To God be the Glory, Forever and Ever!

By Esther Hathaway

I was thirteen years old when I accepted Jesus into my heart. My best friend invited me to a youth Bible study at a church she attended. It was the first time that I had heard about the gift of salvation and how Jesus wanted me to follow Him with my heart and my life. I responded to the altar call that was given that night. I knew that I had just had an encounter with the Living God.

I wish that I could say that my walk with the Lord has been strong and steady since that Tuesday night 45 years ago. Sadly, I confess that my walk was not always what it should have been. I allowed the world to creep into my heart.

I made many very important decisions in my life without waiting and trusting in God. As a rsult of my choices there were many painful consequences that not only affected me, but my daughter as well.

Here is a true saying:

“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.”

Nonetheless, the Lord never forsook me. His gracious hand was always upon me. He was longsuffering and patient with me.

Psalm 86:15 “But You O Lord are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.”

Fast forward to September 2015. One month after my 50th birthday. I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. It was detected during a routine mammogram. The Lord had my attention.

After the initial shock, things moved quickly. I was to have a lumpectomy to remove the tumor. One day before the surgery I had to have a “target” inserted to assist the surgeon in locating the tumor. It was during this procedure that another tumor was found in the same breast. It had gone undetected in the initial exam. Surgery was canceled. The surgeon had to reevaluate and it was determined that a double-mastectomy would be the wise course of action in my case.

My life was on pause. My everyday life as I knew it stopped. Though there was a lot of uncertainty in my future I knew that God would not leave me or fail me. I did not ask God, why me, instead I told myself, why not me? It did not take me long to realize that He had left the 99 sheep to come find me and bring me back into the fold.

The surgery took place November 18, 2015 and the cancer had gone into my lymph nodes. Chemotherapy was to begin 4 weeks after surgery.

Recovery from the surgery was difficult. Chemotherapy was very unpleasant, but even through the worst days and nights, the Lord blessed me with His presence. He spoke to my heart during the darkest sleepless, restless nights. I was comforted by His promises and His word. I knew that I was not alone. He was right there with me.

My daughter, sister, brothers, parents and friends all came alongside me and were a 24-hour support system. They were the hands and feet of Jesus ministering to my every need. It may sound strange but, God took my cancer and turned it into a blessing. He not only did a work in me, but He did a work in my family as well. We were all brought closer together and came to realize how much we all mean to each other. We also have been reminded of how fragile life is and how God is in control of every detail in our lives at all times.

God poured out His grace, mercy, and compassion on me. He gave me a hope and a peace that is not of this world. I did not fear death, I welcomed it if that was the Lord’s will for me. In 2 Corinthians 5:8 says, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord”!

It was during my treatment that one of my brothers played for me the song, “Good, Good, Father” by Chris Tomlin. I hadn’t heard it before, but it became my song. To this day I cannot hold back tears from flowing when I hear it. It was a difficult time, but yet a sweet time with my Abbe Father.

Eventually my hair grew back, and though it seemed as though I would never feel normal again, I slowly regained strength and was able to return to the life that had been put on hold. It has now been nine years since I was diagnosed with cancer.

The Lord has blessed me beyond measure. He has recently given me a husband that loves Jesus and me. He has answered prayer and given my daughter a new heart (spiritually). She is a new creation in Christ Jesus.

Though I may fail every day, I know that His mercies and new every morning. He will never leave me or forsake me.

Jesus gave me a new perspective in life. He has given me a new heart and has shown me my purpose here on earth. It is to know and walk (abide) with Him and to serve others. Giving Him all honor, praise, and glory for what He has allowed me to go through so that I could encourage, comfort, and help others who are going through the same journey.

To God be the Glory, Forever and Ever!
Esther Hathaway