 - Recording of Sue's testimony.
There is a song by Boyzone a few years ago, and a line from it said “Life is a rollercoaster girl, you’ve gotta ride it.” Well, it’s been one heck of a ride! Most people here know my testimony, so I’m not going to bore you with the past; but I want to share with you the latest testimony that Tony and I have had – and try not to cry. My baptism verse when I was 13½ was Philippians 4:13, which is: ”I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” and I can testify this morning that that verse is absolutely true. Without Christ I would have gone under: I know that. This past year has been very trying, especially after Tony’s Mum, Daisy, died. I didn’t realise how much this would affect me actually. She was The Lords, so I knew where she was going and she’s with Him now having a fabulous time; so why was I so low? I couldn’t work it out and I ended up at the beginning of this year, suffering with quite bad depression and under the doctor. Then, over the following two months I had two viruses which made me even lower. And I questioned God as to how on earth I could serve Him in this state. Everything seemed so pointless. And then in May I missed a step on my stairs and as you may know suffered numerous fractures in my shoulder plus fracturing my wrist. I was in a position of not being able to do anything for myself. My husband Tony took on the responsibility of washing and dressing me as well as cooking all the meals and I shall be for ever grateful for his love in action. During this time of incapacity, God spoke to me. It was really strange: at a time when I should have gone lower, I went higher. How strange is that? And He lifted me out of my depression. I experienced what it was to depend on Him. As I couldn’t do anything I just read; I read and I prayed and I read and I prayed. I was stuck in doors. And as you can see, I’m improving each week – as you can see now. I can’t get my arm up my back, but I can get it up here. It’s still weak, but I can raise it, and it’s four months now.
Things seemed to be starting to get back to normal, when Tony started suffering terrible pain: so much so, he was struggling to get out of bed. And then two days before the start of our holiday he gets the diagnosis: Polymialgia. This sort of disease, or virus attacks all the muscles in the body. You can’t move. And he couldn’t move. He could struggle to walk, couldn’t use his arms or neck, the tops of his legs, and we were both worried about what was ahead and fearful whether he would get better. I cried out to God again and asked God “Just what on earth is happening with us both?” I never ask “Why?” because to me it seems like life throws troubles at any of us and it’s how we deal with it that’s more important. What’s the point in asking “Why?” it’s “How can I use this situation?” or “How can I be faithful to You in this situation?”. But, in my weakness I ended up having to do all the packing, getting all the cases, the food, and the dog, all in the car, because we were both determined to go on this holiday and try and enjoy it. And God helped us, He gave us the strength to keep going.
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Tony’s now on steroids for eighteen months and as you can see, he’s back to his usual happy self. We are so grateful to God. But what we didn’t know was, God was working in another persons life and was including us in the process; which was amazing. We arrived at our cottage in Norfolk, which was situated on a small farm, and the owner [and I won’t say her name] came to meet us and show us around – a young lady. And within the first five minutes of saying ‘hello’ she told us her mum had died recently from cancer and two days after the funeral her husband had walked out on her. This had all happened in the last month and we wondered if she really wanted us there. But she wanted us there. And God wanted us there. She was in a desperate state, and our hearts went out to her and we just started praying for that poor lady. And do you know, every day she came to speak with us and ask us questions. She told us she went to the local church but wanted more. And then on the Wednesday she told us she had asked God to help her and she thought He had forgotten her, until we turned up. She called us ‘a miracle’. And she knew straight away that God had sent us. So we just helped and shared God’s word with her and prayed for her, and I’ll tell you what – we were so humbled to be used in that way, in our situation, both struggling physically; we were humbled. We were able to give this lady guidance for grief counselling, and since then [she has our telephone number now], since then she’s gone to a Community Church and we believe will be getting the help she needs to go on.
So why have I shared all this? Well, it’s because what we learned is, no matter what troubles any of us have, and we’ve all got troubles of some form, God will use us if we make ourselves available to Him. God said in His Word, if I can find it, and this has come up time and time again with me, in Colossians I think it is, He says, “Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders, making the most of every opportunity.” That isn’t making the most of every opportunity to enjoy yourselves, it means bringing The Lord through your actions, through your words, telling the Good News. Make the most of the opportunities we’re given because they will go too quickly.
Well, that opportunity happened, didn’t it? When we least expected it. And if you remember I said, I was asking God what on earth was He doing. Well, we found out. And we praise Him for using us to minister to this lady. And we actually had a wonderful holiday, and can say again that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
There was one verse, you know, Stan won’t remember this but, when I died and then in a coma Stan gave me a praise tape – this was back in 1989 – and on this praise tape was a song, and it used this verse in particular. And it’s so funny; I go on Facebook quite regularly and I listen or I read verses that are put on there by a man called Benzam Daniel. And he put this very verse that was given me by Stan back in 1989, which was: “So do not fear for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
God bless you all.
Sue Wenger
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