Early this January we were blessed with a tribulation as it says in Acts 14:21

And when they had preached the gospel to that city... 22 confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God. 

 

Linda discovered a lump had formed in her breast in late December but said nothing hoping it would just disappear.  I had noticed her reading in a couple of the medical books we have on the shelf but she did not mention what it was she was reading about and I did not think to ask if anything was wrong.

But in the first week of January, one night, she told me and showed the lump which was about the size of a tablespoon. We were both rather stunned, and I found it hard to speak.  We prayed a bit and by the next morning the shock had really settled in.

I remember telling God, "If anything happens to Linda, I don't want to live any more", and because Linda's mom had battled breast cancer a few years ago, you can imagine the thoughts we were battling. satan went to work with tormenting thoughts like: "she has breast cancer", "she will need surgery", "this will break you", "she better see a doctor", "what if she dies", etc.

 

We had forsaken medical insurance coverage many years ago, choosing to walk in faith for God's promises to heal. Even so, the tempter suggested seeing a doctor who we already knew would give a typical diagnosis, want to do tests, a biopsy, all the usual stuff. 

Most of us have known and lost family members or friends and so we all know the routine.  First visit, questions, exams, tests, waitng for the call to find out what it is, scheduling treatments, surgery, etc.  Yes, we went through before with other family members and friends.  And usually after all the physicians had their well paid treatments followed by their patients, the same result was experienced, followed by a nice funeral.  My mom-in-law being a rare exception.

 

As we both struggled to cast down the onslaught of these devilish thoughts, we sought the Lord for victory over the very thoughts that troubled us, according to what scipture says in 2Corinthians 10:5 
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 
-Yet we needed our faith to be "edified" and encouraged.

 

So we called our friend David Eells from Unleavened Bread Ministries for counsel and David agreed with us in prayer for the lump to be disolved, and that "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper". 

He said that a good number of breast lumps and cancers had been healed in the history of Unleavened Bread Ministries, which very much encouraged us, and we felt better after speaking with David. 
Romans 14:19 So then let us follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify one another.

 

Those words and prayer did encourage us in the Lord and Linda and I agreed to not even see a physician whatsoever, but to cast our care and trust upon the Lord according to Hebrews 10:23 
let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for he is faithful that promised, our  confession of faith being, "For by His stripes we were healed".

 

A few days later, Linda mentioned that the lump had changed and might be a bit larger, and she felt "tenderness" around it. I did not ask her any more about it as we were now "fighting the good fight of faith" concerning this. 

We told a small circle of friends about this asking them to pray for us "that our faith faileth not", and did not share this with family knowing it would frighten them and their response would be for us to seek worldly help.    
 

As the days went by, I remember repeating the command for the lump to "disolve" while in prayer, and Linda and I both received peace from the Lord.  In fact, for the next several weeks, I never asked her about it, considering we were in the Hands of the Lord, and we continued to give God thanks for what He had already done.  "For by His stripes we were healed". -2Peter 2:23 (provision for healing is past tense. In Christ it was done for us and we now have access by faith)
 

Yesterday, more than a month later, Linda came to me saying the lump was gone! 

Romans 8:25
 But if we hope for that which we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 

A few years ago, we would have sought medical help, but in the last 3 years the Lord has been growing us in the knowledge and faith found in God's Word. 

This kind of faith is not learned in the majority of the churches today as evidenced by the sickness and death commonly observed in the typical congregation, yet it is vital to walk in as a Christian.

Hosea said "My people PERISH for lack of knowledge".  -It is the knowledge of "The faith once delivered to the saints" that God desires us to have.

 

Thanks and praise be to God for the grace to overcome this trial, and give thanks to those who stood with us.