One fateful day, Naomi's vibrant life was reduced to a single, devastating word: cancer. Her body was betraying her. At 28, Naomi stood pacing, wondering how life could be so unfair.
She had been an active choir member since her teenage days, serving zealously and humbly. Her academic and professional journey seemed effortless; she aced her JAMB and POST-UTME exams on her first try and landed a banking job right after her service year.
Life seemed perfect until Naomi started experiencing fainting spells and nosebleeds a few months into her job. She attributed them to fatigue and stress, took a few days off, and resumed work. However, the symptoms persisted, including breathlessness and bleeding.
Her boss advised her to visit the company hospital, where she received a devastating diagnosis: a rare, unknown-type cancer with no known cure. The recommendation was chemotherapy.
Naomi's world crumbled. She cried, questioning God and her own faith. "Did I not pray enough? Did I not fast? Did I not help the poor?" Her esteem to preach God's word was shaken because she thought to herself, "What is my evidence?"
She battled social isolation, feeling hopeless and disconnected. All attempts by her friends to make her happy weren't working. She kept questioning life's purpose, meaning, or spirituality.
While in the train station to Ibadan to visit a friend, she came across a flyer titled "A Wounded Lion Is Not a Dead Lion." These words resonated in her mind for over 45 minutes, stirring an inexplicable strength within her.
When she arrived at her friend's, they attended a worship service where she heard Psalm 34:17-18: "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles." 2 Corinthians 12:9 also spoke to her: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." He took my infirmities and if he took it i do not have it.
She found comforting scriptures and meditated on them for days, which turned into months, and eventually a year and three months. She battled cancer, countering it with God's word.
Encouraged by loved ones, Naomi confidently told her doctor, "I won't die; I'm healthy." On her next visit, she declared, "I will be declared cancer-free."
With her family's help, her church, and friends, they insisted on her healing through prayer, fasting, and meditating on God's word for wholeness.
A few weeks later, she returned to the hospital. The doctors ran additional tests, and after 40 minutes of scrutinizing the results, they exclaimed, "Are you sure this is the right result?" The lab scientist concurred.
Naomi's story teaches us:
- Faith is alive, not dead or assumed.
- It grows through trials and challenges.
- Continuous faith-building is crucial.
To strengthen your faith:
- Read and continuous of study of God's word.
- Meditate and reflect.
- Take conscious steps.
Remember, faith can move mountains. It's one of the keys to overcoming life's challenges put your faith to work.
Revive!
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