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Tim Keller talks about what he fears most if he dies from cancer

by Kelly Valencia

Popular Christian author Tim Keller has been speaking about his greatest fears when living with cancer.

In an interview with HTB pastor Nicky Gumble, the American author explained how leaving his wife behind was his biggest fear. 

"My fear isn't dying; my fear is actually leaving her behind. And that's her biggest fear as well. It's just a terrible fear," Keller said.

However, he said he manages those fears by reminding himself that "God´s will is always perfect" and believed that if his wife Kathy was going to outlive him "then there are things that God has for her to do."

Keller went on to explain how he found the roles in his marriage changed when he got the diagnosis. 

"I'm always the one who's strong taking care of her. And now that God has just decided, well, we're going to reverse the roles here. And you're going to both have to get used to what it means to trust me in this new role," he added. 

In June, Keller was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, a type of cancer that statistically causes 80 per cent of people to die within a year of the diagnosis. He has since been undergoing chemotherapy. 

During the interview, Keller explained how the doctor was "very upfront" about the possibilities of treating the cancer but said that "God was very kind", as it was diagnosed early and that has allowed better predictions. 

"We discovered it when I was in the hospital for something else. So, they are treating it rather early. And some of the early treatments look good. And, therefore the possibility of keeping it at bay for a longer period is pretty good. So, it's not likely, right now, that I would be dying within a year, "he said. 

When asked about positive things that he is learning during this season, the former pastor of Redeemer Church in New York City said he is "happier than I've ever been on a given day."

He continued saying that he and his wife never want to go back spiritually to where they were before the cancer diagnosis.

He continued: "I enjoy the things around me in a way that I've never enjoyed them before - I see them as gifts of God - and I enjoy my prayer life more than I ever have in my life."

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