Through the fire – Unscathed

It was just another normal summer day with the sweltering heat and the grueling schedule of orthopedic residency both combining forces to take their toll on an equally dazed and starved 1st resident and as if to interject my scurrying around my phone beeped, but this time only to reveal a text from my sister that my mom underwent some scans for headache and they found a tumor in her brain.

Just a few days before this saddening revelation I was praying for a break, planning for a 2-3 days break from the hospital, but never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that my break would come in such a manner: I’d have to travel home to be with my mom during her surgery to remove the brain tumor. As the days went by we learned that the tumor is a Meningioma (benign, slow growing tumor of the covering layers of the brain), though small in size now, it warrants a surgical removal as it was causing her headaches. In the days to follow each of us had our moments of doubts and panic but mummy, she was engulfed in a divine peace, a peace that surpasses human logic and understanding and we realized that, “It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” (Philippians 4: 7 The Message).

One of the finest responses I heard in this period came from my mummy as she reiterated what Daniel’s friends proclaimed to King Nebuchadnezzar that the God they served was able to save them and even if He didn’t for some reason they won’t compromise on their faith. Mummy’s faith was firmly grounded in Abba’s love that she is safe in His hands, and that He was going to heal her with or without the surgery. Daniel’s friends literally went through the fire (furnace to be precise), God could have prevented the furnace through some divine intervention, but instead He chose to walk with them in the furnace.   “When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up—the flames will not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2 (TLB).

“There is strength within the sorrow
There is beauty in our tears
And You meet us in our mourning
With a love that casts out fear
You are working in our waiting
You’re sanctifying us
When beyond our understanding
You’re teaching us to trust”  Sovereign over us – Michael W. Smith

Another lesson I learnt through this is that there is freedom in surrender; Abba is still sovereign so even in the flood or the furnace I’ll praise Him.

“So let go my soul and trust in Him
The waves and wind still know His name” It is well- Bethel Music