What I learned about God’s generosity while battling breast cancer 

by Jenna Farmer

Two years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and it launched our family into a season that tested our faith, family, and community in ways we never expected. 

Many people in my situation would say, “We caught it early,” and while that’s technically true – I was stage zero, DCIS (ductal, non-invasive) – we only detected it through what I now recognize as God’s prompting.

I’d made an appointment after feeling a lump and was referred for imaging. While nothing showed up on the mammogram, the doctor spotted something else of note during the ultrasound. The lump I had felt was not a concern, but the doctor ordered a biopsy upon seeing the “something else.”

A week later, I went in for my scheduled biopsy and anxiety was beginning to settle in. While sitting in the waiting room after the procedure, a notification from my Bible app appeared on my phone: “‘Do not fear, for I am with you’” – Isaiah 41:10. I felt God’s peace in that moment.

From the very beginning of this journey, Matt and I experienced God’s presence and provision in ways that would carry us through the months ahead.

The next God moment came when I received the diagnosis. Matt happened to be at home with me in that moment. We had known that a cancer diagnosis was possible but were shocked when the possibility suddenly became a reality. We sat in the new reality together, crying, praying, grieving, but not without hope.

That same evening, I had a scheduled girls’ night with friends. We decided I should still go, and I found my community of friends surrounding me with prayer and support. Even in one of the hardest moments of my life, God provided the people I would lean on most over the next months.

As treatments and surgeries began, God continued to provide in unexpected ways. Friends connected us with oncologists and surgeons. During anxious moments, we found comfort knowing these weren’t coincidences; these were people placed in our lives to guide and care for our whole family through each step. It was humbling to experience such provision and peace.

While the diagnosis was technically stage zero, it was grade three – which is an aggressive, faster growing form. During my double mastectomy a month following my diagnosis, my doctors found what they initially thought was a two-centimeter tumor. In surgery, they discovered it was an eight-centimeter tumor. Had I not acted on God’s prompting to make that first appointment so early – for a concern that wasn’t cancer – I may have faced a more challenging recovery.

From the diagnosis through recovery, God gave me a new experience on my generosity journey: being dependent on others. Until this time, I’d primarily sought ways to use my resources to bless others. I had been on the receiving end before, but dependency was a new and humbling experience.

Friends and family recognized that not only was I in a state of need, but I would be dependent on others for an extended period of time. Generosity came in countless forms (from people we knew and even some we didn’t): meal deliveries, gift cards, surprise care packages, rides for our boys for school and sports, childcare during the many doctor appointments, and even family staying with us for extended periods to help out.

I quickly learned to be grateful for the many ways people supported our family. But this gratitude didn’t just comfort me, it deepened my desire to one day pay forward the same generosity I was receiving.

Our community gave through their prayers, time, presence, and simple encouragements. I witnessed firsthand how true generosity isn’t just about the resources we share but about the heart behind the action.

Having young children during this journey added another layer of learning. For the first time, they experienced what it looked like to rely on others. They’d always seen us giving, whether sponsoring children through Compassion International or supporting our local homeless community in Kansas City. Now, they saw us receiving.

It was a poignant lesson in humility and dependence for us all. The many moments of generosity painted a vivid picture (especially for our kids) of what it looks like for the Church to act as the hands and feet of Christ.

I’ve seen more deeply how God’s grace is, and will be, sufficient. 2 Corinthians 12:9 – a favorite verse of mine even before cancer – tells us that His power is made perfect in weakness. It’s human nature – especially for me – to want to control our circumstances, but times of weakness and need provide space for God’s power and strength to shine through.

Stewardship and generosity are frequent topics in our home. We strive to live open-handedly, knowing we are stewards, not owners. Through this season, I’ve been reminded that God’s gifts are to prosper and not to harm us (Jeremiah 29:11), and that each blessing, even my life now being cancer-free, is an opportunity to steward well and share His goodness with others. He was with us, His presence and provision evident every step of the way.

Everyone is carrying something unseen, and God’s provision often flows through people who may not even know the full story. Receiving help has taught me humility, gratitude, and the deep impact of community. Even the smallest acts of kindness, patience, and love reflect God’s heart. And I’ve discovered this truth: the more grateful we become for what we’ve received, the more we’re compelled to give to others – continuing the beautiful cycle of God’s generosity flowing through His people.

Every season can shape the way we steward what God has entrusted to us. If Jenna’s story has you thinking differently about your own generosity, connect with our NCF Heartland team to explore your next step.