Who or what is in control?

Throughout this trial we are in the midst of there has been a certain degree of confusion on my part in a particular area of my life. Beside the obvious fact that the Lord has been giving all of us the strength to get through this there still remains the question of "how are we even able to get to the point of allowing Him to do so?" You see it is one thing to say you trust God but it is completely another thing to see beyond the circumstances, and fear in order to arrive at the place of trust. Just tonight, I think I realized how to communicate and understand the answer completely in it's fullness for myself. You see the answer really is quite simple to realize and yet extrememly difficult and challenging to understand, so here it is: the cancer is not in control! The cancer does not dictate the outcome of our life, nor does it prevent us from reaching toward the goals we have for ourselves. Oh yes it does all it can to prevent us from doing the things we desire to do, however it truly is nothing more than an inconvenience, a rather large one but none the less it remains nothing more than that, an inconvenience. This disease has despite it's greatest efforts failed, and it will continue to fail to prevent us from walking in the fullness of the plans God has for us, and that is a choice we have made.
Dawn and I have purposed to do all we can to not allow this disease to derail our lives, the same way we have not allowed other challenges we have faced to do so. Oh yes this is the largest mountain we have ever had to climb but nonetheless it is just a mountain. And the way you climb any mountain is one step at a time, by purposing to pick your feet up and place one in front of the other. Oh yes you need an occasional break, and you may even find yourself sliding backward at times, however if you keep your eyes to the task and your mind on the goal eventualy you will overcome and arrive at the summit. Sometimes the summit is nothing more than arriving to the place where you were able to allow God to help you the remainder of the way, nonetheless you were victoriuos!
You see we all face mountains, challenges, hurts, pain inflicted by others, issues with our children, and so much more, yet the only way we fail is when we allow these challenges to dictate our actions. When we allow these things to make us someone we are not, when they cause us to react to situations in ways that are not the very best for us. This issue is not one that is reserved simply for those who believe, no this is a universal issue, one that every person does and must face. Ask yourself this question,"Have the challenges I have faced caused me to be someone other than who I desire to be?" Or do the circumstances of my past dictate my present and my future? If your answer is yes to either then you must stop allowing it to have control over you and change your focus, set your sights on the goal and begin the climb, one step at a time.
Dawn and I refuse to have our lives completely controlled by cancer, it is nothing more than a distraction that we are facing, a challenge that will strengthen each of us no matter what the outcome, because this is the choice we have made!
Today we visited our friendly cancer specialist and I'm not sure if he was encouraging or discouraging, he really didn't say much. He did however note that Dawn is not taking anywhere near the amount of pain meds that he would expect. Hence besides being a very tough lady, she is not experiencing the level of pain normaly associated with this disease. More tests have been ordered to see how things are progressing, in addition she will be receiving her chemo treatments next week. Areas of prayer: for Dawn to be able to eat, she needs to take in at least 2500 calories per day and she is well short of that. Also the chemo makes her extremely sensitive to cool or cold of any kind, so we pray that this symptom as well as the nausea would not be manifested within her.
Thank you all again for your encouragement, support, and prayers, we are so blessed!