September 17, 2025 • 44 mins
Grace Weyant knew something was wrong. For three years, doctors dismissed her shoulder pain until a cancerous tumor was finally discovered on her spine in 2015. This diagnosis interrupted what seemed like a perfect life for Grace and Shaun Weyant—parents of four young children.
What follows is an extraordinary testament to the power of faith when facing life's most devastating challenges. Upon arrival at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Grace had a divine appointment that seemed orchestrated from Heaven itself. The hospital houses a statue called "The Divine Healer," depicting Jesus with the inscription "Come to me all who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Having earlier been moved by a sermon about the woman who touched Jesus' garment for healing, Grace found herself able to symbolically touch the hem of Christ's garment through this statue—a powerful moment confirming God's presence in her journey.
The support that surrounded the Weyant's reveals the critical importance of community during crisis. While Shaun temporarily closed his business to care for Grace and their four children during Grace's 21-day hospital stay and recovery, their church family and community stepped in with remarkable generosity. From preparing children's lunches to handling grocery shopping, from financial donations to simply being present, these acts of kindness demonstrated how small gestures can provide profound relief during overwhelming circumstances.
Yet the Weyant's story doesn't end with one successful surgery. Grace faced recurrence in 2018, then again in 2022. Their daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumor. They lost a sister-in-law. Through each new challenge, Grace discovered that complete surrender—not just hoping for healing but trusting God regardless of the outcome—was the key to maintaining joy and peace. As she powerfully states: "Following Jesus has not been easy, but it has been worth it. I cannot imagine going through life without Him."
Whether you're facing your own health crisis, supporting someone through theirs, or simply seeking perspective on life's fragility, the Weyant's ongoing journey offers this powerful reminder: while faith doesn't guarantee an easy path, it provides the strength, community, and divine companionship necessary to walk it with dignity, purpose, and even joy. What challenge are you facing today that could benefit from their example of faith in Jesus Christ?
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
What's going on everybody, thank you for tuning
in to today's episode of BeyondSunday.
I'm your host, pastor Lee, andI pastor Christ Family Outreach
Church, located here in Amelia,virginia, and if you have not
yet stopped by for one of ourservices, come on through and
say hello.
Thursday at seven o'clock andSunday mornings we get going at
10.
I've got a couple of specialguests at the table with me
(00:29):
today.
It is their very first time onthe podcast here.
I've known them since highschool and they were with us
pretty much from the verybeginning of our ministry at CFO
Church and they still attendchurch with us today.
One of the original faithfulsand Erica and I are greatly
appreciative of that.
I can tell you that they arethe real deal.
(00:50):
They have done so much for thepeople, not just at our church
but also in the community thatthey live in as well.
They love the Lord and they domake a difference, and that's
what it's all about Not justloving God, but taking that love
and making a difference.
And so I have at the table withme today Sean and Grace Wyant,
so thank you both for sitting atthe table today.
(01:11):
How are you guys doing?
Great, great.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Glad to be here.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Grace, how are you?
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Good, excited to be here.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
You guys have an amazing testimony and that's why
I called you in.
I've been wanting to do thisfor a while and in your
testimony there's so manydifferent chapters of life how
you guys met, how you fell inlove, all of your children, the
many vacations that you take allover the place, and you're
always checking out differentstates and doing different
things.
There's so many cool chaptersin the book of life that God has
blessed you with, but todaywe're going to talk about the
(01:39):
chapter that has to do with yourfight with cancer, grace.
We're going to get right intoit.
Back in 2012, your testimony.
I read it Amazing.
I also checked out your blog,which was absolutely wonderful.
I love how you included so muchscripture in it.
But back in 2012, you writethat you had pain in your
shoulder and for three years thedoctors just kind of brushed
(02:03):
you off because the pain justwasn't severe enough, right.
But eventually the pain goes andit gets worse, and it gets
worse and in your testimony youshare about a particular Sunday
in church where I was preachingabout the woman who reached out
and touched the hem of thegarment of Jesus.
Would you just take a momentshare with the listeners what
was going on in your mind duringthat message and what that was
(02:24):
all about for you?
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Okay.
So, as you said, yeah, I hadbeen in pain for about three
years.
I had gone to the doctor acouple of different times and
felt very much brushed off.
I knew that something was wrong, but I wasn't getting any
answers.
And so I just remember cryingout to God like I need help, I
need an answer.
And you were preaching thatSunday and it was about the
(02:46):
woman that touched the hem ofJesus' garment and I said just
in my spirit Lord, that's thekind of healing I need.
And so it was a moment betweenhe and I.
I didn't mention it to anybody,I didn't say anything, but, as
you read, it led to somethingpretty awesome in my testimony.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Yeah, we're going to get to that in just a little bit
, praise God.
So, listeners, I need you tokind of put a bookmark in that
part right there, because we'reswinging back around to that.
In the fall of 2015, thedoctors do some testing and they
discovered that you've got acancerous tumor on your spine.
And when you found out the news, share what was running through
your mind, grace, but alsoshare how it wasn't long before
(03:26):
you felt the peace of God inyour situation.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
So I can say that's not something you ever think you
are going to hear.
So I'd gone to the doctor and Iwas at a neurologist and he
said, hey, I really think youneed to go to the hospital for
testing and I thought I don'thave time for that.
I have to buy peanut butterafter this, you know.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
You still got life to do Right I have life to do.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
So I called Sean and said, hey, this is what's going
on, and he was planning to meetme up there.
So we're sitting in the backpart of I think it was St
Francis and the physician'sassistant comes out and said,
hey, we've done, you know, theCT or the x-ray or whatever it
(04:10):
was, and there's a mass on yourspine or in your chest, your
chest is expanded, somethinglike that, and everything just
stopped.
It was like, you know, so muchdisbelief.
But at the same time I almostwas like I totally get it, like
life is too good, likeeverything can't always be this
great, like I just felt veryblessed to have, you know, met
(04:32):
Sean and married him and hadfour children and become a
teacher.
And I just felt this blessingover my life.
And I do remember, you know,being in church at some point
and just thinking, like Lord,I'm willing for you to use me.
And then in that moment you'relike well, that's not what I
meant Be careful what you askfor.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Philippians 4, 7, because we're talking about how,
like eventually, you begin tofeel that peace with the.
Lord.
Philippians 4, 7 says and thepeace of God, which surpasses
all understanding, will guardyour hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus.
And how wonderful it is, seanand Grace, that the peace of God
protects us, even in ourthoughts and our emotions,
during difficult times, not justduring the good times.
(05:13):
Right, sean, this is your wifeand this is the mother of your
children.
This is your sweetie, right,and you guys have three
daughters and a son.
Everything, as Grace justmentioned, up until this point
just felt like a dream.
Perfect, right, everything wasjust going great.
Sean, share with the listenerswhat you're going through as a
husband and a dad as you hearthis for the first time.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
It's.
You know it can be prettydevastating.
Back in the day I alwaysreferred to it as somebody
getting in a bad car accident,and not to demean anybody that's
been in a car wreck.
But you know, when your wifegoes to the doctor and literally
is told you're not going home,I mean that's, you know about
the equivalent there.
So there I am in the hospitaltrying to figure out first
(06:02):
process what they told us,realizing she's not going home.
And you know your next thoughtis well, I have four kids,
little kids.
Now that's on me.
What am I going to do?
Because she can't do it.
So you know, the first fewhours, and it was just us by
ourselves.
I mean it's pretty overwhelmingto try to take in that
(06:23):
information process.
You know we were 34-ish yearsold at the time.
I mean that's not something youever expect to hear at 34.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
I couldn't even imagine, as a husband and dad
myself, thinking everything thatmy wife does around the house,
which is a ton, everything thatmy wife does to help my life
click you know and work and tobe without problems as much as
possible, to to all of a suddenhave to think I've got to take
on that load?
Yes, I couldn't even.
(06:53):
I wouldn't even know everythingthat she does.
Probably, I confess that youknow, I probably don't even know
the, even the little things,the little things that we can
take for granted.
But you guys, at that momentwhen y'all hear this news,
together, y'all, y'all got achoice You're either going to
fall apart or your glue is aboutto get stronger.
You know what I mean.
And in that, what I mean isyour glue is about to get
(07:14):
stronger.
You guys, rather than fall topieces, you're going to lean on
God, because I know the story, Iknow the testimony, I watched,
you live it, watching.
You still live it.
You know you guys have chosenand still are praise God,
pressing into God so that hegets the glory.
Matthew 5, 16 says in the sameway let your light shine before
(07:35):
others so that they may see yourgood works and give glory to
your Father, who is in heaven.
And the two of you have beenvery transparent with your
journey.
That light has been shining.
God has been getting the glorythrough your testimony.
So you guys have been extremelytransparent, which is what I
love about it.
That's why you're here today aswell, and God has used it and
is still using it to encourage alot of people.
(07:58):
Eventually, you guys make yourway down to Johns Hopkins
Hospital and, grace, walk thelisteners through the moment you
have with the Lord that youkind of referenced already at
the very beginning of thisepisode.
Walk the listeners through themoment you have with the Lord in
the hospital, when Godsymbolically bought you that
sermon that you mentionedearlier with the hymn of Jesus,
the hymn of the garment of Jesus.
(08:18):
Now you are there at JohnsHopkins and something powerful
happens.
Share with them what it is.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
Well, if I'm like any other listener, I don't feel
like I answered the first partof your other question, that
piece.
So we are sitting in thathospital you know devastating
news and less than an hour.
And you said you know we had achoice of where we were, how we
were going to deal with this,but in my mind there was no
choice.
(08:45):
Like you, lean on the Lord,that's what you do and so and as
soon as we made that decision,you know, this piece washed over
the room and I didn't know theoutcome, but I knew it was going
to be okay and it even led us,as you said, to John Hopkins.
Because you know, before I evengot there it was like, well,
(09:06):
why wouldn't I go to MCV or UVA,like it's right here.
But I was trusting in God andhe put me in St Mary's at that
point and the doctor said look,if you were my sister you know
you were my aunt I would wantyou to go here.
And I was like, all right, thisis where the Lord is telling me
to go.
He's given.
And how humbling for a doctorto say this is bigger than me.
So we literally leave St Mary'sI think it's like at 11 o'clock
(09:27):
at night and we're traveling upto Baltimore through ambulance
and we get there and I think itwas the next day and we actually
had two sisters in Christ thatwent with us, dropped everything
you know, and they were therewhen we went into the
administrative building inBaltimore Maryland and John
Hopkins and there is the divinehealer statue standing there in
(09:48):
the hospital and it is enormousand it is amazing.
And every time I'm there I goback, and so I was able to
symbolically touch the hem ofJesus's garment.
Only he knew that and I just, Imean, there's a picture of it.
It was just a moment and I waslike it's going to of it.
It was just a moment and I waslike it's going to be okay, god
is here, he's put me there andactually, ironically, my dad had
(10:10):
done some research when we weresaying, you know that we were
going to John Hopkins and he wastelling me, like there's this
statue, you know, in Baltimorein that hospital, and I was like
what?
Like just thinking about thetime like Jesus is still in that
hospital, like Like justthinking about the time like
Jesus is still in that hospital,like how is that even possible?
Yeah, but it's, it's amazingPeople walk through there.
Right, they haven't moved it.
(10:30):
People walk through and theytouch his feet and they it's,
it's really cool.
And they leave things at hisfeet and it's just.
And it has the verse come to me?
All that are heavy laden, Iwill give you rest.
And that's at the bottom of itand it's in Matthew.
You probably know the verse,but um, you know, just to see
that it still stands there inthis time, you know, is amazing
to me.
(10:50):
That's not by accident.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
Yeah, I remember when we went up to visit you one
time going you had told me aboutit.
I didn't know that the statuewas down there myself, right?
So I was like, well, I gotta gocheck this out because you're
right in this day of age, right?
You know, john Hopkins hasstill decided to leave this
statue in there and all the youknow.
Hey, all the credit to them fordoing that.
I mean, it is a beautiful,beautiful statue, but a very
(11:11):
powerful moment, right, you know, to see a structure so large
giving credit to Jesus.
You know, it's absolutely,absolutely.
I think it's a great way torefocus your mind when you're in
the hospital.
Absolutely, so you spend 21days in the hospital.
Yes, right, your surgery was 14hours long and the doctors
(11:33):
removed three of your vertebrae.
And even through all of that,your trust and your faith are
still in God.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
It was so strong, like during that time.
I just remember feeling likejust his presence and I wasn't
worried about anything.
You know it was, he was there.
I mean, I remember we wereencouraging nurses and handing
out devotionals and people justloved being in the room, you
know, and I would have peoplecall me that were, oh, I'm so
sorry to hear about you, andthey would get off the.
(12:01):
You know we're getting ready tohang up and they're like I'm
just so encouraged by talking toyou.
I feel better now than I didwhen I called and I'm like, well
, that's awesome, that's all God.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Yeah, praise God, praise God, sean.
21 days is a long time to beaway from the regular routine of
life 21 days.
I couldn't imagine going onlike a resort island vacation
for 21 days and not being woreout.
You know what I mean.
Like I go away for four or fivedays, I'm ready to come back
home.
I'd imagine that most guys are.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
Yes, I mean, and prior to that I had probably six
days, was the most I'd everspent away from a good old
country boy.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
Yes, that's right, just working hard, loving the
Lord and living life.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Yeah, but no, I, you know, I knew from the beginning
and you know the first few days,a few hours, were a little
hectic.
But I mean, one thing I know is, you know that I need to put
grace first.
You know, any anything in mylife I could put on hold.
Once we were able to know thatmy kids were safe, then okay,
now it's my time to take care ofher.
I mean, that's, you know,that's what the vows say, you
(13:04):
know, for better or worse.
So I actually stayed with herevery night in the hospital and
once we went to Johns Hopkins,that really wasn't an option to
come home.
So I was, you were there, yeah,I was there, you know.
But you know, on the side ofthe faith for me, you know, on
the side of the faith for me,that was my second year, that
(13:27):
was really my first full year inmy new business.
That you know, I was runningthe shop by myself and that was
October.
You know things are starting topick up and but you know, I
just just knew, I mean it almostit was a decision, but it
wasn't a decision Like I'm justgoing to shut the shop down.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
It'll be all right.
It'll be all right, you know.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
I just feel like if you make the right choice for
the right reasons, thateverything's going to work out
for you.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
That's a good word.
That's a real good word If youdo it the right way.
God's way it's all going to beokay In y'all's testimony.
I know, Sean, a lot of peoplefrom the community offered to
help in whatever way.
You guys needed help, and wouldyou share with the listeners,
brother Sean, on how importantit is to help in these types of
(14:15):
circumstances, because y'allhave lived it.
You've been the family that'sgiven help, but you've also been
the family that's had toreceive help, and I know there's
a lot of people that listen tothis podcast in many different
countries, not just here.
And the odds are, Sean, thatsomeone out there right now
knows someone who's goingthrough a crisis and maybe they
don't know how to respond.
Maybe they don't know how tohelp and maybe they're praying
and that's a ton right.
(14:35):
If nothing else, we should bepraying.
It's power in prayer, I know youall believe that, but would you
take a moment, sean, and letthe listener know how important
it is to simply reach out andoffer help, and what that could
look like.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Yeah, and I mean for most of my life, as you know,
like I'm wired as a giver, ahelper, a doer, hands and feet,
and never wanted to ask for helpor receive help.
Yeah, so that's a big piece too.
And I had a couple of goodfriends talk to me early on in
(15:10):
this thing and and and reallyhammer into me hey, you're going
to need help, like you don'tnecessarily have to ask for it,
but when somebody offers it, youtake it.
Yeah, and they explained it tome and it finally sunk in that,
you know, even if, if somebodywanted to come and wash my
laundry, that was a big example.
And I tell them no, you know,that may be what their ability
was for that day.
I'm denying them a blessingdown the road by not letting
them bless me.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
So once I got a grasp on that, um it was.
It was very, very humbling andso powerful.
Like seeing being on thereceiving end is something that
it's.
It's one, one of the things inmy life that I you really can't
describe it to people untilyou're in.
I hope people are never there,but if you are there it is so
(15:57):
inspiring and powerful to seethe things, um, um.
I mean I can give you a fewexamples if you'd like them all.
Yeah, I mean I can give you afew examples if you'd like them
all, yeah, yeah.
A few days in, we were stillhere in Chesterfield at St
Mary's, and I told Grace that wenormally go get groceries on
Friday night and I said you know, I just don't feel like going,
like I don't think I'm going towant to do that this week.
(16:19):
You know, maybe I could get momor friend or something to do it
.
Within an hour, hour and a half, one of the teachers from
school calls me and says hey, isit all right if I take your
daughter with me?
I'm going to go get groceries.
I'm sure she knows what youneed.
That's awesome.
So I know that sounds simple,but that was huge.
That's huge.
We had a man in the communitythat sold a bunch of extra hay
(16:43):
he had and donated us all themoney.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Um, there were people uh doing stews, um different,
uh you know, not evennecessarily people we knew, but
I mean the power of prayer andand and the whole, the power of
the chain of churches.
I mean just reaching out beyond.
I mean it was just true body ofChrist.
It was just so amazing.
So I, I shut my business down.
Um, I basically told, decidedwith Grace, I said, well, I'll
(17:11):
go back to work when you cantake care of yourself.
So I basically didn't work fromthe the end of around the 20,
21st of October until aroundsometime in January.
When I thought she could takecare of herself was when I went
back.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
That's when I went back to work.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
And um, throughout all that, I mean with all the,
the gifts and the provisions andand, and you know, the small
things even add up when, whensomebody brings you, you know,
uh, uh, uh, case of paper towels, yeah, that's $10.
I didn't have to spend, yeah.
Or, you know, spend the time togo get, and yeah, or the time,
you know, and, and so you know,when people do those little
(17:49):
things, they might not thinkthey're doing a lot, but it adds
up and it's huge, yeah.
And you know, all said and done,when, when I went, when I went
back to work, um, between the,between all of the, the monetary
donations we were gifted, allthe blessings we even had a
rebate come in for something Ihad a few hundred dollars left
in the checking account when Istarted making money again, but
(18:12):
I mean we were able to pay allof our bills through this and
you know, and to the credit ofpeople that you know helped us
along the way, but I mean it'sjust so amazing to be on that
side and, um, you know, beforethis, this incident, I
definitely tried to help, butyou know it, just it kind of
ramped up my mission afterwardsto get more active, more
(18:34):
involved.
Do as much as I can for anybodyand everybody you know.
Try to pay it forward, pay itback yeah, however you want to
look at it.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
That's such a good word because I think that
there's always something thatsomebody can do, like you said,
if it's just going to get in acase of paper towels, you know
what I mean.
Bless someone, however, you areable and capable to bless
someone.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
I mean, we had one or two teachers that were making
our kids lunches.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
Wow, Come on man.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Meals lunches kids' lunches.
The other piece of it that wesaw in the provision piece was
some of the things that wehadn't even thought of.
That people just you knowcollectively, you know you got
many minds working that they are, you know we didn't know we had
a problem and they already hadto come up with a solution for
it.
That's so good.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
That's God.
That is that truly is In yourtestimony, grace.
It states that post -surgery.
So let's get there for a momentbecause that's a little rough.
It was Post-surgery.
You begin to struggle withanxiety and fear, and that's
just being real.
And I appreciate you being real, because that's what helps
people.
That's what our testimony does.
So you shared that in yourtestimony that you developed a
(19:41):
saddle blood clot in your lungswhich only compounded that fear,
just added to it.
You state also in your testimonythat through prayer, praise God
, the anxiety did subside.
It was with you, but the fearremained right, and this is the
part I really want the listenersto pay close attention to.
You said the fear was alwaysthere, stealing your joy.
(20:03):
And isn't that what fear does?
We just touched on that for amoment, that just that fear was
that thing the enemy used justto take joy from you.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
Right.
I think that that you knowresonates across any testimony,
any trial that you're goingthrough, that the devil does not
want to see you walking in yourpurpose.
You know he is out there tosteal your joy and he will do
that however necessary.
And for me it was anxiety there.
For a little while I wasn'tafraid in the hospital at all,
(20:32):
like I went through all thesurgery and came out and no fear
at all, and it was at home whenthings slowed down in your mind
.
You know that's when the devilkind of snuck in there and
really like physically, like Iwould shake.
I was so anxious about whateverit was.
And I remember one day inparticular.
(20:54):
You know, usually it happenedat night and I could pray
through it and work through it,but it followed me to work the
next day and you actually hadreached out to me about some
other person in the church orsomething and I just asked you
to pray with me that day.
Um, and you did, and from thatmoment, like the anxiety left um
but the yeah, it was amazing,um, and I had reached out to
(21:17):
some ladies in the church tocontinue to pray, and I wouldn't
say that the fear controlled me, but it was always there.
There was always this fear thatit's going to come back.
You know this is, you know it'sgoing to be back, and so I did
live with that.
And you know, like every timeyou have a scan, you know it's
in the back of your mind andI've read it's a terrible
(21:38):
analogy but very true that it'salmost walking around with a
loaded gun to the back of yourhead and you just don't know
when it's going to go off.
And, yeah, that was veryaccurate.
That's how I felt.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
In 2018, they discover another tumor in your
neck.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
And at that point you began questioning your healing
yes, and at that point you beganquestioning your healing yes.
Walk us through why that wasand how God was showing you how
to trust him, no matter whathappens.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
Right, so yeah, well, yeah, in 2018 it came back and
I like to say that it took thewind out of my sails.
You know, I was like Lord, I'vedone this, like I walked with
you through it, I honored you, Igave you the praise for it.
Like I had a really hard timeunderstanding like why, why my
(22:29):
fear was realized and I'd saythat hung on for a few days,
maybe a week.
I actually talked to yoursister and she told she gave me
some good, strong advice and allof a sudden, you know, the Lord
just gave me the word obedienceand I was like okay.
And I was like Lord, I don'teven know what that means, like
how does that even apply here?
(22:51):
And so, little by little, hestarted to reveal it to me and
what he said was that you haveto be okay with this, no matter
what.
So you're going to have totrust me in this, no matter if
you live through it or you don't.
You know that it brings youhome.
And that is when the fearcompletely vanished and I
(23:11):
started walking in joy every day.
Now I'm not saying it doesn'tget hard sometimes.
We're human.
I'm not superhuman, um, but Idon't carry that fear.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Yeah, yeah, praise the Lord.
Someone at church I read inyour testimony someone at church
shared a prophetic message thatGod used to encourage you.
God used it to strengthen you,and this actually happened twice
.
Do you mind sharing that withthe people?
Speaker 3 (23:36):
So I think the coolest part of that is that it
never came to me Like both timeshe couldn't find me in the
church.
I mean, I'm there every Sunday,you know, except for when we're
on those trips.
But it had to come through Sean, which I thought was
interesting, that it waspresented to my husband and then
he gave it to me.
And so the first one I'm tryingto think back was Sean might
(23:58):
have to help me here.
One I'm trying to think backwas Sean might have to help me
here.
He, he had come and said oh, Iknow what it was that.
Um, he had a vision while I wasbeing prayed over in the church
and he said he saw me in thefront of the church where I was
being prayed over and I waslifted up and moved to the back
(24:19):
of the church and he said andyour hair turned white.
And he said and what that toldme was in your old age, that it
will bring you much joy.
And I was like, well, that'spretty cool.
What was cool about it, too?
A God thing.
Like I'm all, like God is allin this.
I was about to start newtreatments, like the next day or
something, and I was like, wow,like wow, god, that's awesome.
(24:39):
So the second one again, heshared that with Sean.
The second one was very similar.
He was looking for me, couldn'tfind me.
He wrote it on an offeringenvelope and it said it was
Psalms 118, 17.
He said I woke up with yourface in my mind and this verse
on my heart, and it is I shallnot die but live to declare the
(25:00):
works of the Lord, which Ithought was kind of cool,
because when I was in JohnHopkins or maybe I was at St
Mary's and they were gettingready to transport me to John
Hopkins I felt very heavy on myspirit that the Lord was saying
you're going to have to writethis down, you're going to have
to share this.
And so here he is calling meout on like, you're going to
(25:21):
have to declare the works of theLord.
And so from like I don't have aproblem with that, like, I will
sing God's praises because heis the only reason you know that
I'm able to walk through thisevery day.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
Praise God.
I know you end up going throughradiation, yes, and you.
You don't receive any severeburns, which a lot of people
that go through that do.
That's right.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
I didn't even know that was a thing, like the nurse
asked me you know one of themin a follow-up, like how bad
were your burns?
I'm like what?
There were no burns.
And of course I'm alwaysrelating it to scripture.
I'm like that's like Shadrach,meshach and Abednego, like I
went through the right that allthe time with people Like what a
(26:03):
blessing he kept you from it.
Yeah, he kept you from it.
Yeah, now he doesn't keep youfrom all hard things because let
me let me make very clearRadiation was no fun.
Um, when I was locked down tothat table, uh, the mass that
they had me in it was so closeto my face that my eyelashes
touched.
And the first time they lockedme down I broke down and cried
because it was so overwhelming.
And there's nothing wrong withbeing human, like well, that's
(26:26):
what we are, you know, but youhave to really draw on that
faith to get you through thosehard things.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
That's good.
That's good Something I want totouch on here as well.
You guys had people praying foryou this entire time.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
Sean share with the listeners why it's so important,
Sean, to have a church family,especially during times like
this, because we live in a daywhere people choose to stay home
, they stay to do church online,they stay to watch televised
church on TV.
Why is it so important to pluginto a local body of Christ and
actually be present in thebuilding?
Because I think you guys are aperfect testimony of you're not
(27:01):
just part of the church, but youalso receive from the body that
you're part of and also otherchurches around that are still
the body of Christ.
So why do you Sean?
How have you experienced thatbeing part of a church body is
important?
Speaker 2 (27:16):
Well, grace and I are both very independent.
We try to do our own thing andand Typically private people,
and so you know I can relate tothis Pretty good in that aspect.
You know that I mean it's, it'sreally important to have.
I can't imagine Not having that.
(27:36):
It's, it's, it's almost, I wantto say it's like a fallback or
a safety net that you neverrealize is there until you use
it, until you need it.
You know, because that firstSunday I come to church when you
know she was still in thehospital and the people that
come up to you and say, hey, wegot your back, we'll help you.
You know, I can't imagine nothaving that.
(27:58):
I don't even know how, how.
You know it just, it's just yetanother, it's another way to
relieve problems.
Concerns that that you mightnot even know you have yet.
You know, and and you know wealways try to do our own thing.
But you know, when it comes tosomething that's bigger than we
are, you know you've, you've gotto have God first.
(28:19):
You know foremost which.
That's another one that bogglesmy mind Sometimes.
You know, I just try to thinklike, when people go through
tragedy or something stressful,you know something major and
they don't have any faith.
I guess that's why we see thethings in society that we see.
Yeah, because they don't havean outlet, you know a comfort,
(28:45):
they don't have a resource oryou know the bigger body of
churches and people to help them.
They don't have anybody to leanon, like that, yeah, yeah,
absolutely.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
I think that's the whole point that we see in
Scripture, where we are one body, but there's many parts, many
parts that make up that one body.
Grace, you started doingimmunotherapy for two years and,
even though they said the tumorwas not supposed to shrink,
praise God hallelujah, it did.
And the doctors.
(29:15):
They couldn't explain it, butyou knew, you knew, sister, you
knew it was God I knew.
So you continued to be monitoredover the next few years and
during this time your testimonystates that you walked in the
peace and the joy that God hadfor your life.
Speaker 3 (29:30):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
And then something very, very heavy happened.
As if all of this wasn't enough, right, right, you've got this
time this season, in the midstof all this, where it's
discovered that your middledaughter had a brain tumor.
Yes, and you also tragicallylost a sister-in-law.
Yes, right.
So only by trusting in ChristI'm just going to say this that
(29:52):
only by trusting in Christ canwe victoriously make it through
all of this.
Yes, you know, but by Christalone.
You know, I couldn't evenimagine you're fighting all of
this on a regular basis, andthen with your daughter and then
your sister-in-law.
Just one hit after the other.
Speaker 3 (30:13):
So, as far as our daughter Bailey, the Lord
revealed that in my spirit.
Long before that happened, Iknew something was coming for
one of my children.
I didn't know what, but I feltit in my spirit, that something.
You know that it's one thingfor you to have to go through
something, right, Lord, I can doanything that you put me
(30:34):
through, but watching your childgo through something puts it in
a whole different respect, youknow.
It was like, okay, you'retrusting me with your life, Do
you trust me with hers?
And it was like, of course I do, Lord.
Yeah, and I mean like thatwhole situation again like not
fun but very blessed, Like Iremember when Bailey went in for
(30:57):
surgery that day, um, she toldher neurosurgeon, who was a
Christian, like the Lordrevealed that to us, you know,
and that's not common nowadays.
She said I want to be at churchon Sunday.
This was she was having surgeryon a Thursday night.
I'm like I don't know, Bailey,like we'd have to be out of here
like Saturday, because there'sno way we could leave Sunday
(31:20):
morning.
You don't get out of a hospitalearly on a Sunday, you know and
make it to church.
God did it.
That girl was there on Sundaymorning.
That was what she wanted.
That's awesome, that's awesome,and you know that a small part
of that is.
She watched us walk throughthings you know, so that grew
her faith even as a child.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
You set the standard.
Speaker 3 (31:41):
Yes, and I was thinking on Sunday, like to me,
the biggest blessing in my liferight now is looking in our row,
which we take up a lot.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:50):
All of our kids are there, like our oldest
daughter's 21, bailey's, 18.
You know we have a 16 year old13.
We don't fight them to go tochurch.
This is what we do on SundayJesus.
This is what we do on SundayJesus is what we do on you know
every day.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
Can I just point that out for a fact?
Yeah, Just point that fact outfor a moment.
Like she watched mom and dad gothrough this.
And you know, we see that ourchildren do watch us, yep.
So she watches mom and dad gothrough this and, at the worst
of life, this is how mom and dadrespond, right?
So it trains a child in the waythat they should go In the
(32:24):
worst of life.
This is how I must go, this ismy path, because this is the
path that my parents havetrailblazed for me, and so this
is what they did and I'm goingto do as they do, which is, I
just think, beautiful.
Again, shauna goes back to whatwe were talking about just a
moment ago the importance ofgoing to church and having a
family.
You know, y'all went to church.
You showed her that, and nowshe's ready to go back to church
(32:45):
.
That's her strength, that's hercomfort.
She wants to be with thosepeople, she wants to be in the
house of God, and I just thinkthat that's an amazing, amazing
testimony.
Speaker 3 (32:52):
And while we're kind of talking about it, you know
our kids are the reason westarted going back to church.
So Sean and I had attendedchurch, you know, as younger
kids and uh, but when we gotmarried we had stopped going and
one Sunday you preached and yousaid it'd be 10 years and
you've been out of church andI'm like, oh my gosh, but the
reason we started going Lexi waslittle and Bailey was a baby.
(33:13):
Riley was two months old, sowe've been going for 16 years.
Um, and it to me it was.
I want my kids when they hitmiddle school, high school, when
these kids feel like there's nohope, that they know their hope
is in Jesus.
Speaker 1 (33:27):
That's a good word.
Speaker 3 (33:28):
And here they are, like the Lord has honored that
and even like with Joshua beingborn, like we have three girls,
you know, and I told them, likehe knew, the Lord knew, and I
just felt like he honored, he'shonored us and provided for us,
and it's not even money likeit's so much more than that.
Speaker 1 (33:45):
That's right.
The provision is way beyondthat.
Remove all the money and yourfamily is still rich.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
Oh, absolutely Still wealthy.
Oh, yeah, wealthy in Christ.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
Amen, and with all of the love and the memories and
everything I wouldn't trade it.
Absolutely amazing.
In 2022, the tumor that theyhad been monitoring it begins to
grow right.
So we've touched on that.
(34:14):
You know that you've still gotthat joy right.
You still got that joy and oneparticular Sunday, you're
sitting in church listening tothe Word of God being preached
and the Lord, that particularSunday, had me preach on a
message about something thattook place in the garden of Eden
.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
Right.
Speaker 1 (34:27):
Remember that Right.
Share with the listeners howthat plays out in your testimony
.
Speaker 3 (34:31):
So I'm human, and so here we go round three.
I'm like, oh Lord, I thoughtyou said I was healed, lord Like
.
And then I've heard this voicesay did he really say?
Speaker 2 (34:45):
And.
Speaker 3 (34:45):
I was like I wasn't really thinking a whole lot
about it.
And then you were preaching andyou were talking about the
garden of Eden and Satan sayingto Eve did the Lord really say?
And I was like wait a minute,that's Satan.
And I was like, yes, he saidand I was healed the first time
and I was healed the second timeand I will continue to walk in
that healing, no matter what itlooks like.
(35:05):
And he told me, I told you tobe obedient.
I didn't say it was over, youknow.
And so it was like a gut check,like God is real, like he, you
know, if you're paying attention, he'll reveal what you're.
You know the wisdom you seek.
Speaker 1 (35:18):
That's right.
Something new comes up.
God can get rid of that andhandle it the same way he
handled something that was therebefore and he's still working,
it I mean praise be to God.
Speaker 3 (35:26):
Even a couple of weeks ago.
I'm sure you're going to get tothat.
But again, like I'm standing inchurch and you're preaching and
he's revealing stuff and I'mbreaking down in tears because
he answered another questionthat I had, Do you want to share
that real quick?
Sure.
So you know it's unfortunatehow many people you see that
lose their life.
They don't lose their battlebecause they're home with Jesus,
(35:47):
you know, and that's wherewe're all headed.
But there is a certain amountof, I guess, guilt or question.
You know, like, all right, lord, I've seen a lot of people pass
Like what makes me so different?
What makes me so different?
(36:07):
And my favorite verse of alltimes, proverbs 3, 5, you know
trust in the Lord with all yourheart and lean not on your
understanding, alwaysacknowledging your.
You know direct your path.
And I was like you werepreaching I don't even remember
what the message was, but I hadthat in my mind Like this verse
applies to what Lee's preaching.
And, sure enough, you came outwith it and I was like, yes,
lord, like I felt thatconfirmation.
(36:30):
But then you kept going and itgoes into Proverbs seven and
eight.
And let's see, I need to pullthat up.
But I had never looked past.
So my question was to the Lordlike, lord, why, when I've seen
so many paths, am I still here?
And if you just continue toread, he says but be not wise in
your own eyes, fear the Lordand turn away from evil.
(36:50):
Okay, it will be healing toyour flesh and refreshment to
your bones.
So the Lord is saying to me Itook it as because you're
trusting in me with all yourheart and allowing me to direct
your paths.
This is why you are still here,your flesh is still here, your
bones are still healthy, and Ijust broke down, I start crying
(37:10):
in church and I'm like he again.
I didn't say that question, Ididn't say that to anybody.
This is just something betweenhe and me and the Holy Spirit
just laid it on me, you know.
And so God sends little bits ofencouragement in this walk and
that's why I'm able to keep thatjoy.
Speaker 1 (37:26):
Do you ever think the people that sit near you guys
that can see y'all in yoursection, because there's a lot
of people in there?
Right Do you think the peoplethat can see you in your spot
they may hear you crying or seeyou crying and think praise God,
look at the Lord working ongrace again.
I hope.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
I hope they might be thinking what happened this time
, grace again.
Speaker 1 (37:43):
They might be thinking what happened this time
?
How's God working?
Speaker 3 (37:46):
it out.
That's right.
He didn't promise it would beeasy.
He promised he would be thereand he has kept up that promise.
Speaker 1 (37:52):
Yeah Well, you know, as we wrap this episode up, I've
got a few more points that Iwant to make.
So, folks, trust me, you got tohang in there and finish strong
with us, because I'm gettingready to share something that I
found in Grace's testimony.
That is kind of like the cherryon top of all this.
But before I get to that, Iwant to read something else that
you wrote that maybe can bringperspective to the listener to
(38:12):
understand what others may begoing through, and this is what
you wrote when you are battlingcancer, you wait a lot Wait for
doctors, you wait for treatment,you wait for answers.
I waited a whole year before Ifinally restarted treatment.
I trusted the Lord the entiretime.
I was not anxious because Iknew and know it is his timing.
(38:38):
Moments ago that I read in yourtestimony, grace, that was kind
of like that cherry on top forme.
It was so powerful, so raw, itwas so real, so encouraging.
This is what you said, and Iquote a lot of people.
This is one that I may add andI'll say, you know, and a quote
from Grace Wyant.
But this is what it isFollowing Jesus has not been
(39:00):
easy, but it has been worth it.
Absolutely Following Jesus hasnot been easy, but it has been
worth it.
Absolutely Following Jesus hasnot been easy, but it has been
worth it.
And then you go on to say thisI cannot imagine going through
life without him.
He is the center and thecornerstone of my life and when
I read that I was just like man,if that doesn't just explain
(39:22):
everything that you guys havewalked through and how you are
still standing, not juststanding On the rock yeah,
because you were on the rock.
You guys aren't just standing.
I've seen some people stand andstill look like they're about
to fall over.
You know what I mean.
But you guys are standing andyou're standing strong.
So what a walk that the two ofyou have done, and you've done
(39:44):
it well.
The reason you've done it well,there is no secret formula.
You've been very public aboutit.
It's Jesus Christ, it's yourfaith in God.
You've chosen to trust God.
You've allowed Him to use yourlife so that he can get the
glory.
I believe that, as you havebeen faithful with the small, he
has blessed you and given youthe larger to take care of and
be faithful with, so he can beacknowledged that he would get
(40:07):
all of the honor, glory, creditand praise.
You've acknowledged that he hasall power in your life and
authority.
I mean, look at what he's doing.
So God is using the two of you.
He's using your family as anopportunity to share hope to
many who hear and see yourtestimony unfold.
Speaker 3 (40:24):
Well, that's our job, right?
We're ambassadors of Christ.
That's the meaning of life.
And what I've said is it's notbeen easy, but I wouldn't trade
it because the way that my faithhas grown you know what it's
done for our family, like itmakes it all worth it.
Speaker 1 (40:40):
You know it's not always going to be easy, but
he's always going to be thereand the people that you've
touched along the way Right andif you're not in Johns Hopkins
Hospital, you're not seeing thenurses, the surgeons, the
doctors, you're not seeing otherpatients in the hallway or
family members in the elevators.
Yeah, I mean, you just don'tknow who that you don't bump
(41:00):
into if you're not walking thisparticular season in your life.
Speaker 3 (41:04):
Well, and I want to share too.
You know, back in February Iwent for a scan and they didn't
even have to tell me.
Like I said, the Lord alreadylaid down my spirit hey, what
we're doing is not working.
And I'm like I know, and but Ifelt like the Lord was nudging
me to okay, we're going to dothis a different way.
(41:25):
And so I did a little somethingdifferent, you know, prayed
about the wisdom that I neededand he's put me on a different
path.
And when I went back in July,they were like the scans are
stable.
And I'm like, of course theyare, because he's telling me the
way and I'm going to walk in it.
Speaker 1 (41:40):
Yeah, and I think that's a testimony of the
importance of listening.
Speaker 3 (41:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (41:44):
You going to walk in it?
Yeah, and I think that's atestimony of the importance of
listening.
Yeah, you know, listening tohow God directs you in the way
that you should go and being inyour word like I can't.
Speaker 3 (41:50):
I can't explain how important that is because, just
as you know, I might not be ableto say exactly where it is, but
I know the word.
But you know it and I can, youknow, have that one word.
God will give me that one wordand I'll go look it up and it's
exactly the verse that I need,or the verse I need to share
with somebody else.
And you know, we're called tolive our testimony, but you know
(42:11):
, we are overcomers by the bloodof the lamb and the word of our
testimony.
And so I choose to stand on that.
Speaker 1 (42:19):
Amen, amen.
Well, I want to say thank youfor the two of you coming in.
I know that this is going to bea blessing probably one of the
fastest 43, 44 minutes of mylife but that's what happens
when you're having a good timeand you got good people sitting
here.
Speaker 3 (42:33):
in good godly discussion and I'm just so
excited because it's abouthealing.
You know, and people you know,healing looks like so many
different things.
There's so many things that wecan heal from, and I just want
to encourage people to trust inthe Lord no matter what, and
they need to hear it.
Speaker 1 (42:46):
Yes, as Sean mentioned earlier, this world's
in such a bad place.
You know, I love the healingpiece.
I also love the piece that wekind of touched on as well here
today about if you may not bethe one going through something,
but you know someone who is.
So do something.
Send a card, send a message.
Go fix their children lunches.
(43:09):
Stop by the grocery store, seewhat needs to be done.
Pick up some paper towels, sometoilet paper, do whatever it is
.
Go mow the yard, whatever needsto be done that they currently
cannot do, do, something thatwould encourage them.
Speaker 3 (43:26):
Whatever the Lord lays on their heart.
Yeah, Right.
Speaker 1 (43:28):
And you know that's a .
That's a great point.
Maybe, maybe, pray God, how canI supply a need here?
Right, what is it?
Maybe it's just going, and justI know people that have been to
the place before in life wherethey just needed someone to come
sit with them on the porch.
Yeah, you know, just just have apresence you know, because the
spouse had to go to work, right,you know.
So, just just just have apresence so that they're not
(43:49):
just just lonely, you know, bythemselves.
So well, I'm going to pray andthen we'll.
We'll close out.
Father, I thank you so much forthis amazing family and their
testimony.
I thank you, god Almighty, thatthey are so in love with you
and they don't mind sharing that, lord.
They don't mind sharing whatthey've had to walk through, and
(44:09):
they certainly are faithful toacknowledge that you walked with
them through it every singlestep of the way.
So I pray, in the name of theblood of Jesus, that this just
continues to go forward in a waythat honors you, the health in
Grace's body and also in Sean'sand their children's Father,
that this family would justcontinue to be a voice, an
(44:34):
instrument that points to you.
And we ask all this in JesusChrist's mighty name and blood,
and all God's people saidtogether amen, amen and amen
Until next time on Beyond Sunday.
God bless.
What's going on everybody, thank you for tuning
in to today's episode of BeyondSunday.
I'm your host, pastor Lee, andI pastor Christ Family Outreach
Church, located here in Amelia,virginia, and if you have not
yet stopped by for one of ourservices, come on through and
say hello.
Thursday at seven o'clock andSunday mornings we get going at
10.
I've got a couple of specialguests at the table with me
(00:29):
today.
It is their very first time onthe podcast here.
I've known them since highschool and they were with us
pretty much from the verybeginning of our ministry at CFO
Church and they still attendchurch with us today.
One of the original faithfulsand Erica and I are greatly
appreciative of that.
I can tell you that they arethe real deal.
(00:50):
They have done so much for thepeople, not just at our church
but also in the community thatthey live in as well.
They love the Lord and they domake a difference, and that's
what it's all about Not justloving God, but taking that love
and making a difference.
And so I have at the table withme today Sean and Grace Wyant,
so thank you both for sitting atthe table today.
(01:11):
How are you guys doing?
Great, great.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Glad to be here.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Grace, how are you?
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Good, excited to be here.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
You guys have an amazing testimony and that's why
I called you in.
I've been wanting to do thisfor a while and in your
testimony there's so manydifferent chapters of life how
you guys met, how you fell inlove, all of your children, the
many vacations that you take allover the place, and you're
always checking out differentstates and doing different
things.
There's so many cool chaptersin the book of life that God has
blessed you with, but todaywe're going to talk about the
(01:39):
chapter that has to do with yourfight with cancer, grace.
We're going to get right intoit.
Back in 2012, your testimony.
I read it Amazing.
I also checked out your blog,which was absolutely wonderful.
I love how you included so muchscripture in it.
But back in 2012, you writethat you had pain in your
shoulder and for three years thedoctors just kind of brushed
(02:03):
you off because the pain justwasn't severe enough, right.
But eventually the pain goes andit gets worse, and it gets
worse and in your testimony youshare about a particular Sunday
in church where I was preachingabout the woman who reached out
and touched the hem of thegarment of Jesus.
Would you just take a momentshare with the listeners what
was going on in your mind duringthat message and what that was
(02:24):
all about for you?
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Okay.
So, as you said, yeah, I hadbeen in pain for about three
years.
I had gone to the doctor acouple of different times and
felt very much brushed off.
I knew that something was wrong, but I wasn't getting any
answers.
And so I just remember cryingout to God like I need help, I
need an answer.
And you were preaching thatSunday and it was about the
(02:46):
woman that touched the hem ofJesus' garment and I said just
in my spirit Lord, that's thekind of healing I need.
And so it was a moment betweenhe and I.
I didn't mention it to anybody,I didn't say anything, but, as
you read, it led to somethingpretty awesome in my testimony.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Yeah, we're going to get to that in just a little bit
, praise God.
So, listeners, I need you tokind of put a bookmark in that
part right there, because we'reswinging back around to that.
In the fall of 2015, thedoctors do some testing and they
discovered that you've got acancerous tumor on your spine.
And when you found out the news, share what was running through
your mind, grace, but alsoshare how it wasn't long before
(03:26):
you felt the peace of God inyour situation.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
So I can say that's not something you ever think you
are going to hear.
So I'd gone to the doctor and Iwas at a neurologist and he
said, hey, I really think youneed to go to the hospital for
testing and I thought I don'thave time for that.
I have to buy peanut butterafter this, you know.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
You still got life to do Right I have life to do.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
So I called Sean and said, hey, this is what's going
on, and he was planning to meetme up there.
So we're sitting in the backpart of I think it was St
Francis and the physician'sassistant comes out and said,
hey, we've done, you know, theCT or the x-ray or whatever it
(04:10):
was, and there's a mass on yourspine or in your chest, your
chest is expanded, somethinglike that, and everything just
stopped.
It was like, you know, so muchdisbelief.
But at the same time I almostwas like I totally get it, like
life is too good, likeeverything can't always be this
great, like I just felt veryblessed to have, you know, met
(04:32):
Sean and married him and hadfour children and become a
teacher.
And I just felt this blessingover my life.
And I do remember, you know,being in church at some point
and just thinking, like Lord,I'm willing for you to use me.
And then in that moment you'relike well, that's not what I
meant Be careful what you askfor.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Philippians 4, 7, because we're talking about how,
like eventually, you begin tofeel that peace with the.
Lord.
Philippians 4, 7 says and thepeace of God, which surpasses
all understanding, will guardyour hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus.
And how wonderful it is, seanand Grace, that the peace of God
protects us, even in ourthoughts and our emotions,
during difficult times, not justduring the good times.
(05:13):
Right, sean, this is your wifeand this is the mother of your
children.
This is your sweetie, right,and you guys have three
daughters and a son.
Everything, as Grace justmentioned, up until this point
just felt like a dream.
Perfect, right, everything wasjust going great.
Sean, share with the listenerswhat you're going through as a
husband and a dad as you hearthis for the first time.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
It's.
You know it can be prettydevastating.
Back in the day I alwaysreferred to it as somebody
getting in a bad car accident,and not to demean anybody that's
been in a car wreck.
But you know, when your wifegoes to the doctor and literally
is told you're not going home,I mean that's, you know about
the equivalent there.
So there I am in the hospitaltrying to figure out first
(06:02):
process what they told us,realizing she's not going home.
And you know your next thoughtis well, I have four kids,
little kids.
Now that's on me.
What am I going to do?
Because she can't do it.
So you know, the first fewhours, and it was just us by
ourselves.
I mean it's pretty overwhelmingto try to take in that
(06:23):
information process.
You know we were 34-ish yearsold at the time.
I mean that's not something youever expect to hear at 34.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
I couldn't even imagine, as a husband and dad
myself, thinking everything thatmy wife does around the house,
which is a ton, everything thatmy wife does to help my life
click you know and work and tobe without problems as much as
possible, to to all of a suddenhave to think I've got to take
on that load?
Yes, I couldn't even.
(06:53):
I wouldn't even know everythingthat she does.
Probably, I confess that youknow, I probably don't even know
the, even the little things,the little things that we can
take for granted.
But you guys, at that momentwhen y'all hear this news,
together, y'all, y'all got achoice You're either going to
fall apart or your glue is aboutto get stronger.
You know what I mean.
And in that, what I mean isyour glue is about to get
(07:14):
stronger.
You guys, rather than fall topieces, you're going to lean on
God, because I know the story, Iknow the testimony, I watched,
you live it, watching.
You still live it.
You know you guys have chosenand still are praise God,
pressing into God so that hegets the glory.
Matthew 5, 16 says in the sameway let your light shine before
(07:35):
others so that they may see yourgood works and give glory to
your Father, who is in heaven.
And the two of you have beenvery transparent with your
journey.
That light has been shining.
God has been getting the glorythrough your testimony.
So you guys have been extremelytransparent, which is what I
love about it.
That's why you're here today aswell, and God has used it and
is still using it to encourage alot of people.
(07:58):
Eventually, you guys make yourway down to Johns Hopkins
Hospital and, grace, walk thelisteners through the moment you
have with the Lord that youkind of referenced already at
the very beginning of thisepisode.
Walk the listeners through themoment you have with the Lord in
the hospital, when Godsymbolically bought you that
sermon that you mentionedearlier with the hymn of Jesus,
the hymn of the garment of Jesus.
(08:18):
Now you are there at JohnsHopkins and something powerful
happens.
Share with them what it is.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
Well, if I'm like any other listener, I don't feel
like I answered the first partof your other question, that
piece.
So we are sitting in thathospital you know devastating
news and less than an hour.
And you said you know we had achoice of where we were, how we
were going to deal with this,but in my mind there was no
choice.
(08:45):
Like you, lean on the Lord,that's what you do and so and as
soon as we made that decision,you know, this piece washed over
the room and I didn't know theoutcome, but I knew it was going
to be okay and it even led us,as you said, to John Hopkins.
Because you know, before I evengot there it was like, well,
(09:06):
why wouldn't I go to MCV or UVA,like it's right here.
But I was trusting in God andhe put me in St Mary's at that
point and the doctor said look,if you were my sister you know
you were my aunt I would wantyou to go here.
And I was like, all right, thisis where the Lord is telling me
to go.
He's given.
And how humbling for a doctorto say this is bigger than me.
So we literally leave St Mary'sI think it's like at 11 o'clock
(09:27):
at night and we're traveling upto Baltimore through ambulance
and we get there and I think itwas the next day and we actually
had two sisters in Christ thatwent with us, dropped everything
you know, and they were therewhen we went into the
administrative building inBaltimore Maryland and John
Hopkins and there is the divinehealer statue standing there in
(09:48):
the hospital and it is enormousand it is amazing.
And every time I'm there I goback, and so I was able to
symbolically touch the hem ofJesus's garment.
Only he knew that and I just, Imean, there's a picture of it.
It was just a moment and I waslike it's going to of it.
It was just a moment and I waslike it's going to be okay, god
is here, he's put me there andactually, ironically, my dad had
(10:10):
done some research when we weresaying, you know that we were
going to John Hopkins and he wastelling me, like there's this
statue, you know, in Baltimorein that hospital, and I was like
what?
Like just thinking about thetime like Jesus is still in that
hospital, like Like justthinking about the time like
Jesus is still in that hospital,like how is that even possible?
Yeah, but it's, it's amazingPeople walk through there.
Right, they haven't moved it.
(10:30):
People walk through and theytouch his feet and they it's,
it's really cool.
And they leave things at hisfeet and it's just.
And it has the verse come to me?
All that are heavy laden, Iwill give you rest.
And that's at the bottom of itand it's in Matthew.
You probably know the verse,but um, you know, just to see
that it still stands there inthis time, you know, is amazing
to me.
(10:50):
That's not by accident.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
Yeah, I remember when we went up to visit you one
time going you had told me aboutit.
I didn't know that the statuewas down there myself, right?
So I was like, well, I gotta gocheck this out because you're
right in this day of age, right?
You know, john Hopkins hasstill decided to leave this
statue in there and all the youknow.
Hey, all the credit to them fordoing that.
I mean, it is a beautiful,beautiful statue, but a very
(11:11):
powerful moment, right, you know, to see a structure so large
giving credit to Jesus.
You know, it's absolutely,absolutely.
I think it's a great way torefocus your mind when you're in
the hospital.
Absolutely, so you spend 21days in the hospital.
Yes, right, your surgery was 14hours long and the doctors
(11:33):
removed three of your vertebrae.
And even through all of that,your trust and your faith are
still in God.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
It was so strong, like during that time.
I just remember feeling likejust his presence and I wasn't
worried about anything.
You know it was, he was there.
I mean, I remember we wereencouraging nurses and handing
out devotionals and people justloved being in the room, you
know, and I would have peoplecall me that were, oh, I'm so
sorry to hear about you, andthey would get off the.
(12:01):
You know we're getting ready tohang up and they're like I'm
just so encouraged by talking toyou.
I feel better now than I didwhen I called and I'm like, well
, that's awesome, that's all God.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Yeah, praise God, praise God, sean.
21 days is a long time to beaway from the regular routine of
life 21 days.
I couldn't imagine going onlike a resort island vacation
for 21 days and not being woreout.
You know what I mean.
Like I go away for four or fivedays, I'm ready to come back
home.
I'd imagine that most guys are.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
Yes, I mean, and prior to that I had probably six
days, was the most I'd everspent away from a good old
country boy.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
Yes, that's right, just working hard, loving the
Lord and living life.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Yeah, but no, I, you know, I knew from the beginning
and you know the first few days,a few hours, were a little
hectic.
But I mean, one thing I know is, you know that I need to put
grace first.
You know, any anything in mylife I could put on hold.
Once we were able to know thatmy kids were safe, then okay,
now it's my time to take care ofher.
I mean, that's, you know,that's what the vows say, you
(13:04):
know, for better or worse.
So I actually stayed with herevery night in the hospital and
once we went to Johns Hopkins,that really wasn't an option to
come home.
So I was, you were there, yeah,I was there, you know.
But you know, on the side ofthe faith for me, you know, on
the side of the faith for me,that was my second year, that
(13:27):
was really my first full year inmy new business.
That you know, I was runningthe shop by myself and that was
October.
You know things are starting topick up and but you know, I
just just knew, I mean it almostit was a decision, but it
wasn't a decision Like I'm justgoing to shut the shop down.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
It'll be all right.
It'll be all right, you know.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
I just feel like if you make the right choice for
the right reasons, thateverything's going to work out
for you.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
That's a good word.
That's a real good word If youdo it the right way.
God's way it's all going to beokay In y'all's testimony.
I know, Sean, a lot of peoplefrom the community offered to
help in whatever way.
You guys needed help, and wouldyou share with the listeners,
brother Sean, on how importantit is to help in these types of
(14:15):
circumstances, because y'allhave lived it.
You've been the family that'sgiven help, but you've also been
the family that's had toreceive help, and I know there's
a lot of people that listen tothis podcast in many different
countries, not just here.
And the odds are, Sean, thatsomeone out there right now
knows someone who's goingthrough a crisis and maybe they
don't know how to respond.
Maybe they don't know how tohelp and maybe they're praying
and that's a ton right.
(14:35):
If nothing else, we should bepraying.
It's power in prayer, I know youall believe that, but would you
take a moment, sean, and letthe listener know how important
it is to simply reach out andoffer help, and what that could
look like.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Yeah, and I mean for most of my life, as you know,
like I'm wired as a giver, ahelper, a doer, hands and feet,
and never wanted to ask for helpor receive help.
Yeah, so that's a big piece too.
And I had a couple of goodfriends talk to me early on in
(15:10):
this thing and and and reallyhammer into me hey, you're going
to need help, like you don'tnecessarily have to ask for it,
but when somebody offers it, youtake it.
Yeah, and they explained it tome and it finally sunk in that,
you know, even if, if somebodywanted to come and wash my
laundry, that was a big example.
And I tell them no, you know,that may be what their ability
was for that day.
I'm denying them a blessingdown the road by not letting
them bless me.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
So once I got a grasp on that, um it was.
It was very, very humbling andso powerful.
Like seeing being on thereceiving end is something that
it's.
It's one, one of the things inmy life that I you really can't
describe it to people untilyou're in.
I hope people are never there,but if you are there it is so
(15:57):
inspiring and powerful to seethe things, um, um.
I mean I can give you a fewexamples if you'd like them all.
Yeah, I mean I can give you afew examples if you'd like them
all, yeah, yeah.
A few days in, we were stillhere in Chesterfield at St
Mary's, and I told Grace that wenormally go get groceries on
Friday night and I said you know, I just don't feel like going,
like I don't think I'm going towant to do that this week.
(16:19):
You know, maybe I could get momor friend or something to do it
.
Within an hour, hour and a half, one of the teachers from
school calls me and says hey, isit all right if I take your
daughter with me?
I'm going to go get groceries.
I'm sure she knows what youneed.
That's awesome.
So I know that sounds simple,but that was huge.
That's huge.
We had a man in the communitythat sold a bunch of extra hay
(16:43):
he had and donated us all themoney.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Um, there were people uh doing stews, um different,
uh you know, not evennecessarily people we knew, but
I mean the power of prayer andand and the whole, the power of
the chain of churches.
I mean just reaching out beyond.
I mean it was just true body ofChrist.
It was just so amazing.
So I, I shut my business down.
Um, I basically told, decidedwith Grace, I said, well, I'll
(17:11):
go back to work when you cantake care of yourself.
So I basically didn't work fromthe the end of around the 20,
21st of October until aroundsometime in January.
When I thought she could takecare of herself was when I went
back.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
That's when I went back to work.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
And um, throughout all that, I mean with all the,
the gifts and the provisions andand, and you know, the small
things even add up when, whensomebody brings you, you know,
uh, uh, uh, case of paper towels, yeah, that's $10.
I didn't have to spend, yeah.
Or, you know, spend the time togo get, and yeah, or the time,
you know, and, and so you know,when people do those little
(17:49):
things, they might not thinkthey're doing a lot, but it adds
up and it's huge, yeah.
And you know, all said and done,when, when I went, when I went
back to work, um, between the,between all of the, the monetary
donations we were gifted, allthe blessings we even had a
rebate come in for something Ihad a few hundred dollars left
in the checking account when Istarted making money again, but
(18:12):
I mean we were able to pay allof our bills through this and
you know, and to the credit ofpeople that you know helped us
along the way, but I mean it'sjust so amazing to be on that
side and, um, you know, beforethis, this incident, I
definitely tried to help, butyou know it, just it kind of
ramped up my mission afterwardsto get more active, more
(18:34):
involved.
Do as much as I can for anybodyand everybody you know.
Try to pay it forward, pay itback yeah, however you want to
look at it.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
That's such a good word because I think that
there's always something thatsomebody can do, like you said,
if it's just going to get in acase of paper towels, you know
what I mean.
Bless someone, however, you areable and capable to bless
someone.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
I mean, we had one or two teachers that were making
our kids lunches.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
Wow, Come on man.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Meals lunches kids' lunches.
The other piece of it that wesaw in the provision piece was
some of the things that wehadn't even thought of.
That people just you knowcollectively, you know you got
many minds working that they are, you know we didn't know we had
a problem and they already hadto come up with a solution for
it.
That's so good.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
That's God.
That is that truly is In yourtestimony, grace.
It states that post -surgery.
So let's get there for a momentbecause that's a little rough.
It was Post-surgery.
You begin to struggle withanxiety and fear, and that's
just being real.
And I appreciate you being real, because that's what helps
people.
That's what our testimony does.
So you shared that in yourtestimony that you developed a
(19:41):
saddle blood clot in your lungswhich only compounded that fear,
just added to it.
You state also in your testimonythat through prayer, praise God
, the anxiety did subside.
It was with you, but the fearremained right, and this is the
part I really want the listenersto pay close attention to.
You said the fear was alwaysthere, stealing your joy.
(20:03):
And isn't that what fear does?
We just touched on that for amoment, that just that fear was
that thing the enemy used justto take joy from you.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
Right.
I think that that you knowresonates across any testimony,
any trial that you're goingthrough, that the devil does not
want to see you walking in yourpurpose.
You know he is out there tosteal your joy and he will do
that however necessary.
And for me it was anxiety there.
For a little while I wasn'tafraid in the hospital at all,
(20:32):
like I went through all thesurgery and came out and no fear
at all, and it was at home whenthings slowed down in your mind
.
You know that's when the devilkind of snuck in there and
really like physically, like Iwould shake.
I was so anxious about whateverit was.
And I remember one day inparticular.
(20:54):
You know, usually it happenedat night and I could pray
through it and work through it,but it followed me to work the
next day and you actually hadreached out to me about some
other person in the church orsomething and I just asked you
to pray with me that day.
Um, and you did, and from thatmoment, like the anxiety left um
but the yeah, it was amazing,um, and I had reached out to
(21:17):
some ladies in the church tocontinue to pray, and I wouldn't
say that the fear controlled me, but it was always there.
There was always this fear thatit's going to come back.
You know this is, you know it'sgoing to be back, and so I did
live with that.
And you know, like every timeyou have a scan, you know it's
in the back of your mind andI've read it's a terrible
(21:38):
analogy but very true that it'salmost walking around with a
loaded gun to the back of yourhead and you just don't know
when it's going to go off.
And, yeah, that was veryaccurate.
That's how I felt.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
In 2018, they discover another tumor in your
neck.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
And at that point you began questioning your healing
yes, and at that point you beganquestioning your healing yes.
Walk us through why that wasand how God was showing you how
to trust him, no matter whathappens.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
Right, so yeah, well, yeah, in 2018 it came back and
I like to say that it took thewind out of my sails.
You know, I was like Lord, I'vedone this, like I walked with
you through it, I honored you, Igave you the praise for it.
Like I had a really hard timeunderstanding like why, why my
(22:29):
fear was realized and I'd saythat hung on for a few days,
maybe a week.
I actually talked to yoursister and she told she gave me
some good, strong advice and allof a sudden, you know, the Lord
just gave me the word obedienceand I was like okay.
And I was like Lord, I don'teven know what that means, like
how does that even apply here?
(22:51):
And so, little by little, hestarted to reveal it to me and
what he said was that you haveto be okay with this, no matter
what.
So you're going to have totrust me in this, no matter if
you live through it or you don't.
You know that it brings youhome.
And that is when the fearcompletely vanished and I
(23:11):
started walking in joy every day.
Now I'm not saying it doesn'tget hard sometimes.
We're human.
I'm not superhuman, um, but Idon't carry that fear.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Yeah, yeah, praise the Lord.
Someone at church I read inyour testimony someone at church
shared a prophetic message thatGod used to encourage you.
God used it to strengthen you,and this actually happened twice
.
Do you mind sharing that withthe people?
Speaker 3 (23:36):
So I think the coolest part of that is that it
never came to me Like both timeshe couldn't find me in the
church.
I mean, I'm there every Sunday,you know, except for when we're
on those trips.
But it had to come through Sean, which I thought was
interesting, that it waspresented to my husband and then
he gave it to me.
And so the first one I'm tryingto think back was Sean might
(23:58):
have to help me here.
One I'm trying to think backwas Sean might have to help me
here.
He, he had come and said oh, Iknow what it was that.
Um, he had a vision while I wasbeing prayed over in the church
and he said he saw me in thefront of the church where I was
being prayed over and I waslifted up and moved to the back
(24:19):
of the church and he said andyour hair turned white.
And he said and what that toldme was in your old age, that it
will bring you much joy.
And I was like, well, that'spretty cool.
What was cool about it, too?
A God thing.
Like I'm all, like God is allin this.
I was about to start newtreatments, like the next day or
something, and I was like, wow,like wow, god, that's awesome.
(24:39):
So the second one again, heshared that with Sean.
The second one was very similar.
He was looking for me, couldn'tfind me.
He wrote it on an offeringenvelope and it said it was
Psalms 118, 17.
He said I woke up with yourface in my mind and this verse
on my heart, and it is I shallnot die but live to declare the
(25:00):
works of the Lord, which Ithought was kind of cool,
because when I was in JohnHopkins or maybe I was at St
Mary's and they were gettingready to transport me to John
Hopkins I felt very heavy on myspirit that the Lord was saying
you're going to have to writethis down, you're going to have
to share this.
And so here he is calling meout on like, you're going to
(25:21):
have to declare the works of theLord.
And so from like I don't have aproblem with that, like, I will
sing God's praises because heis the only reason you know that
I'm able to walk through thisevery day.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
Praise God.
I know you end up going throughradiation, yes, and you.
You don't receive any severeburns, which a lot of people
that go through that do.
That's right.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
I didn't even know that was a thing, like the nurse
asked me you know one of themin a follow-up, like how bad
were your burns?
I'm like what?
There were no burns.
And of course I'm alwaysrelating it to scripture.
I'm like that's like Shadrach,meshach and Abednego, like I
went through the right that allthe time with people Like what a
(26:03):
blessing he kept you from it.
Yeah, he kept you from it.
Yeah, now he doesn't keep youfrom all hard things because let
me let me make very clearRadiation was no fun.
Um, when I was locked down tothat table, uh, the mass that
they had me in it was so closeto my face that my eyelashes
touched.
And the first time they lockedme down I broke down and cried
because it was so overwhelming.
And there's nothing wrong withbeing human, like well, that's
(26:26):
what we are, you know, but youhave to really draw on that
faith to get you through thosehard things.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
That's good.
That's good Something I want totouch on here as well.
You guys had people praying foryou this entire time.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
Sean share with the listeners why it's so important,
Sean, to have a church family,especially during times like
this, because we live in a daywhere people choose to stay home
, they stay to do church online,they stay to watch televised
church on TV.
Why is it so important to pluginto a local body of Christ and
actually be present in thebuilding?
Because I think you guys are aperfect testimony of you're not
(27:01):
just part of the church, but youalso receive from the body that
you're part of and also otherchurches around that are still
the body of Christ.
So why do you Sean?
How have you experienced thatbeing part of a church body is
important?
Speaker 2 (27:16):
Well, grace and I are both very independent.
We try to do our own thing andand Typically private people,
and so you know I can relate tothis Pretty good in that aspect.
You know that I mean it's, it'sreally important to have.
I can't imagine Not having that.
(27:36):
It's, it's, it's almost, I wantto say it's like a fallback or
a safety net that you neverrealize is there until you use
it, until you need it.
You know, because that firstSunday I come to church when you
know she was still in thehospital and the people that
come up to you and say, hey, wegot your back, we'll help you.
You know, I can't imagine nothaving that.
(27:58):
I don't even know how, how.
You know it just, it's just yetanother, it's another way to
relieve problems.
Concerns that that you mightnot even know you have yet.
You know, and and you know wealways try to do our own thing.
But you know, when it comes tosomething that's bigger than we
are, you know you've, you've gotto have God first.
(28:19):
You know foremost which.
That's another one that bogglesmy mind Sometimes.
You know, I just try to thinklike, when people go through
tragedy or something stressful,you know something major and
they don't have any faith.
I guess that's why we see thethings in society that we see.
Yeah, because they don't havean outlet, you know a comfort,
(28:45):
they don't have a resource oryou know the bigger body of
churches and people to help them.
They don't have anybody to leanon, like that, yeah, yeah,
absolutely.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
I think that's the whole point that we see in
Scripture, where we are one body, but there's many parts, many
parts that make up that one body.
Grace, you started doingimmunotherapy for two years and,
even though they said the tumorwas not supposed to shrink,
praise God hallelujah, it did.
And the doctors.
(29:15):
They couldn't explain it, butyou knew, you knew, sister, you
knew it was God I knew.
So you continued to be monitoredover the next few years and
during this time your testimonystates that you walked in the
peace and the joy that God hadfor your life.
Speaker 3 (29:30):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
And then something very, very heavy happened.
As if all of this wasn't enough, right, right, you've got this
time this season, in the midstof all this, where it's
discovered that your middledaughter had a brain tumor.
Yes, and you also tragicallylost a sister-in-law.
Yes, right.
So only by trusting in ChristI'm just going to say this that
(29:52):
only by trusting in Christ canwe victoriously make it through
all of this.
Yes, you know, but by Christalone.
You know, I couldn't evenimagine you're fighting all of
this on a regular basis, andthen with your daughter and then
your sister-in-law.
Just one hit after the other.
Speaker 3 (30:13):
So, as far as our daughter Bailey, the Lord
revealed that in my spirit.
Long before that happened, Iknew something was coming for
one of my children.
I didn't know what, but I feltit in my spirit, that something.
You know that it's one thingfor you to have to go through
something, right, Lord, I can doanything that you put me
(30:34):
through, but watching your childgo through something puts it in
a whole different respect, youknow.
It was like, okay, you'retrusting me with your life, Do
you trust me with hers?
And it was like, of course I do, Lord.
Yeah, and I mean like thatwhole situation again like not
fun but very blessed, Like Iremember when Bailey went in for
(30:57):
surgery that day, um, she toldher neurosurgeon, who was a
Christian, like the Lordrevealed that to us, you know,
and that's not common nowadays.
She said I want to be at churchon Sunday.
This was she was having surgeryon a Thursday night.
I'm like I don't know, Bailey,like we'd have to be out of here
like Saturday, because there'sno way we could leave Sunday
(31:20):
morning.
You don't get out of a hospitalearly on a Sunday, you know and
make it to church.
God did it.
That girl was there on Sundaymorning.
That was what she wanted.
That's awesome, that's awesome,and you know that a small part
of that is.
She watched us walk throughthings you know, so that grew
her faith even as a child.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
You set the standard.
Speaker 3 (31:41):
Yes, and I was thinking on Sunday, like to me,
the biggest blessing in my liferight now is looking in our row,
which we take up a lot.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:50):
All of our kids are there, like our oldest
daughter's 21, bailey's, 18.
You know we have a 16 year old13.
We don't fight them to go tochurch.
This is what we do on SundayJesus.
This is what we do on SundayJesus is what we do on you know
every day.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
Can I just point that out for a fact?
Yeah, Just point that fact outfor a moment.
Like she watched mom and dad gothrough this.
And you know, we see that ourchildren do watch us, yep.
So she watches mom and dad gothrough this and, at the worst
of life, this is how mom and dadrespond, right?
So it trains a child in the waythat they should go In the
(32:24):
worst of life.
This is how I must go, this ismy path, because this is the
path that my parents havetrailblazed for me, and so this
is what they did and I'm goingto do as they do, which is, I
just think, beautiful.
Again, shauna goes back to whatwe were talking about just a
moment ago the importance ofgoing to church and having a
family.
You know, y'all went to church.
You showed her that, and nowshe's ready to go back to church
(32:45):
.
That's her strength, that's hercomfort.
She wants to be with thosepeople, she wants to be in the
house of God, and I just thinkthat that's an amazing, amazing
testimony.
Speaker 3 (32:52):
And while we're kind of talking about it, you know
our kids are the reason westarted going back to church.
So Sean and I had attendedchurch, you know, as younger
kids and uh, but when we gotmarried we had stopped going and
one Sunday you preached and yousaid it'd be 10 years and
you've been out of church andI'm like, oh my gosh, but the
reason we started going Lexi waslittle and Bailey was a baby.
(33:13):
Riley was two months old, sowe've been going for 16 years.
Um, and it to me it was.
I want my kids when they hitmiddle school, high school, when
these kids feel like there's nohope, that they know their hope
is in Jesus.
Speaker 1 (33:27):
That's a good word.
Speaker 3 (33:28):
And here they are, like the Lord has honored that
and even like with Joshua beingborn, like we have three girls,
you know, and I told them, likehe knew, the Lord knew, and I
just felt like he honored, he'shonored us and provided for us,
and it's not even money likeit's so much more than that.
Speaker 1 (33:45):
That's right.
The provision is way beyondthat.
Remove all the money and yourfamily is still rich.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
Oh, absolutely Still wealthy.
Oh, yeah, wealthy in Christ.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
Amen, and with all of the love and the memories and
everything I wouldn't trade it.
Absolutely amazing.
In 2022, the tumor that theyhad been monitoring it begins to
grow right.
So we've touched on that.
(34:14):
You know that you've still gotthat joy right.
You still got that joy and oneparticular Sunday, you're
sitting in church listening tothe Word of God being preached
and the Lord, that particularSunday, had me preach on a
message about something thattook place in the garden of Eden
.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
Right.
Speaker 1 (34:27):
Remember that Right.
Share with the listeners howthat plays out in your testimony
.
Speaker 3 (34:31):
So I'm human, and so here we go round three.
I'm like, oh Lord, I thoughtyou said I was healed, lord Like
.
And then I've heard this voicesay did he really say?
Speaker 2 (34:45):
And.
Speaker 3 (34:45):
I was like I wasn't really thinking a whole lot
about it.
And then you were preaching andyou were talking about the
garden of Eden and Satan sayingto Eve did the Lord really say?
And I was like wait a minute,that's Satan.
And I was like, yes, he saidand I was healed the first time
and I was healed the second timeand I will continue to walk in
that healing, no matter what itlooks like.
(35:05):
And he told me, I told you tobe obedient.
I didn't say it was over, youknow.
And so it was like a gut check,like God is real, like he, you
know, if you're paying attention, he'll reveal what you're.
You know the wisdom you seek.
Speaker 1 (35:18):
That's right.
Something new comes up.
God can get rid of that andhandle it the same way he
handled something that was therebefore and he's still working,
it I mean praise be to God.
Speaker 3 (35:26):
Even a couple of weeks ago.
I'm sure you're going to get tothat.
But again, like I'm standing inchurch and you're preaching and
he's revealing stuff and I'mbreaking down in tears because
he answered another questionthat I had, Do you want to share
that real quick?
Sure.
So you know it's unfortunatehow many people you see that
lose their life.
They don't lose their battlebecause they're home with Jesus,
(35:47):
you know, and that's wherewe're all headed.
But there is a certain amountof, I guess, guilt or question.
You know, like, all right, lord, I've seen a lot of people pass
Like what makes me so different?
What makes me so different?
(36:07):
And my favorite verse of alltimes, proverbs 3, 5, you know
trust in the Lord with all yourheart and lean not on your
understanding, alwaysacknowledging your.
You know direct your path.
And I was like you werepreaching I don't even remember
what the message was, but I hadthat in my mind Like this verse
applies to what Lee's preaching.
And, sure enough, you came outwith it and I was like, yes,
lord, like I felt thatconfirmation.
(36:30):
But then you kept going and itgoes into Proverbs seven and
eight.
And let's see, I need to pullthat up.
But I had never looked past.
So my question was to the Lordlike, lord, why, when I've seen
so many paths, am I still here?
And if you just continue toread, he says but be not wise in
your own eyes, fear the Lordand turn away from evil.
(36:50):
Okay, it will be healing toyour flesh and refreshment to
your bones.
So the Lord is saying to me Itook it as because you're
trusting in me with all yourheart and allowing me to direct
your paths.
This is why you are still here,your flesh is still here, your
bones are still healthy, and Ijust broke down, I start crying
(37:10):
in church and I'm like he again.
I didn't say that question, Ididn't say that to anybody.
This is just something betweenhe and me and the Holy Spirit
just laid it on me, you know.
And so God sends little bits ofencouragement in this walk and
that's why I'm able to keep thatjoy.
Speaker 1 (37:26):
Do you ever think the people that sit near you guys
that can see y'all in yoursection, because there's a lot
of people in there?
Right Do you think the peoplethat can see you in your spot
they may hear you crying or seeyou crying and think praise God,
look at the Lord working ongrace again.
I hope.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
I hope they might be thinking what happened this time
, grace again.
Speaker 1 (37:43):
They might be thinking what happened this time
?
How's God working?
Speaker 3 (37:46):
it out.
That's right.
He didn't promise it would beeasy.
He promised he would be thereand he has kept up that promise.
Speaker 1 (37:52):
Yeah Well, you know, as we wrap this episode up, I've
got a few more points that Iwant to make.
So, folks, trust me, you got tohang in there and finish strong
with us, because I'm gettingready to share something that I
found in Grace's testimony.
That is kind of like the cherryon top of all this.
But before I get to that, Iwant to read something else that
you wrote that maybe can bringperspective to the listener to
(38:12):
understand what others may begoing through, and this is what
you wrote when you are battlingcancer, you wait a lot Wait for
doctors, you wait for treatment,you wait for answers.
I waited a whole year before Ifinally restarted treatment.
I trusted the Lord the entiretime.
I was not anxious because Iknew and know it is his timing.
(38:38):
Moments ago that I read in yourtestimony, grace, that was kind
of like that cherry on top forme.
It was so powerful, so raw, itwas so real, so encouraging.
This is what you said, and Iquote a lot of people.
This is one that I may add andI'll say, you know, and a quote
from Grace Wyant.
But this is what it isFollowing Jesus has not been
(39:00):
easy, but it has been worth it.
Absolutely Following Jesus hasnot been easy, but it has been
worth it.
Absolutely Following Jesus hasnot been easy, but it has been
worth it.
And then you go on to say thisI cannot imagine going through
life without him.
He is the center and thecornerstone of my life and when
I read that I was just like man,if that doesn't just explain
(39:22):
everything that you guys havewalked through and how you are
still standing, not juststanding On the rock yeah,
because you were on the rock.
You guys aren't just standing.
I've seen some people stand andstill look like they're about
to fall over.
You know what I mean.
But you guys are standing andyou're standing strong.
So what a walk that the two ofyou have done, and you've done
(39:44):
it well.
The reason you've done it well,there is no secret formula.
You've been very public aboutit.
It's Jesus Christ, it's yourfaith in God.
You've chosen to trust God.
You've allowed Him to use yourlife so that he can get the
glory.
I believe that, as you havebeen faithful with the small, he
has blessed you and given youthe larger to take care of and
be faithful with, so he can beacknowledged that he would get
(40:07):
all of the honor, glory, creditand praise.
You've acknowledged that he hasall power in your life and
authority.
I mean, look at what he's doing.
So God is using the two of you.
He's using your family as anopportunity to share hope to
many who hear and see yourtestimony unfold.
Speaker 3 (40:24):
Well, that's our job, right?
We're ambassadors of Christ.
That's the meaning of life.
And what I've said is it's notbeen easy, but I wouldn't trade
it because the way that my faithhas grown you know what it's
done for our family, like itmakes it all worth it.
Speaker 1 (40:40):
You know it's not always going to be easy, but
he's always going to be thereand the people that you've
touched along the way Right andif you're not in Johns Hopkins
Hospital, you're not seeing thenurses, the surgeons, the
doctors, you're not seeing otherpatients in the hallway or
family members in the elevators.
Yeah, I mean, you just don'tknow who that you don't bump
(41:00):
into if you're not walking thisparticular season in your life.
Speaker 3 (41:04):
Well, and I want to share too.
You know, back in February Iwent for a scan and they didn't
even have to tell me.
Like I said, the Lord alreadylaid down my spirit hey, what
we're doing is not working.
And I'm like I know, and but Ifelt like the Lord was nudging
me to okay, we're going to dothis a different way.
(41:25):
And so I did a little somethingdifferent, you know, prayed
about the wisdom that I neededand he's put me on a different
path.
And when I went back in July,they were like the scans are
stable.
And I'm like, of course theyare, because he's telling me the
way and I'm going to walk in it.
Speaker 1 (41:40):
Yeah, and I think that's a testimony of the
importance of listening.
Speaker 3 (41:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (41:44):
You going to walk in it?
Yeah, and I think that's atestimony of the importance of
listening.
Yeah, you know, listening tohow God directs you in the way
that you should go and being inyour word like I can't.
Speaker 3 (41:50):
I can't explain how important that is because, just
as you know, I might not be ableto say exactly where it is, but
I know the word.
But you know it and I can, youknow, have that one word.
God will give me that one wordand I'll go look it up and it's
exactly the verse that I need,or the verse I need to share
with somebody else.
And you know, we're called tolive our testimony, but you know
(42:11):
, we are overcomers by the bloodof the lamb and the word of our
testimony.
And so I choose to stand on that.
Speaker 1 (42:19):
Amen, amen.
Well, I want to say thank youfor the two of you coming in.
I know that this is going to bea blessing probably one of the
fastest 43, 44 minutes of mylife but that's what happens
when you're having a good timeand you got good people sitting
here.
Speaker 3 (42:33):
in good godly discussion and I'm just so
excited because it's abouthealing.
You know, and people you know,healing looks like so many
different things.
There's so many things that wecan heal from, and I just want
to encourage people to trust inthe Lord no matter what, and
they need to hear it.
Speaker 1 (42:46):
Yes, as Sean mentioned earlier, this world's
in such a bad place.
You know, I love the healingpiece.
I also love the piece that wekind of touched on as well here
today about if you may not bethe one going through something,
but you know someone who is.
So do something.
Send a card, send a message.
Go fix their children lunches.
(43:09):
Stop by the grocery store, seewhat needs to be done.
Pick up some paper towels, sometoilet paper, do whatever it is
.
Go mow the yard, whatever needsto be done that they currently
cannot do, do, something thatwould encourage them.
Speaker 3 (43:26):
Whatever the Lord lays on their heart.
Yeah, Right.
Speaker 1 (43:28):
And you know that's a .
That's a great point.
Maybe, maybe, pray God, how canI supply a need here?
Right, what is it?
Maybe it's just going, and justI know people that have been to
the place before in life wherethey just needed someone to come
sit with them on the porch.
Yeah, you know, just just have apresence you know, because the
spouse had to go to work, right,you know.
So, just just just have apresence so that they're not
(43:49):
just just lonely, you know, bythemselves.
So well, I'm going to pray andthen we'll.
We'll close out.
Father, I thank you so much forthis amazing family and their
testimony.
I thank you, god Almighty, thatthey are so in love with you
and they don't mind sharing that, lord.
They don't mind sharing whatthey've had to walk through, and
(44:09):
they certainly are faithful toacknowledge that you walked with
them through it every singlestep of the way.
So I pray, in the name of theblood of Jesus, that this just
continues to go forward in a waythat honors you, the health in
Grace's body and also in Sean'sand their children's Father,
that this family would justcontinue to be a voice, an
(44:34):
instrument that points to you.
And we ask all this in JesusChrist's mighty name and blood,
and all God's people saidtogether amen, amen and amen
Until next time on Beyond Sunday.
God bless.
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