Two years ago, my husband Bill underwent a PET scan to determine whether or not he had prostate cancer–that which had loomed a likelihood for more than a decade.

It began years earlier, with an elevated PSA (prostate specific antigen). Bill’s father and several uncles on his dad’s side faced prostate cancer early in their lives, and Bill knew. Genetically, this fact increased his chances of facing it at an early age too.

For years, he monitored his health with blood tests, annual MRIs and even a biopsy. Other than an elevated PSA, these tests didn’t determine, nor did they point specifically to, prostate lesions.

That is… until they did.

The summer of 2024, Bill’s PSA was so elevated, his urologist said he needed to have a PET scan. It was scheduled for September 13–my birthday, in fact. (I thought, “Great! What a way to celebrate another year of life–finding out if my husband has cancer.”)

And the scan did show lesions. So, the next step was a biopsy, which was performed several months later, near Bill’s birthday in early December. This allowed the physician to grade the lesions, leading to Bill’s decision to monitor the cancer no longer. He would have a prostatectomy.

Having guided his father and uncles in their medical care, Bill knew right where to go–The Global Robotics Institute at Advent Health in Celebration, Florida. There, Dr. Vipul Patel would take care of my husband just as he’d cared for my father-in-law and his brothers.

And Dr. Patel did…

But, back to that PET scan in September 2024. (Did I mention it was my birthday?) Truth was, I was scared. This was my husband of thirty-five years, the one I’d grown up with and known most of my life.

Isn’t it just like the enemy to meddle with our thoughts? Mess with our minds? And meddle Satan did.

That’s when I realized I needed to appropriate II Corinthians 10:5–“taking all thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ Jesus.”

I knew this truth but battled knowing exactly how–how to cast down vain imaginations, as the apostle Paul calls them.

By definition, a vain imagination is a–

“Misguided belief and an empty thought arising from lack of faith.”

Lack of faith?

Was it true? Me? I had walked with Jesus a long time, memorizing scripture and teaching Bible study. I’d written extensively on topics of faith over fear and peace in all circumstances, and yet…

And yet.

That’s when I heard God whisper, “Fix your eyes on Me.” Aha. Like Peter on the storm-tossed sea, I, too, had to fix my gaze on my Good Shepherd, the One who was with me in every season.

Bill’s physical health was not unknown to God, and the prognosis was no surprise to Him. He knew of the lesions, knew their grade, knew just the one to perform the surgery to remove them.

Yes, He knew it all!

So right then and there, I had a choice–to trust these truths or to walk in fear rather than by faith. I had the choice to move ahead or to sink. I could choose peace or battle unrest.

P.E.T.

Although these three letters stand for something very different scientifically–positron emission tomography–to me they meant and still mean:

• P-peace…
• E-even…
• T-though…

Peace even though…

• One faces unknowns like cancer or other illnesses, financial instability, or broken relationships.
• The future looks scary.
• One feels alone.

Peace even though…

• The outcome isn’t what we hoped for.
• The worst we imagine becomes our reality.
• No one offers support or understands our situation.

Yes, peace even though…

Because we’ve been given a firm foundation upon which to stand, faithful words from a loving Father who never leaves us or forsakes us–promises like:

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8).

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3).

“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands” (Isaiah 55:12).

“Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security” (Jeremiah 33:6).

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:6).

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you” (Romans 16:20).

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

*(These passages are from the New International Version.)

Is peace important?

In the English Standard Version, the word peace is mentioned almost three hundred fifty times, proving that this fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5) is important to God, and if it’s important to Him, it should be important to–and applied by–us.

Peace Even Though…

As we arrived at, Bill underwent, and we walked away from that PET scan two years ago, God was with us. He was in our coming and going. He was with Bill in the examining room and me in the waiting room.

God was with us when Bill met with his physician to determine next steps. He was with Bill in his biopsy, and He was with Bill when he underwent surgery last October to remove the lesions and his prostate.

God was with Bill in his recovery, and He’s been with Bill, guiding him, since–enabling my husband to be an encouragement to other men and their wives who are facing something similar.

And He’s been with me, each and every step of the way. As I reflect upon the last couple years, I can smile now, seeing all this from the backside…

And it’s beautiful!

Why? Because I can see that God was with us through it all, giving us peace even when there were difficult decisions to make, scary moments in Bill’s recovery, unsettling realities once he returned to work with regard to insurance and heath care coverage.

But here we are, on the other side of what felt like an ominous mountain almost one year ago (surgery) … yes, two years ago today (PET scan). And know what?

God is still with us!

And He’s with you too. Like the old “Footprints” poem reminds us–not only is He with you, He is carrying you.

That’s His promise!

Think about it. P.E.T. scan requires we “look” for and apply God’s truths to our situation, but remember. The enemy would like nothing more than for us to think it’s a P.E.T. scam–lying to us and trying to distract us from the promises that are already ours.

Yes, and amen!

So, how has your Good Shepherd reminded you that He offers PEACE EVEN THOUGH…?

I’d love to hear. Your story will not only be an encouragement to me, I’m guessing it will bless someone else as well. Please share in the comments.

Father, thank You for Your good and faithful promises, reminders that peace is ours in every season because You are with us each step of the way. Help us remember this, and help us to remind others too. In Your son Jesus’s name, amen.