Only When It's Dark Can We See The Stars: A Father's Journal as His Son Battles Cancer

Book Description

Four Long Years: That's the time from 12-year-old Julian's diagnosis of leukemia until the van Popta family reaches the other side. All the while, dad kept a log chronicling in detail the arduous ordeal. Is there hope in the pitch-dark Valley of Baca? With his journal, you can travel with these pilgrims on their journey.

Since John is sharing his entries with extended family, friends and church members, you hear him reporting and reflecting as a pastor. He had encountered similar situations before, but such experience counts for little compared to facing cancer of a loved one firsthand. So you also sense how a father's heart aches as his son suffers. And how he wrestles with wounded faith.

"When I held my son in my arms tonight, I wept."

Author

A minister's son, John van Popta (B.A., M.Div.) pastored three congregations in the Canadian Reformed Churches before taking an early retirement due to Parkinson's disease. Keeping an eye on the stars, he and his wife, Bonita, have six children and 25 grandchildren.

Endorsements

"God calls most of his people to pass through dark valleys. Few valleys are deeper, and few are darker than the ones in which we see our children suffer. This is a book that will be a blessing to all of those who are being called into times of suffering, sorrow, and uncertainty."
--Tim Challies, Author, Seasons of Sorrow 

"This is the story of a family's heart-breaking journey through the valley of the shadow of death. It will almost certainly make you weep. But it will also lead you to worship the God whose grace is sufficient, and whose goodness and mercy in Christ follow us all the days of our lives."
--William den Hollander, Ph.D., Professor of New Testament, Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary

"Heartbreaking and hopeful, these raw, unedited emails record the van Popta family's journey through the valley of the shadow of death and the Good Shepherd's often mysterious presence and care. It was a privilege to be Pastor John van Popta's friend and colleague in the next town over during these events, and to read these emails as they first appeared. I am delighted to see them available to a wider audience."
--John Barach, M.Div., Minister of the Word, Covenant Presbyterian Church, Sulphur, Louisiana

"The author of this book describes a family's reliance on and trust in the Lord as they walked through the Valley of Baca. The book gives hope, comfort, and understanding to all who read it. Heartily recommended." 
--Albert H. Oosterhoff, LLM, Professor Emeritus, Western University (Law)

"In this sober, moving account John van Popta tells the story of the illness of his son Julian, and of the way of bravery, despair, resilience and exhaustion Julian, his parents, family and friends had to go. It is a story of pain and encouragement, medical accomplishments and incapacity, of joy and lament. At crucial moments, God does not seem to respond to calls for help. Yet in all the weeping, hope--even beyond death--becomes real in relationships."
--Koert van Bekkum, PhD., Professor of Old Testament, Evangelische Theologische Faculteit, Theologische Universiteit Kampen

"Though it is autobiographical, this book deals with such deep experience that it becomes archetypal. Much can be written about it, but at a minimum John van Popta's account of his pilgrimage through the valley of Baca gives us a fleeting glimpse of the infinite love of the Father who gave up his Son for us."
--Daniel Shin, B.A., M.Div., Minister of the Word, Spring Creek CaRC, Vineland, Ontario

Additional Information

Cover: Softcover
Number of Pages: 192
Publisher: Providence Books & Press
Publication Date: 2025