer, may the God of hope fill your heart with joy and peace. Allow His Holy Spirit to guide you and infuse you with the hope that transcends circumstances.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 – “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’

Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Remember that your weakness can become a vessel for God’s strength and grace. In the journey through breast cancer, His power is made perfect, and He will carry you through. Our Savior gives us the promise of wholeness that goes beyond the physical body when we face sickness and loss. His eternal healing comforts us.

YOUR HEART CHECK: When the storm of sickness rages, hope anchors the soul, Hebrews 6:19. Doctors may treat the symptoms, but only God can heal the heart. Even in weakness, our faith can grow stronger, because every tear, every prayer, and every sleepless night can draw us closer to the One who understands our suffering. Christ Himself bore our pain so that we might know His peace.

YOUR HEART CHALLENGES: We are challenged to live with an eternal perspective. We are to live in such a way that our faith becomes a legacy and a testimony that reminds others that the spirit cannot be defeated by disease.

How do you define healing? Is it only by what you can see or feel in this life?

~ How has God revealed His healing power in your life, physically, emotionally, or spiritually?

~ How can you live each day with faith that endures beyond the physical?

~ Are you offering hope to those walking through pain by pointing them to Christ, the Great Healer?

A HEALED HEART: During this Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let us not only raise awareness but also raise our voices in prayer, support, and encouragement for those facing this battle. As you navigate the challenges of breast cancer, may the God of hope fill your heart with joy and peace. Remembering that your weakness can become a vessel for God’s strength and grace. In your journey through breast cancer, pain, and suffering, God’s power is made perfect, and God will carry you through. His strength is greater than any challenge you may face. A healed heart has allowed the love of God to surround you; the strength of God upholds you, and the hope of God sustains you. Allow His Holy Spirit to guide you and infuse you with the hope that transcends circumstances. You are not alone; you are deeply loved and cherished.

As we reflect on those whose earthly journeys have ended and those still walking through the valley of affliction, we are reminded that God’s love never ceases, and His healing work never ends. Every life touched by illness becomes a testimony of His sustaining grace. Even when we do not understand the “why,” we can rest in the assurance that God’s purpose is greater than our pain. The same power that raised Jesus from the grave assures us that death is not the end, it is the doorway to eternal wholeness. May our faith, like theirs, outlive the flesh and point others to the hope found only in Christ.

PRAYER:    Gracious and Faithful God, thank You for Your authoritative, inerrant, and inspired Word that gives us hope in Your Word when sickness drains our strength and fear whispers that all is lost, we can anchor our hearts in Your hope. Thank You for being the Healer of every pain and the Restorer of every suffering place. Today, we remember those who have fought the good fight of faith, and we lift those still walking through the battle. Help us to remember that hope doesn’t deny the storm; it anchors us through it. Remind us that our healing, whether in body or in spirit, rests in Your hands. Teach us to praise You even in the pain, and to find peace in Your presence. Renew our faith daily and let hope rise again in the precious, powerful, and preeminent name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Remembering my dear sisters in Christ, who were diagnosed with cancer after our return from Senegal, West Africa, in 2007, from a mission trip! We worked for many years in ministry together, and Lollie coordinated the trip with a dear African brother, Mamadou, with whom she shared Christ. Later, he invited us to come and share the gospel with his people!