What strength makes a patient who suffered from a deadly disease and was at the brink of death free from danger and turn from danger to safety? What strength makes a cancer patient that was determined by the doctor to have only one month to live wax the radiant of life again? Some people say that it is the famous skillful doctor; some say that it is the high-priced medication; others say that it is the unpredictable luck. We are used to explaining all kinds of unexplainable phenomena in our life with convention and common sense. However, Liu Jia’s experience completely overturns the laws and logic that we maintain. Here, I’d like to share her experience.

Suddenly Attacked by a Serious Illness, She Was Firm and Emboldened Under the Leading of God’s Word in Such a Startling Environment

One day in February of 2013, when Liu Jia was doing housework, she suddenly felt a heart-piercing pain in her inferior belly. She wanted to sit, but couldn’t sit still, and she couldn’t straighten up either. Her belly turned very hard. And then her private parts began to bleed. Her cotton-padded trousers got entirely wet. After a whole roll of toilet paper ran out, she still couldn’t stop the bleeding. Because of excessive loss of blood, her face turned pale and she felt a bit cold. She kept praying in her heart, “O God! It’s out of Your permission that the illness occurs to me and there’s Your good will in it. I’m willing to rely on You!” Her husband and her son also prayed for her constantly and sent her to the hospital for fear that her life would be in danger.

After arriving at the hospital, Liu Jia had an examination. When the result came out, the doctor said with a serious face, “Your condition is very serious! Why do you come to see doctors so late? You must be hospitalized and have the operation. Or else, you will die!” Afterward, Liu Jia was sent to the ward. While knowing Liu Jia’s condition, her wardmates all said that her illness was so serious that maybe it couldn’t be cured. The words of the doctor and the wardmates, like thorns, pierced into Liu Jia’s heart. In the deep and quiet night, she shed tears secretly under the quilt. A spasm of melancholy welled up in her heart, “O God! How come I have such a serious illness?” When these thoughts popped up, she realized that she was complaining against God. Then she immediately prayed, “O God! I’m wrong. I confess and repent to You. Today, You allowed me to suffer this illness. There’s Your good will in it. May You give me strength, so that I won’t complain against You and can obey Your sovereignty and arrangement.” After the prayer, she thought of a passage of God’s word, which says, “While undergoing trials, it is normal for people to be weak, or to have negativity within them, or to lack clarity on God’s will or their path for practice. But in any case, you must have faith in God’s work, and not deny God, just like Job. Although Job was weak and cursed the day of his own birth, he did not deny that all things in human life were bestowed by Jehovah, and that Jehovah is also the One to take them all away. No matter how he was tested, he maintained this belief.” From God’s word, Liu Jia thought: When Job had sore boils all over his body, sat in the ashes, and used a potsherd to scrape himself, he never complained against God. What’s more, when his wife tempted him, he strictly reprimanded her, “Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10). Job had knowledge of God’s almightiness and sovereignty, so he didn’t lose faith in God in trials. By contrast, my stature is too small. I believe in God just for the sake of peace and health and constantly enjoying God’s blessings. I will complain against God in my heart if I encounter trial of sickness. I have enjoyed so much of God’s grace, but I don’t know to repay God and I even have unreasonable demands on God. I don’t have any conscience or reason, much less have reverence or obedience. Thinking of these, Liu Jia had faith and strength. She was willing to imitate Job, learning lessons and standing testimony in God’s trial. At this moment, she also remembered that God says, “To dwell in sickness is to be sick, but to dwell in the spirit is to be well. So long as you still have one breath, God will not let you die.” “Of everything that occurs in the universe, there is nothing in which I do not have the final say. Is there anything that is not in My hands?” “Right! All things in the universe are ruled over by God. My life and death are even more in God’s hand. Without God’s permission, no illness can take away my life. Even if I have but one breath, I won’t die,” Liu Jia thought. Thus, she made a resolution inwardly to obey God’s sovereignty and arrangement no matter whether she would live or die.

As Liu Jia’s condition was very serious and complicated, the doctor invited the specialists to hold a consultation. That day when Liu Jia was about to have the operation, the doctor told her husband about the dangers that would probably happen during the operation, saying that this operation was too difficult and that she might die during the operation. The doctor also asked her husband to sign off for her. At this moment, Liu Jia was clear that the things that happened to her were out of God’s permission and also God’s test to her. As God’s word gave her faith and courage, she did not at all feel nervous or fear. Before going onto the operating table, she quietly prayed to God and entrusted all things to Him, feeling pretty peaceful and steadfast in her heart.

The operation was done successfully. The doctor took out a pig-heart-shaped tumor that weighed over 1 kg from Liu Jia’s womb. Amazingly, Liu Jia didn’t suffer too much, except that she felt a little pain in the cut after such a major operation. Other patients all suffered unspeakably but she didn’t. The medical staff and wardmates all said to her with amazement, “We’ve never seen such a thing. You, at such an old age, actually look well after such a major operation.” Hearing this, Liu Jia knew that all this was God’s grace and that it was God’s mighty hand that supported her. She constantly thanked God in her heart for sympathizing with her weakness and keeping and caring for her all the time. The doctor said that they would take the tumor for a test to check whether it was benign or malignant. If it was cancer, she needed to receive chemotherapy treatment. After experiencing God’s mightiness, Liu Jia had more faith in God. She silently prayed to God, “O God! I completely commit my illness into Your hand. No matter what illness I get, even if it is cancer and I will die of it, I won’t complain against You. I’m willing to obey Your sovereignty and arrangement.”

Diagnosed With Cancer, She Fell Into Despair Again, but Her Faith Grew a Hundredfold Under the Enlightenment of God’s Word

Later, the test result showed that Liu Jia had cancer. In the face of such a result, she had been mentally prepared, but when she thought that maybe her course of believing in God would come to an end with her life passing by and that she would leave her husband and her son forever in the near future, she still couldn’t help feeling sorrowful and the desolation welled up in her heart. Right at this moment, God’s word enlightened her, “Grasping God’s word gives us support. His word acts fast to save our hearts! It dispels all things and sets all at peace. Faith is like a single log bridge: Those who cling abjectly to life will have difficulty in crossing it, but those who are ready to sacrifice themselves can pass over, sure of foot and worry-free. If man harbors timid and fearful thoughts, it is because Satan has fooled them, afraid that we will cross the bridge of faith to enter into God.”

“God’s life force can prevail over any power; moreover, it exceeds any power. His life is eternal, His power extraordinary…. Man’s life originates from God, the existence of heaven is because of God, and the existence of earth stems from the power of God’s life. No object possessed of vitality can transcend the sovereignty of God, and no thing with vigor can elude the domain of God’s authority. In this way, regardless of who they are, everyone must submit under the dominion of God, everyone must live under God’s command, and no one can escape from His hands.” Thinking of this, Liu Jia felt brightened. She prayed to God immediately, “O God! I shouldn’t live in negativity and weakness. Now the doctor said that I have cancer, but I know that You rule over everything and control everything. Your authority is supreme. Whether I will be alive or dead is controlled in Your hand. I believe Your word.” After the prayer, Liu Jia had faith and strength and no longer feared the threat of death. She was willing to live by God’s word and obey God’s sovereignty and arrangement. When she was in hospital, God enlightened and supported her through His word and sometimes comforted her through her husband and her son. She was deeply moved and a strength surged in her heart. She was willing to maintain her love and faithfulness to God and stand testimony to satisfy God in this tribulation. Meanwhile, she also unceasingly thanked God for arranging such a good family for her. Their whole family walked the path of believing in God together. At the crucial moment when she encountered suffering and refining, they all could turn their hearts to God, helping and supporting each other.

She Was Sentenced to Death and Gave Up the Treatment, but God Created the Miracle of Life for His Grace Is So Great

Since the test result came out, the doctor had seriously suggested Liu Jia for many times that she receive chemotherapy treatment as soon as her cut healed. Or else, the cancer cells would spread rapidly and she might die in a month. But Liu Jia had little money left after the operation. It was very hard for her to pay the daily medical bills, let alone the chemotherapy.

Knowing that she didn’t have money to receive chemotherapy treatment, the doctor asked her and her family to borrow money from their relatives. So, Liu Jia called her relatives. Unexpectedly, after knowing her condition, they who welcomed her with beaming face at usual times found various excuses and didn’t want to lend money to her. While when her brothers and sisters of the church knew her condition and difficulties, they got the money together and gave it to her and also bought her a lot of supplements. Liu Jia felt the truest and sincerest love of her brothers and sisters, so she made up her mind secretly: As long as I can get out of the hospital alive, no matter how long I can live, I will pursue to satisfy God for every day I’m alive. I will believe in God and perform my duty wholeheartedly to repay God’s love.

A period of time later, Liu Jia’s cut healed and her money was just completely used up. So, she chose to get out of the hospital and went home. Before leaving, the doctor urged again and again, “You should come and receive the chemotherapy treatment as soon as possible. As long as there is a little hope, you shouldn’t give up. Or else, you may just have one month to live.” But actually, Liu Jia had no intention to do so. Because after experiencing God’s leading and guidance many a time, she had truly felt: One’s life and death are controlled in God’s hand. If I have reached the longevity God has designated, I cannot save my life no matter what measures I take. Even if I receive the chemotherapy treatment, I will inevitably die. Since I have known that all things are in God’s hand, I should entrust everything to God. I believe that God will make a way out for me. I have support in my heart, so I don’t fear.

After going home, Liu Jia completely did not treat herself as a cancer patient, much less did she take the doctor’s words to her heart. She read God’s word and sang hymns as always. And she also offered to cooperate as long as the church needed. Two months had passed in a flash. She didn’t die but recovered nicely. Her brothers and sisters all said that she looked well and was not at all like a cancer patient.

A month later, Liu Jia went to the hospital to have the brace which was put in her belly after the operation. When she arrived there, the doctors and nurses could not believe their own eyes, for they thought that she had already died. After taking out the brace, the doctors still persuaded her to receive chemotherapy treatment. Liu Jia calmly replied, “No, I won’t.” The doctors present all asked in puzzlement, “Do you really give up?” They shook their heads while speaking. They seemed to feel pity for her because they still firmly believed that she would die soon if she didn’t receive chemotherapy treatment.

Later, Liu Jia went to the hospital again. This time the doctors and nurses were completely dumbfounded because they saw that her face was glowing with color and that she was hale and hearty and even became much fatter. She didn’t look like a patient at all. Furthermore, Liu Jia also told them that she not only did housework as always at home, but went to the seventh floor with things weighted over 5 kg. Seeing her changes and hearing her words, they all felt amazed. The attending doctor repeatedly asked her, “Did you take any magic drugs or have any rare secret recipe handed down from generations?” Liu Jia just replied with a smile, “No.” But the attending doctor did not at all believe her. Seeing that the doctors and nurses all felt it unbelievable, Liu Jia was clear in her heart that it was God that saved and gave her a second life.

The Continuation of Life Manifests God’s Authority; Thinking of the Past Misery and Present Happiness, She Has Tasted God’s Love

Now, it has been nearly five years since Liu Jia was diagnosed with cancer. During this period, relying on her faith in God, she read God’s word, had meetings, and performed her duty as always. She had never received chemotherapy treatment or taken any medication for cancer, much less gone to the hospital to see doctors again. Under God’s care, keeping, and blessings, she didn’t get worse but became better and better and she was even more vigorous than ever before. After experiencing the refinement of her illness, every time when Liu Jia read God’s word, tears would well up in her eyes. God says, “God’s overflowing love is freely bestowed upon man and surrounds man; man is innocent and pure, unencumbered and carefree, blissfully living under God’s eye; God shows concern for man, while man lives under God’s protection and blessing; every single thing man does and says is inextricably linked to and inseparable from God.” She deeply felt God’s great love and salvation. God also says, “To dwell in sickness is to be sick, but to dwell in the spirit is to be well. So long as you still have one breath, God will not let you die.” “Obviously, it is not humanity that holds the power of life and death, not some being in the natural world, but the Creator, whose authority is unique. Mankind’s life and death are not the product of some law of the natural world, but a consequence of the sovereignty of the Creator’s authority.” Especially when she read these words, she truly tasted: Our life and death are not controlled by ourselves and cannot be changed by anyone’s will. In the face of death, no one can continue or save our life in spite of the excellent medical skill, rare medication or mountains of money. Because only God rules over the fates of all mankind and holds the power of life and death of the whole mankind. God can cause something to come from nothing, or something to become nothing. At the age of Grace, the Lord Jesus made the lame walk, healed those who had leprosy, and brought Lazarus back from the dead with one word. In the last days, the word expressed by God can even more supply us humans with the truth and life and show us the bright path of life, so that we can take God’s word as the foundation of our existence and live out the likeness of a true person. During the time when I was ill, at the crucial moment of life and death, God used His word to lead me to rely on Him practically, making me truly see His unique authority and enjoy His immense love. So, Liu Jia made a resolution that she would try her best to perform her duty and testify God, repaying God’s love.

Final Words

Beyond this material world, there is an extraordinary life force which can prevail over any power and even more exceeds any power. He is the Creator, the unique God Himself, who created the heavens and the earth and all things, breathed the breath into us humans, and guides us up to the present day. He rules over our life and death and supplies our needs. Now, Liu Jia is still firm and emboldened and her faith grows a hundredfold. After walking through the valley of the shadow of death, she faces her life with a smile and her life bursts forth in splendor.

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