Beth Mattison
Faith Through Cancer
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Tell He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand
- In Christ Alone
The story of Beth's cancer starts not with the diagnosis, but with her faith before. Beth knew that this life, in comparison to our future hope, is the same as $20-$30 for a billionaire. She knew that no matter what she lost in this life, it would be worth it to be a part of the Kingdom of God. This faith and wisdom were what led to the prayers that were answered.
Sometime before Beth was diagnosed with cancer, both she and her husband prayed at length that God would do whatever it took to draw them closer to Him, to guarantee that they would be saved. Sometime later, Beth was diagnosed with cancer. About a year later, Beth's husband was telling someone how much Beth's cancer had strengthened their relationship with the Lord. At that point they both realized that God used this curse to draw them closer to Him. While God did not cause the cancer, He allowed Satan to put it on Beth, so He could have an even stronger relationship with both Beth and her husband.
For four years, Beth faced ovarian cancer. In the first year of her cancer, on February 9, 2017, it was thought that Beth was not going to make it through the night. Throughout her cancer, she spent 66 nights in the hospital, multiple of which were thought to be her last night. Beth and her husband regularly sent out emails to their friends and family, updating them on what was going on with Beth's cancer. There were three prayer requests that were continually repeated: that Beth's suffering would end, others would come to have a relationship with the Lord, and God would be glorifed through all of this.
Two weeks before Beth died, she faced many more difficulties than she had the rest of her time facing cancer. She spent all two weeks in the hospital facing increasing pain and labored breathing. She was put on TPN IV nutrition, since she could barely eat anything. Despite this, she grew weaker by the day.
On February 7, 2020, Beth made the decision to enter hospice care. When she arrived, they evaluated her. Their evaluation made them expect Beth to only live hours to a day or two. Beth died in hospice on Sunday, February 9, 2020. The only comfort to her family when she passed was that she was finally out of pain, waiting for the trumpet call when Jesus would return to the earth.
Her husband wrote that God had blessed them richly throughout their entire marriage for 38 years. He said that neither of them had any regrets about what they did with their marriage. In the end, he knew that Beth drew comfort from her assurance of salvation, longing for the time when Jesus' return.
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day --- and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." - 2 Timothy 4:7-8. 2