My Encounter with the Sovereign God
By Suesanne Abraham
This is my story. I am sharing it with you not to intrigue you or gain your pity, but to give glory to God for His sovereign hand extended to me when I faced death in 2005.
The year 2005 was a very difficult year for me. In the first week of the year, I ended up in the hospital from sheer exhaustion. When I came out of the hospital I found out that one of my dearest cousins, John, is in the hospital in critical condition after his car accident. John went home to be with the Lord 11 days after his accident. I was devastated to say the least.
A few months later, I had a lump in my breast. At the urgings of a good friend, I went to the doctor who ordered a mammogram for me. The mammogram results showed no sign of cancer, but rather a cist…I was happy about that and decided there’s nothing else I want to do about it.
The providence of God in the details to come is amazing. My busy family doctor remembered me one afternoon and decided to call me to ask what happened with the mammogram. It turned out the radiologist didn’t share the results with him. So, I expressed my relief that it turned out to be a cist. My doctor said, “Well, I still need to send you to a surgeon friend of mine, and she will aspirate [drain] the cist.” Again, God’s providence and his invisible hand interfered in everything. This busy surgeon scheduled me immediately. Visiting her, I had to take my mammogram pictures for her review. Checking them carefully, she agreed with the radiologist this was not cancer but a cist that needed to be drained. Since she was quite busy, she scheduled me months later. As I was walking out with her, her secretary told her another patient cancelled her appointment Monday morning for a procedure. So Dr. Leonard asked me if I wanted to come in on Monday to drain my cist. “Oh sure” I said, thinking to get rid of this whole issue once and for all. Mind you, this new appointment was only three days after my surgeon visit, which was much sooner than she was able to actually see me for this procedure. Again, this was only God’s invisible hand working according to His sovereignty.
In my surgeon’s office on Monday morning, I decide to engage in a conversation with my surgeon about God. I asked her about books she’s reading hoping she would ask me “What are you reading?”!!! It worked. I happened to be reading a book by John Ortberg called “If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat”. This book is about faith and trusting God. In the middle of our nice conversation, my surgeon interrupted and said, “Suesanne, look at the ultrasound screen, you will see my needle poking in the cist, but it seems like this mass is solid not liquid.” Dr. Leonard then asked, “Do I have your permission to do a biopsy?” “Yes doctor,” I said. My friends I hope you’re counting how many times God intervened so far. His sovereign hand was orchestrating the events and setting the stage to save my life.
Needless to say, the result of the biopsy showed indication for carcinoma – It was cancer after all. My surgeon insisted that I come see her as soon as possible. She explained at my age, it is not safe for me to wait too long. This is why I mentioned earlier that changing my appointment to drain the cist was not by chance or luck. Discovering cancer in early stages is crucial to cure. I need to stop here and tell you, two days prior to that dreadful Friday when my doctor called, I was reading my morning devotion in John 11 and the words of Jesus to Martha “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” penetrated deep in my heart. I felt like Jesus was saying this to me. I was not sure what He was asking me to believe, but was sure that He was saying I would see His glory.
Sure enough, every day in my cancer journey I have seen the glory of God. He first stopped the cancer from spreading any where in my body. Then he gave me excellent medical team to take care of me. He gave me a second family away from home and family to take me in while sick and care for me above and beyond what I would ever expect or imagine. My surgery was conservative and successful. My Chemotherapy was a breeze, as I never got extremely sick. I was able to work full time while taking my chemo treatment. My radiation was also good up until I had second and third degree burns. Even then, God spoke to me in my suffering as I was reminded that my Lord: “His back was plowed like a field”. Best of all, I had so many saints praying for me all over the world; from Egypt to Canada and US. It was awesome to see the sovereign hand of God in my life.
Before I completed the radiation, my ill father was admitted to the hospital as he had yet another stroke. I had to travel to see him, but I also had to be back to complete my radiation treatment. Days after my treatment ended, my Father passed away – he went home to be with the Lord. His suffering ended, and my grief began.
In my difficult trials I have to say I learned a lot about God. I learned that I cannot afford to be independent. I must be utterly reliant on my Lord every day of my life. I learned that I do not have to be in control, because my God is in full control. I learned that when God speaks to you through his word about something, then He’s preparing your heart for what’s to come. All my devotions from the fall of 2004 up until my cancer in summer 2005 were about the sovereignty of God. His mighty hand brought Israel out of Egypt. His mighty hand gave Sarah the ability to bear a child even passed the age of bearing children. His mighty hand delivered Joseph from the dungeon and brought him to the throne of Egypt. His mighty hand allowed Ruth, a Moabite, to enter the tent of the Lord and become part of His people. His mighty hand delivered Esther and the Jews from death and abolishment. All throughout reading those incredible accounts, the theme that intrigues me about God is his sovereignty and might.
Then one day, I had my own encounter with this sovereign God. I once read about Him, now I meet my mighty God. This is my story…To Him be all the Glory.