Mace's Story - Trusting
“I want to get old, Papa. Why is this happening to me?”
We praise and thank our gracious Father for this time to share our family’s testimony. The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
On the 6th of July 2023, it was my grandmother's birthday, Lola Panching. It was just an ordinary day where I had prepared food for my family, but this day also happened to be when I had LBM for the whole day. My youngest son Prant and I finished our breakfast around 9 a.m. since his Papa was already at the office, and his Kuya Kurt and friends were busy practicing their songs to play.
Prant suddenly felt stomach pain, and the pain got worse in the afternoon, so we decided to rush him to the emergency room. He was in so much pain. The attending physician told us that he should undergo an appendectomy and we had to wait since there were many patients before us. But since his case was an emergency, we were told to wait for the surgeon to come and check on him.
At that moment, I knew that the Lord was comforting us through His words. The Bible says in Psalms 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."
While waiting, Prant told his Papa, “I want to get old, Papa. Why is this happening to me?” His Papa couldn’t answer him, but he suddenly told Prant that he should be patient. At that time, I wasn’t there to hear that because I was in the waiting area, but I was just staring at them from not too far away. I knew in my heart and mind that the Holy Spirit was speaking to me.
So I trusted Jesus for what He was telling and teaching me at that moment. I surrendered everything to Him, knowing that I shouldn’t be afraid and should trust Him throughout this trial. Only by His love, grace, and mercy do we continue to trust Him alone.
Prant underwent his operation an hour before his 12th birthday. I kneeled down and cried out to God to please heal him, and I promised God that I would share my testimony and our testimony of how the Lord has been our strength, refuge, and has been good to us ever since. Praise God that the operation went well. The doctor told us that his appendix had ruptured. (Praise God for the doctors, nurses, hospital assistants, cooks, and all who attended to Prant.) During his recovery days, we encountered many difficulties like vomiting, peeing, pooing, and he had hallucinations too. As parents, we experienced so much fear, but the Lord is so gracious and sweet that He always reminded us to trust Him.
I want to share every moment of how the Lord embraced us during our trials, but one thing I will never forget is when my Prant prayed heartily in a loud voice, saying, “Jesus, help me, please. It is You alone who can heal me. Jesus, please heal me.”
Praise God, after almost two weeks in the hospital, Prant was discharged. After one month, we faced another trial because his Kuya was admitted for dengue, and after three days, Prant was admitted for dengue too.
Despite all the trials we faced, the Lord continued to comfort us and strengthen our faith in Him. He is our God whom we can depend on, willing to help, our Sovereign God, the author and finisher, our Savior!
All praises and glory to God alone!
