God's peace through health challenges

The statement of my year is definitely, “What I thought would break me, did not.”

Though my health challenges started last year, it culminated in my requiring oncology-related surgery on the first Friday of 2023.

How did God go before me? A colleague and friend insisted that I changed surgeons, when I was first diagnosed. The irony is that my then agnostic colleague, suggested I see an oncology surgeon who turned out to be a Christian. There’s more…

This surgeon has a colleague who works with him , who turned out to be camping friends with my close friend. My theatre experience was one of absolute peace as the surgeon was holding my hand and praying for me, along with the theatre sister, who had been asked to do so by my friend’s friend.  The peace I felt around this surgery was absolutely of Divine origin! Even when I developed a complication and had to be wheeled back into surgery, I had peace and even joy.

I cannot say that I am happy that I have had this battle, however I know that I would not have learnt to know and grow as I have in my trust of God, had I not have to walk this path.

The love and support of family and community carried me, I learnt how to appreciate my relationships and be more intentional with people. I learnt how to trust and surrender to God again! I learnt how not to trust my feelings, but to stand on the truth of His word and declare that!

For now my tests are all clear and I am grateful as life is “normalising” again, however, I know that I know that God has me in the palm of His almighty hand and through the unfolding events, He showed me how He takes care of me.

Thank you to the ESCC community for your love and support.

– Anthea

P.S. A recent conversation with my agnostic colleague revealed that he is considering Christianity. He says that “it just makes sense.” Our God is awesome !