50 Days of Hope
Lynn Eib

DAY 1

  • Do you know anyone who is/has been in a similar situation to yours? Explain.
  • Share about a cancer survivor whose story has given you hope.

 

DAY 2

  • What was your initial reaction when you heard the diagnosis?
  • How has your perspective changed/not changed since that moment?

 

DAY 3

  • Share a time someone told you a story that did not have a happy ending.
  • How did you respond to this story?
  • How have you seen Lynn’s two discoveries come true in your life: “You are a lot stronger than you think, and God is a lot greater than you think”?

 

DAY 4

  • Do you tend to be a feelings or facts person?
  • How do you respond to the idea of the Bible being a compass to always steer us in the right direction?
  • Share a verse that helps you stay focused in your cancer journey.

 

DAY 5

  • Share where you were on 9/11 and how you felt when you heard/saw the news.
  • Share about the day your own world fell apart with a cancer diagnosis.
  • Did you and your spouse/caregiver have the same or a different reaction? Explain.

 

DAY 6

  • Share whether you have had any other family members diagnosed with cancer.
  • Did you ever think or worry that you/your loved one might get cancer? Explain.
  • Have you been able to surrender the cancer diagnosis/prognosis to God? Why or why not?

 

50 Days of Hope
Lynn Eib

DAY 7

  • How was the doctor’s bedside manner when he/she delivered your cancer diagnosis news? (Do not share any names if you did not have a positive experience.)
  • What is one of your biggest fears on this journey?
  • Share a verse that helps you to “fear not.”

 

DAY 8

  • How has this cancer diagnosis affected other members of your family?
  • If you are the caregiver, share how it feels to watch your loved one go through this journey.
  • Do you and your spouse/caregiver cope with the cancer in similar ways or different ways? Explain.

 

DAY 9

  • Has anything about this cancer diagnosis/prognosis made you angry? (Do not mention any specific people or medical institution names.)
  • What are some questions you would like to ask God right now?

 

DAY 10

  • Share some cancer vocabulary words you have learned.
  • What terms have been confusing for you? How have you gotten explanations for them?

 

DAY 11

  • What seems unfair to you about this cancer diagnosis/prognosis?
  • What disappointments have you faced?
  • Talk about what it means to not “confuse life with God.”

DAY 12

  • Has anyone said this to you: “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle”?  What was your reaction?
  • Can you relate to feeling like the shepherd boy David facing the Goliath giant of cancer? Explain.

 

50 Days of Hope
Lynn Eib

DAY 13

  • How surprised/shocked were you at the cancer diagnosis/prognosis?
  • Share a time you have seen God go before you on this journey.

 

DAY 14

  • Share about a time when you were in a frightening storm.
  • Have you ever felt like you were “flying by the seat of your pants” during your cancer journey? Explain.

 

DAY 15

  • Share about the frustration of waiting in the midst of dealing with cancer.
  • Would you describe yourself as usually a patient or impatient person?
  • Share an encouraging Scripture verse about waiting.

 

DAY 16

  • What is your response to the quote by Norman Cousins: “Don’t defy the diagnosis; just defy the verdict”?
  • Share your story if you or your loved one has lived longer than doctors originally predicted.

 

DAY 17

  • What is your reaction to Jim’s miraculous story?
  • What goals do you have for yourself/your loved one?

 

DAY 18

  • How did you tell your children/grandchildren about the cancer diagnosis/prognosis?
  • Share what has been difficult about having children facing cancer with you.
  • Share something you have done with them that you feel has been helpful.

 

DAY 19

  • Have you been able to feel any peace yet in your situation? Whether yes or no, explain.
  • Share something specific that you need prayer for so you can feel God’s peace.

 

50 Days of Hope
Lynn Eib

DAY 20

  • What are your personality strengths as you face cancer?
  • What are your personality weaknesses as you face cancer?
  • Share ways you believe you have been able to live “By His Strength.”

 

DAY 21

  • What are you facing in the future that makes you feel stressed?
  • Share a time God showed up “just in time.”

 

DAY 22

  • Share how long you/your loved one has been a survivor (start counting from the first diagnosis).
  • Do you feel like a survivor? Why or why not?

 

DAY 23

  • Are you a funny friend, or do you need a funny friend?
  • Have you found any reason to laugh during this journey? What was it?

 

DAY 24

  • Share your favorite joke or an embarrassing story about yourself.
  • Share how you do “laughter therapy” in your life, or mention which one of the suggestions Lynn lists that you will adopt.

 

DAY 25

  • Was it easy or hard for you to attend a cancer support group? Explain.
  • Did you come mainly to be encouraged or to encourage others? Or both?

 

DAY 26

  • How does it make you feel when people tell you to “stay positive” or “think positive”?
  • Have you ever experienced the “tyranny of positive thinking”? Explain.
  • Share about a time you had a “good” cry.

 

50 Days of Hope
Lynn Eib

DAY 25

  • Was it easy or hard for you to attend a cancer support group? Explain.
  • Did you come mainly to be encouraged or to encourage others? Or both?

 

DAY 26

  • How does it make you feel when people tell you to “stay positive” or “think positive”?
  • Have you ever experienced the “tyranny of positive thinking”? Explain.
  • Share about a time you had a “good” cry.

 

DAY 27

  • Are you feeding your mind with anything that makes you feel worse? Explain.
  • Do you fear God? Why or why not?

 

DAY 28

  • Have you ever heard God speaking to you? How did it happen, and what did He say?
  • How can we know for sure that what we’re hearing is from God?

 

DAY 29

  • Are you a member of “Club Paranoia”? Why or why not?
  • Share something you were paranoid about that turned out to be nothing.

 

DAY 30

  • Would you describe yourself as a controlling person or not? Explain.
  • Has it been easy or hard for you to reconcile the two truths: “Sometimes life is agony, and our loving God is in control”?

 

50 Days of Hope
Lynn Eib

DAY 31

  • Share what has been the scariest part of your cancer storm.
  • Have you ever been able to find “the exact, calm center”? How did it happen?
  • Which version of Psalm 46:10 that Lynn shares do you relate to most? Or share another version you like.

 

DAY 32

  • Did you ever get out of position spiritually during your cancer journey? Explain.
  • Do you need to move under the shadow of the Almighty or learn ways to stay there?

 

DAY 33

  • Without sharing any names, have any friends or family members disappointed you with their lack of support?
  • Have you ever thought cancer was a punishment for something in your life? Explain.
  • Respond to Lynn’s statement “There’s nothing you can do to make God love you any more—or any less—than He already does.”

 

DAY 34

  • Are you naturally more optimistic or more pessimistic?
  • How would you describe your attitude when you first heard the diagnosis/prognosis? How has it changed/not changed?
  • What is your response to the Chuck Swindoll quote: “Life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it”?

 

DAY 35

  • Do you tend to worry or not worry?
  • Share something you worried about that never ended up happening.
  • How do you replace worrisome thoughts?

 

DAY 36

  • Where do you find hope?
  • Share a favorite verse about hope.

 

50 Days of Hope
Lynn Eib

DAY 37

  • Share something for which you would like a “money-back guarantee.”
  • Share a promise from Scripture that encourages you.

 

DAY 38

  • Share something related to your cancer journey for which you have been thankful.
  • If you haven’t been thankful for anything, would you ask others to pray for you to find something?

 

DAY 39

  • Do you think you or your loved one can “beat” cancer?
  • Respond to Lynn’s definition of beating cancer.
  • Are you a person who has cancer, or does cancer have you?
  • What needs to happen for you to beat cancer?

 

DAY 40

  • How have your prayer times changed/not changed since the cancer diagnosis/prognosis? Explain.
  • Have you ever used the Psalms to pray? Share an example.

 

DAY 41

  • Do you or have you ever felt like you were walking “in the valley of the shadow of death”? Explain.
  • How have you seen God transform your valley of trouble into a gateway of hope?
  • If you haven’t seen that transformation, are you open to asking others to pray for that to happen?

 

DAY 42

  • Has anything good (a blessing) come out of your cancer experience?
  • How have you seen God’s healing physically, emotionally, mentally and/or spiritually?

 

50 Days of Hope
Lynn Eib

DAY 43

  • Feathers and the number 914 reminded Carollynn of God. Are there any symbols or tangible items in your life that have pointed you to Him?
  • Have you ever felt God’s wings protecting you? Explain.

 

DAY 44

  • Has your or your loved one’s treatment been easier or harder than you expected? Explain.
  • Are you or have you ever been in the Valley of Weeping? Explain.

 

DAY 45

  • Do you agree or disagree that “everything happens for a reason”?
  • How might that statement make someone feel worse?

 

DAY 46

  • Which ABC of trials speaks to you the most?
    • Accept you don’t have the whole picture.
    • Believe a loving God does.
    • Continue on by faith and not by sight.

 

DAY 47

  • Have you or has your loved one experienced depression?
  • If so, what has helped/not helped?

 

DAY 48

  • Have you used any complementary treatments that you feel have been helpful? (Sharing them does not mean the group endorses them.)
  • Have you experienced the cure for your soul? When and how?
  • If not, would you like to talk to someone more about this?

 

50 Days of Hope
Lynn Eib

DAY 49

  • Respond to the quote “Don’t waste your cancer.”
  • Share how your cancer journey has given you an “opportunity to bear witness.”

 

DAY 50

  • Does cancer occupy your mind, or is your mind “seized with God’s perfect peace”?
  • Does cancer have any place in your heart, or is your heart “filled with God’s awesome love”?
  • Has cancer touched your soul, or is your soul “saved by God’s amazing grace”?
  • Do you feel “free of cancer”? If not, how can others pray for you?
  • Anyone who wants to is encouraged to state their name and kind of cancer and then shout “I’m/we’re FREE OF CANCER!”  

 

Notes