Despite all of the struggles in her life, Sandra learned that God is always with her and his love will never fail. She’s getting baptized at the end of the month to proclaim her faith in Christ! Check out her full story below:
As a child, I grew up in a home with violence and drugs. My primary emotion was fear, as I experienced various forms of abuse. I remember praying to God to give me his strength and to protect me from my abuser.
I do not recall exactly all the events after that, but I do remember when I confided in someone about the abuse, I was told it was my fault.
Confused, I was feeling guilty and ashamed, and I left home. God helped me and I lived with a few Christian people who made me see that what had happened to me was not my fault. Eventually, I told my maternal grandmother what happened, and she allowed me to live with her.
Shortly after my 19th birthday, I met my husband. He was full of life, joy, and easily loved others. He was so different from any man I had ever met. He would tell me God brought us together. My husband taught me to love unconditionally, he exhibited a positive outlook on life and taught me to appreciate all that God had created for us.
After 29 years of marriage, my husband was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of brain cancer. He was at stage 4, and we were told he could not be cured. We both started praying morning, noon, and night for healing, but he passed away seven months after his diagnosis.
During that time, our Lord provided me with comfort and strength. I felt like I was in a daze and had a hard time getting out of bed. I attended a class at Grace on Solitude. It was the Solitude that helped me realize how to have a true relationship with God.
Shortly afterwards, I was diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent another challenge of spiritual growth. I turned to Pastor Tim and told him I was hesitant to pray for healing; so, I had been praying to accept God’s will for me. Pastor Tim help me understand it was okay to pray for healing and yes, God will still do his will.
During my time frame of dealing with the medical part of cancer, I spoke to several people at the hospital about God and why he is so important in our lives. I understand now that God’s glory was working through me.
I woke up one morning, and in my head, I heard God speaking to me. My clock projected 3:30 (the time in the morning), and I opened my Bible and to John 3:3 and there it was, “Jesus answered him, ‘Truly truly, I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.'”
I have surrendered my life completely to God. And although I always believed in him, I now know what a true relationship with God through Christ really means. It is so true, he is steadfast in his love, he will never fail us, and he is always there for us; we just have to understand that he is in control, and that we need to obey for our benefit.