Resources:
Chronic or Terminal Illness
Find Focus on the Family broadcasts, best-in-class books,
referral recommendations, and more.
And It Was Beautiful by Kara Tippetts (not currently available through Focus on the Family)
“Celebrating Life in the Midst of the Long Good-Bye”
The Art of Caregiving by Michael S. Barry
“How to Lend Support and Encouragement to Those With Cancer”
Beautiful Battlefields by Bo Stern
Wanting to honor the Lord during her husband’s struggle with ALS, Stern shares how God meets us in our hard places.
Behind the Scenes of Breast Cancer by Brenda Ladun
“A News Anchor Tells Her Story of Body and Soul Recovery”
The Cancer Survival Guide by Kay Marshall Strom
“Practical Help, Spiritual Hope”
A Caregiver’s Survival Guide by Kay Marshall Strom
“How to Stay Healthy When Your Loved One Is Sick”
Caring for a Loved One With Cancer by June Hunt (not currently available through Focus on the Family)
Reflecting on her journey with cancer, Hunt offers practical ideas to help caregivers come alongside those battling a serious illness. Chapters explore communication, medications, nutrition, faith, and more.
Coping With Chronic Illness by H. Norman Wright and Lynn Ellis
Those who suffer—or who care for those who struggle—with migraines, arthritis, fibromyalgia, or other “invisible” conditions often face great uncertainty and stress. Learn to manage your relationships with family and doctors; deal with stress, fear, and depression; and gain insight into God’s perspective on pain.
Dear God, They Say It’s Cancer by Janet Thompson
“A Companion Guide for Women on the Breast Cancer Journey”
Facing Cancer Together: How to Help Your Friend or Loved One by Pamela Brown
“How to Help Your Friend or Loved One”
Fight Back With Joy by Margaret Feinberg
“Celebrate more. Regret less. Stare down your greatest fear.” Feinberg shares her difficult path through breast cancer and her journey to understand the love, hope, and joy found in Christ.
Finding the Light in Cancer’s Shadow by Lynn Eib (not currently available through Focus on the Family)
“Hope, Humor, and Healing After Treatment”
The Hardest Peace by Kara Tippetts (not currently available through Focus on the Family)
“Expecting Grace in the Midst of Life’s Hard”—Living with aggressive cancer, Tippetts gently shares the hope and truth of God’s love and the importance of asking Him to transform all of our heartache and pain for His glory and our good.
Joni & Ken by Ken and Joni Eareckson Tada
“An Untold Love Story”
Just Show Up by Kara Tippetts
“The Dance of Walking Through Suffering Together”
A Place of Healing by Joni Eareckson Tada “Wrestling With the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain, and God’s Sovereignty”
A Promise Kept: The Story of Unforgettable Love by Robertson McQuilkin
“Sharing lessons learned from his [wife’s journey through Alzheimer’s], Robertson McQuilkin shows how weakness generates strength, servanthood births freedom, and joy is found in a promise kept.”
Ruthless: Knowing the God Who Fights for You by Bo Stern
Stern delves into Scripture to explore God’s character so you can be confident of Who fights your battles.
Strength Renewed: Meditations for Your Journey Through Breast Cancer by Shirley Corder
A registered nurse and breast cancer survivor, Corder combines encouraging personal stories with life-affirming biblical passages to help you process your diagnosis and look to the Lord for strength.
Stronger: Trading Brokenness for Unbreakable Strength by Jim Daly (not currently available through Focus on the Family)
Daly weaves together true stories with biblical wisdom to show how God uses struggles to strengthen faith.
Undone: A Story of Making Peace With an Unexpected Life by Michele Cushatt
Cushatt describes her journey through a broken marriage, single parenting, remarriage, blending a family, cancer, and adopting three children. She reminds readers that our sovereign Lord offers His peace when we seek Him.
An Uninvited Guest by Jeana Floyd
“One Woman’s Journey From Cancer to Hope and Health”
When God and Cancer Meet by Lynn Eib
“True Stories of Hope and Healing”
When God Breaks Your Heart by Ed Underwood (not currently available through Focus on the Family)
As Underwood struggled with a horrific form of leukemia, he learned to trust the God who truly cares. Our Lord grieves with us in our pain.
When God Doesn’t Make Sense by Dr. James Dobson
Life’s difficulties can challenge our faith in God—and when questions are left unanswered, we may feel that God has abandoned us.
When Someone You Love Has Alzheimer’s by Cecil Murphey
When people we love suffer, we suffer, too. With short devotionals, Murphey offers spiritual hope and help for caregivers, and he encourages them to focus on God in the midst of the struggles.
When Your World Falls Apart by David Jeremiah
Jeremiah offers comfort and hope from the Psalms, showing how God’s truths can guide you through life’s greatest challenges. He shares how Scripture sustained him during his battle with cancer.
Your 100-Day Prayer: The Transforming Power of Actively Waiting on God by John Snyder
What does persistent, humble prayer look like?
Adventures in Odyssey® #3: Heroes
This album includes an episode titled “Karen,” which highlights God’s comfort and promises in times of trouble. Donna’s friend Karen is suffering from cancer, and Karen experiences difficult medical treatments and a leg amputation before dying.
Embracing God in the Midst of Hardship (Michele Cushatt)
Cushatt shares of being diagnosed with cancer. She relates an earlier broken marriage, then re-marrying and blending a family. And just as she and her husband approached an empty nest, they adopted three children. She describes her struggle to deconstruct false beliefs about God, why He allows suffering, and how she’s learning to trust Him in the midst of fear.
Finding God’s Light in Dark Times (Patsy Clairmont)
In a message laced with humor and inspiration, Clairmont describes how God restored hope to her and a lifelong friend who had been diagnosed with cancer.
Finding Strength in the Struggles of Life (Jim and Jean Daly)
If you’re struggling with a difficult situation and wondering how God can possibly use it for good, be encouraged as Focus on the Family’s president, Jim Daly, and his wife offer biblically based hope in a discussion about Daly’s book Stronger.
Finding Strength for the Terminal Battle (Bo Stern)
First aired in 2015, Stern candidly tells about her journey with her husband, who was diagnosed with ALS four years prior. The family has faced challenges and joys—and Stern points to the greater truth of Christ’s love and truth.
The God Who Knows Our Sorrows (Dr. Adrian Rogers)
Rogers illustrates how Jesus’ humanity and the pain He endured on the cross enable Him to sympathize with our sufferings. Learn encouraging truths that will help you face the pain that inevitably comes to each of us.
Hope for Families Dealing With Childhood Cancer (Chris Woodruff, Kerry Zeka, Andy Dufresne)
Childhood cancer is a term no parent wants to hear, but this program’s guests share their stories with a desire to offer encouragement and advice.
How Our Marriage Survived Cancer (Travis and Mary Swiers)
Selfishness and lack of communication led the newly married Swiers to file for divorce. Shortly afterward, Mary discovered she had ovarian cancer. Here they share how this tough road of cancer actually saved their marriage.
Living Faithfully With Cancer (Jason and Kara Tippetts)
At the age of 36, Kara was diagnosed with breast cancer, which metastasized throughout her body. The Tippetts share how they grapple with the “Why me?” question and how they’ve talked to their kids about cancer. They explore the impact cancer has had on their marriage, with special emphasis on the need for strong community.
Love in the Midst of Alzheimer’s (Robertson McQuilkin)
When Alzheimer’s attacked Muriel McQuilkin, her husband was compelled to leave behind a prestigious career to care for her. It wasn’t easy, but Robertson had already made the decision in his heart years earlier when he vowed to love his bride in sickness and in health. Here, he shares the lessons he learned from his late wife about true love.
Loving Someone With Alzheimer’s (Dr. Gary Chapman, Lisa Anderson)
Chapman and Anderson discuss the challenges families face when a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. They encourage caregivers and suggest ways to love and support someone with diminishing mental capabilities.
Navigating End-of-Life Decisions (Dr. Margaret Cottle, Jason Tippetts, Kara Tippetts)
Cottle (a medical specialist who cares for the terminally ill) and the Tippetts share their hearts in dealing with Kara’s incurable cancer—how they’re handling grief, helping young children cope, and caring for Kara in her remaining days. They offer compassionate and godly perspectives on how to live well when facing a terminal diagnosis.
Showing Up for a Friend in Need (Jill Buteyn)
Buteyn shares about supporting her terminally ill friend, Kara Tippetts. She encourages those who want to come alongside loved ones struggling with life’s challenges.
Trusting God When He Breaks Your Heart (Pastor Ed Underwood)
Sharing from Scripture and his own physical torment, Underwood offers hope to Christians struggling to navigate crises of faith and illness—assuring them of God’s care.
The Value of a Life Worth Living (Joni Eareckson Tada)
Joni shares the story of Kim, a young woman who had Lou Gehrig’s disease and wrestled with end-of-life questions. Joni recounts her encouragement that Kim seek God’s wisdom so she might live her remaining days in a way that would count for eternity.
When God Allows Suffering (Joni Eareckson Tada)
Joni candidly explores the question of why God allows pain and suffering, and she encourages listeners to persevere in trusting Him. She also shares the issues her husband, Ken, has experienced as the husband of a quadriplegic.
Focus on the Family Counseling Consultation Line
If you need someone to talk to, Focus on the Family offers a free phone counseling consultation with a licensed or pastoral counselor. Call 1-855-771-HELP (4357), Monday through Friday, 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM (MT).
Focus on the Family’s Christian Counselor Network
Search for licensed Christian counselors in your area.
American Cancer Society
This organization offers a variety of resources on cancer detection, treatment, and prevention.
Endurance with Jan and Dave Dravecky
Endurance ministers to suffering people, especially those who have experienced cancer, amputation, and depression. They offer resources for encouragement, comfort, and hope through a relationship with Jesus Chris
National Cancer Institute
This organization has information regarding cancer prevention, different types of cancer, treatment, and general information. They also carry resources to help parents explain cancer to children.
Referrals to secular organizations dealing with specialized areas of knowledge shouldn’t be read as an indication that their stances necessarily align with Focus on the Family’s perspective in all areas.
