PRAY: Conservative Journalist Megan Basham Reveals Heartbreaking Diagnosis
On Feb. 3, Megan Basham—whose “Shepherds for Sale” was published last year—announced she was suffering from metastasized colorectal cancer.
At the beginning of the post announcing her condition, however, she referenced a recording of the 17th-century hymn “What God Ordains Is Always Good,” posted by Phil Johnson, executive director of Grace to You and a close collaborator of Pastor John MacArthur.
The hymn, she said, “Prompts me to share some news I’ve been meaning to share for awhile.
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“The Basham family went on a bit of a roller coaster ride in 2024 and that continued through the end of the year. Just after Thanksgiving, I was diagnosed with stage three, advanced colorectal cancer. Christmas was spent in a flurry of scans and meeting with oncology teams for first and second opinions. Suddenly, many plans our family had for the New Year had to be set aside or placed on hold,” she said.
‘Shepherds for Sale’ Author Megan Basham Diagnosed With Advanced Colorectal Cancer https://t.co/WS8bSiqMSI pic.twitter.com/f4oNN8jQJf
— Protestia (@Protestia) February 4, 2025
According to the American Cancer Society, “Stage III colon cancers have spread to nearby lymph nodes, but they have not yet spread to other parts of the body.”
However, Basham reminded readers that we aren’t playing by percentages, we’re playing by God’s plan.
“Proverbs 16:9 tells us that man plans his way, but it is the Lord who establishes his steps,” she wrote.
“And our steps are now heading in unexpected directions. Scheduled trips will not be taken, a podcast I hoped to pursue with a friend will have to be suspended indefinitely. But other plans, God willing, will go forward, like new book projects and helping Brian with exciting new plans for World Watch! And new goals, like beating cancer and allowing the Lord to shape us as He will through this trial are now on our to do list.”
Basham added that she had “been in chemo-radiation for the last few weeks and after that will proceed to more substantial chemo and surgery in the summer. We know that God is using it for our benefit and His glory. Because what God ordains is always good and my times are in His hands.”
.@Phil_Johnson_ posted this beautiful hymn and it prompts me to share some news I’ve been meaning to share for awhile.
— Megan Basham (@megbasham) February 3, 2025
The Basham family went on a bit of a roller coaster ride in 2024 and that continued through the end of the year. Just after Thanksgiving, I was diagnosed with…
She then linked to the version of “What God Ordains Is Always Good,” recorded with a new musical composition by Josh Bauder, with the original text from Samuel Rodigast.
One does not need to have a dire medical diagnosis to take heart and heed in the words (public domain):
What God ordains is always good;
He is my Friend and Father.
He suffers naught to do me harm
tho’ many storms may gather.
Now I may know both joy and woe;
some day I shall see clearly
that He has loved me dearly.
What God ordains is always good;
tho’ I the cup am drinking
which savors now of bitterness,
I take it without shrinking.
For after grief God gives relief,
my heart with comfort filling
and all my sorrow stilling.
It may not be what we planned. In fact, it never is. But even through the pain, it is always good. A gentle reminder from someone who is going through something very un-gentle indeed.
Our thoughts and prayers are and remain with Basham and her family. While we do not know what He has ordained, we hope it’s a speedy recovery.
This article originally appeared on The Western Journal, and is reposted with permission.
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