Glorified Sickness: Honoring God Through Sickness

Having relatively few risk factors, B. Davis Campbell was diagnosed with Stage 3 bladder cancer at age 43 and underwent major surgery and chemotherapy. Although his chances of surviving five years were only 15-20% per his oncologist, he has now been declared cured. He subsequently describes his cancer battle and ultimate triumph in his first book, A Place I Didn’t Want To Go: My Victory Over Cancer.

Still trying to comprehend why he was stricken with cancer, he has since discovered some positive benefits of sickness. In his second book, Glorified Sickness: Honoring God Through Illness, B. Davis lists the numerous ways the Heavenly Father uses sickness for His ultimate glory. For example, being touched by illness can be the impetus for starting new ministries, a divine test to develop a person’s character, or even a force for strengthening families. The author also masterfully lists additional benefits which occur when sickness strikes a person or a family unit.

So, if you or someone you know is suffering from sickness, be encouraged: there is a divine purpose for the illness. Will understanding the reason for the infirmity take away the pain and suffering? Not necessarily. Yet, in understanding the illness from God’s perspective, those suffering from an infirmity may discover their sickness is more bearable, possibly even turning their pain into praise, their mourning into dancing.