How God Leads A Suffering Saint
(A testimony to exalt the name of Jesus Christ)

1. After the worship service at Batu Aji Church on 29.2.04, I announced my nose cancer to the congregation. Spontaneously they all prayed and sang ‘I know the Lord will make a way for me.’ Not only was I strengthened by their love and concern but I felt that the Holy Spirit was assuring me through the hymn that the burden would be lifted. A great calm came over me and I felt so peaceful and comforted.

2. Then on the 3^rd day [1.4.04] of my treatment, the Lord led me especially to Isaiah 42:16 ~ ‘… I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.’ and Psalm 32:8 ~ I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. I was and am still absolutely convinced that this is the verse from the Lord to me because I am also blind. Blind not physically but by so many other ways. Examples are by own reasoning and trusting in own ability, pride, anger, impatience, stubbornness, neglect in seeking God in prayer, selfishness, and so many, many more. Gripped by the truth and richness of the verse, I have claimed this promise as my anchor verse ever since and the Lord has indeed shown me His way. I can see very clearly the Lord’s leading especially in sending various people whom I do not know well but have nevertheless shown genuine concern in going out of their way to help and provide tangible support and this has greatly strengthened my faith and confidence in the Lord. Even strangers whom I met along the way were particularly helpful.

Each Step I take my Saviour goes before me,

And with His loving hand He leads the way;

And with each breath I whisper, “I adore Thee!”

O what joy to walk with Him each day.

3. Who are these strangers and people whom I do not know well and how did they support me?

a.   Prayer support came from:

[i]    a principal who prayed over the phone immediately on learning of my condition;

[ii]   the manager of a hearing aid shop who prayed when I collected the hearing aid;

[iii]  the therapists, dentist, and two nurses who administered the drugs gave constant encouragement;

b.   A young man from Johore receiving treatment at the National Cancer Centre – I did not know him but nevertheless talked to him and found out that he is a Christian from a Presbyterian Church in Johore. After praying for him, we ended up in the same two-room ward and had sweet fellowship with much mutual help;

c.  One afternoon, I boarded a taxi that was waiting at NCC. The driver had been healed of exactly the same type of cancer as mine and so I could learn much from his experience;

e.   Unexpected support from various people – a couple delivered chicken soup to me regularly while at NCC; a sister offered supercharged-oxygenated water; brethren who came from afar to encourage and pray for us; a pharmacist while making recommendations on health supplements advised us to seek the Lord for direction so as not to be confused with too many advice, and for the 1^st time, there were love gifts;

f.   On the same day that the first tear on the skin around the neck was noticed, someone gave me a cream specially for patients undergoing radiotherapy. What timely provision by the Lord! Fully convicted that it is from the Lord, I have used it against the doctor’s reluctant advice and it has been very effective.

Can all these provisions and special people who came to me in such a sequential manner during this period be just coincidence? No way can it be so because they all linked together to become a very clear path of God’s leading. This confirms that the Lord, in His higher wisdom, timing and authority over His own, never fails to act or intervene with incidences and situations to encourage us all - sometimes, even out of our sinfulness, His power still prevails if He so chooses to turn our bad into good for His own glory.

4.   Someone commented that my condition is a miracle because I should look haggard. In the final assessment by the head therapist, he said, ‘I can see that the Lord is good to you!’ Externally I may look good, but to what extent the Lord has preserved my body, I do not know since I cannot see the inside but I know for sure that God has not forsaken me. Psalm 34:19 ~ Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.  Every review and blood test was healthy except for expected side effects of loss of taste, dryness in the mouth and sore throat. Even my skin around the neck is in very good condition after all the radiotherapy while most patients have bad tearing or even skin peeling off. But God has not allowed me to suffer more than I am able to bear. All these are the Lord’s doing. In His mercy, grace and compassion, the Lord has sustained me. Indeed my Heavenly Father has been shielding and leading me even before the start of the treatment and I know that He will continue to do so. Hallelujah! All heartfelt praise and thanks to the Almighty God!

The Lord has promised good to me,

His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be

As long as life endures [RHC 563]

4. It is my prayer that this sharing of what God has marvelously done for me can bring comfort, encouragement and strength to you, because of II Cor 1:3-4 ~ Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.