I’m delighted to have Dawn Wilson (no relation) back to introduce her new book Truth Talk for Hurting Hearts: Discover Peace and Comfort Through God’s Perspective. In it, Dawn shares lessons she gleaned from her battle with multiple myeloma. Here’s Dawn…

When I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer, in 2019, it felt like a death sentence. There is no cure for MM. I will not lie—that shook my world.

Yet from the beginning of this health adventure, God brought words of Scripture to mind, verses I’d memorized years before. As the doctor delivered the diagnosis, Isaiah 26:3 comforted me: “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (esv).

God encouraged me to “consider it a sheer gift” to face my challenge (James 1:2 msg). Why should I do that? James says in verse 3, “You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.” Oh, how I wanted my faith life’s colors to look warm and inviting to others—pointing them to Jesus.

No Matter What

I tell the story of my journey in my co-authored book, Truth Talk for Hurting Hearts: Discover Peace and Comfort Through God’s Perspective. My co-author is my niece, Jamie Adele Wood, who is battling melanoma. She came alongside to write the book’s powerful chapter applications. We both have the same heart for the truth of God’s Word—His “truth talk” to help us thrive, not only survive. Jamie even wrote a devotional titled Truth Talk.

God’s Word helps and heals our hurting hearts. He sustains us through His Word. He enlarges our perspective in times of pain or suffering, and that brings peace, comfort, hope, and many other positive blessings. That process continues until we are home in Father God’s presence.

Our book originated with some Facebook memes I created and shared, posts called “Truth Talk for Hurting Hearts.” I wanted to help people follow Jesus, no matter what. Numerous Facebook friends shared how the memes encouraged them in their own struggles. Then COVID-19 hit and everyone felt distress, confusion, and loneliness in isolation. More than ever, I wanted to share God’s helping, healing, hope-filled truth talk.

Gifts with Black Bows

I believe great spiritual blessings often come wrapped in packages with black bows of trial or pain. God doesn’t want us to despair when we see those black bows—but sometimes it’s hard to see blessings in the midst of a struggle. We don’t know how to move forward.

That’s when it’s wise to grab our Bibles and prayerfully dig deeper. We can ask the Holy Spirit to open windows into truth—principles that were always there, but we had to see it in a fresh way, up close and personal. My search reminded me that God is sovereign, loving, good, and kind. I can trust Him with my pain because He has plans for my growth, others’ good, and His glory. He can use suffering as a blessed tool to make me more like Jesus.

Another way my struggle has been a gift is the opportunities and courage I now have to share Scripture truth and the message of the Gospel. I shared with neighbors and friends I’d been too timid to share with before. During my hospital stays during my stem cell transplant and CAR T-cell procedure, I wrote words on my hospital whiteboard—like “Hope,” “Peace,” and “Courage.” The nurses and people who cleaned my room asked about them, and I shared what God was teaching me.

Now in remission, I have new strength to share the lessons God’s taught me and to encourage others as they hurt (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Think about the greatest challenge you face right now. As I did, I hope you will open your Bible—perhaps using a Bible concordance—and discover how the treasure of God’s “truth talk” can help you. Remember, your struggle may look like a gift with a black bow, but in God’s hands, it’s a precious gift.

Bio:

Dawn Wilson is a Bible teacher and author who has served in church and parachurch revival ministry for more than fifty years. She blogs at Truth Talk with Dawn, writes for Crosswalk.com, and works with Revive Our Hearts. Truth Talk for Hurting Hearts: Discover Peace and Comfort in God’s Perspective is available on Amazon.

Thank you, Dawn! 

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