Testimonies to God's activity in our lives

Testimony by Friederike Hamilton, member of St. Bartholomew's                       More testimonies

My name is Friederike and I am married to Nigel.  We are parents to two great lads, James,10 ½ and John ,8 ½ years old.

Four years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer and what followed were probably the most challenging months in our lives but also very exciting ones as we were able to see God’s love and care for us very clearly.

With the diagnosis our minds went numb,  the disbelief set in followed by a sense of devastation.  I am young, got two young children (the boys were only six and four then),  it doesn’t make sense.  There must be mistake somewhere….

But there wasn’t.  We know that as Christians we are not immune to suffering and our faith and trust in God was challenged.  We felt like the disciples in the storm on the lake,  (Luke 8),  a big storm blew in our lives and it was very frightening.

But we also know that as Christians we belong to a great God who has promised us to be with us whatever our circumstances,  and to take care of us and give us everything we need.

There were other events during those months which really challenged us.  On the day of my surgery James fell out of a tree and was quite seriously injured needing to go to the High Dependency unit in Bristol.  Then my mother died very suddenly,  only a few weeks into the chemotherapy treatment.

Looking at these situations from a human point of view,  they were very scary.  But like the disciples in the boat we called out to God.  Lord, help us.  I do remember visualising bringing my burden to the cross and asking the Lord to take care of them because they were just too heavy for me.  (Jesus says to us: come to me all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11 v 28)

And God stilled the storm.  He gave us a peace into our hearts which could not be explained in worldly terms. He looked after us in many ways,  providing friends who would visit and care and also providing unexpected financial help.

We found that trusting the Lord is something which we have to practise…. It is an act of will.  For some the challenges might not be health but relationship issues,  work problems or financial challenges.  In all these situations God calls us to trust Him.

If we look onto the stormy sea coming towards us we get frightened.  But if we look onto the Lord and trust in Him and in His care for us we get the strength to deal with the challenges which are upon us.  That was our experience.

Now four years on I am well,  but of course we do not know what the future holds for us.  That is probably just as well because we might not like it…

The words of the following hymn have been a great a source of comfort to me (and still are) and have helped me to focus my mind.

In Christ alone my hope is found,

He is my light, my strength, my song

This cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depth of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand.

November, 2007

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