Tim Sharp has hiked mountains all his life. The mountains above 14,000 feet have been the most memorable. They have taken him far up and have felt endless. A few steps up required a stop for a breath. A couple more steps and he would have to stop again. Breathe in, breathe out. When it felt like he had caught his breath, he’d take another step. Thoughts would come to mind questioning if he was even moving. However, when he would look back and see where he started, he had gone a long way. Tim recollects those hikes and the training it required, as well as the lessons learned. He can’t help but think that all of those mountain hikes were for a bigger challenge. An unexpected one that happened last year when he was diagnosed with cancer.
“All of that endurance and training helped,” Tim recollected. “I knew I was going to feel it all along the way. God was faithful. His loving kindness and mercy were enduring. We can trust him through anything.”
Since the age of 18, when he gave his life to the Lord, there have been many mountains he has hiked with his wife Cindy, both real and spiritual. None have been like this one he was about to face. It started when after playing pickleball, he noticed a pain in his shoulder. A few months later, the pain and discomfort only grew. After a visit to his doctor and an x-ray, expecting a prescription for physical therapy, the diagnosis of multiple myeloma was given.
“Before this, you have to understand that Tim had run a marathon and several half marathons,” Cindy shared. “We used to run 60+ miles per week. We still ride bikes and hike. Tim has never been seriously ill. We were used to common muscle aches and such. But after 60 some years of not being seriously ill and all of the sudden saying I have cancer after I had just retired. We were in shock.”
A six-month plan was set by their amazing hematologist. Chemo for the first 3-4 months and then a stem cell transplant to kick off a new immune system. Tim and Cindy felt confident with their medical team and plan. They knew an additional team and plan would also be required.
“My wife is amazing because from the start she went into full war room, battle mode,” Tim described the first steps of their spiritual warfare plan. “She began by praying declarations over me and over us. The declaration was that this cancer will not end my life. God’s word is filled with promises, and we had them pasted all over our home and in our office. One thing we knew right away was is that we were going to need more help.”
Cindy and Tim developed specific prayer teams and asked for prayer and support. Prayer teams consisted of people from their City Group and another small group that they are part of. These groups consisted of people from church, former co-workers and friends and family.
“We purposely kept it small,” Tim said. “We didn’t want to process everyone else’s attitudes. Cancer can terrify people. But the Lord said to us, “Do you think cancer is any harder for me to heal than a cold?” He’s the God of the impossible. If we aren’t careful, we can fall in the same mind sets as those who don’t know Him. So those who know him spoke life over us. We were drinking in scripture and covered by prayer.”
The disciplines of prayer and worship deepened for Cindy and Tim. Every day, Cindy prayed for Tim, laid hands on him, and anointed him with oil. Frequently, they took communion. Their faith was ignited because of their belief. Their environment was changed.
“We leaned on God’s promises,” Cindy confessed. “We proclaimed God’s word. In Isaiah 53:5 it says, “And by His stripes we are healed.” We have a declaration that we say every day and is up on our mirror from Jeremiah 30:17... “For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord...” Proclaiming God’s word. Not naming it and claiming but simply igniting our faith from the word of God. God is a God of power, and he has given us His good and faithful promises so that we can trust in Him and His goodness.”
God also gave them encouragement through his people. Over and over, Tim and Cindy would run into people who had a personal cancer story, some who had been in remission for over 20 years. Cindy also connected with eight people who had a no-hope cancer diagnosis but today, are living in remission.
“I called a woman who had stage 4 cancer, and the doctors didn’t even want to do treatment,” Cindy shared with a smile. “I called her and asked her, “What did you do?” She and her husband came to our house and gave us such powerful encouragement and prayed for us. They had lived it. I heard her story and all the other’s stories. We got their perspective. God does do the impossible! We needed to hear that.”
Story after story, prayer after prayer, Cindy and Tim surrounded themselves with the truth of God’s word, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the people of God. Early on, they noticed something miraculously happening.
“God keeps us in perfect peace as our mind stays on him,” Cindy confessed. “That’s our part. That’s how we can participate. We had to take any thought that would raise up against the knowledge of God, and we had to capture them. We couldn’t go there. We shouldn’t ever, but we do. His peace was powerful. We both slept well and still are. That’s amazing.”
Cindy added,
“The greatest weapon is peace. Sometimes we can get sidetracked from that. Peace gives you a clear mind, and then you can hear from God and be comforted. I’ve always had such high respect for Tim. He’s steady and didn’t lose his peace. He processed everything well and kept his hope. For him, it’s Jesus above the diagnosis. It’s Jesus above what the doctor says. We know our greatest spiritual weapon is peace. We fought for peace all through it. When a doctor would say this and that, our hearts said it's probably true in the natural, but our God is about the impossible. That’s where we kept our hearts and our minds. We were rooted in Christ. Tim was and is amazing.”
Cancer has not been a death sentence for Tim. He is in remission. He feels like he’s got the best outcome he could have been given.
“We are trusting that God is giving me many years to live,” Tim concluded. “We are not presuming on the Lord but we are trusting in His goodness. A teacher we have listened to has said that the worst-case scenario is that you die and you get to be with Jesus. You don’t lose! We are still trying to get used to it all and not letting this define us. To live life trusting in God’s goodness and mercy which is how we should be living anyway. None of us knows what will happen in the future. He is the good shepherd and he will lead us. For the days that are hard, consider and believe that Jesus is the vine and we are branches ... He feeds us and nurtures us and causes growth.”
Cindy and their two boys have a peace that this battle has come to an end. They are not presuming on the Lord but know instead that He is sufficient. They are very grateful for that.
“People ask how do you do it?” Tim confessed. “No joke, it's one foot in front of the other. One thing at a time. One day at a time. Don’t look too far into the future. Right now, I am feeling good and back to serving, bike riding, hiking, and traveling.”
Tim and Cindy, as well as their two sons, will continue to take one step at a time on this new journey. On this hike, up a different mountain, Tim will stop when he needs to for a breath. He will take two more steps and stop. Always taking time to look back and see how far God has taken him. With God, every day and every mountain brings gratitude and joy.
So excited to hear the back story of God’s provision in sustaining you and in His healing. This testimony spoke to me on several levels. Thanks for your lifelong walk of faithfulness and Integrity. So inspiring!! Love you guys!✝️🙏💖