Beyond Sunday
Welcome to Beyond Sunday, the Podcast that takes you deeper into the Word of God throughout your week, with your Host Pastor Lee Day.
It's Time to Inspire, Uplift, and dig deeper. Beyond Sunday starts now!
Beyond Sunday
Cancer, Faith, and Finding Peace
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?
What's going on everybody, thank you for tuning in to today's episode of Beyond Sunday. I'm your host, pastor Lee, and I pastor Christ Family Outreach Church, located here in Amelia, virginia, and if you have not yet stopped by for one of our services, come on through and say hello. Thursday at seven o'clock and Sunday mornings we get going at 10. I've got a couple of special guests at the table with me today. It is their very first time on the podcast here. I've known them since high school and they were with us pretty much from the very beginning of our ministry at CFO Church and they still attend church with us today.
Speaker 1:One of the original faithfuls and Erica and I are greatly appreciative of that. I can tell you that they are the real deal. They have done so much for the people, not just at our church but also in the community that they live in as well. They love the Lord and they do make a difference, and that's what it's all about Not just loving God, but taking that love and making a difference. And so I have at the table with me today Sean and Grace Wyant, so thank you both for sitting at the table today. How are you guys doing? Great, great.
Speaker 3:Glad to be here.
Speaker 1:Grace, how are you?
Speaker 3:Good, excited to be here.
Speaker 1:You guys have an amazing testimony and that's why I called you in. I've been wanting to do this for a while and in your testimony there's so many different chapters of life how you guys met, how you fell in love, all of your children, the many vacations that you take all over the place, and you're always checking out different states and doing different things. There's so many cool chapters in the book of life that God has blessed you with, but today we're going to talk about the chapter that has to do with your fight with cancer, grace. We're going to get right into it. 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 much scripture in it. But back in 2012, you write that you had pain in your shoulder and for three years the doctors just kind of brushed you off because the pain just wasn't severe enough, right.
Speaker 1:But eventually the pain goes and it gets worse, and it gets worse and in your testimony you share about a particular Sunday in church where I was preaching about the woman who reached out and touched the hem of the garment of Jesus. Would you just take a moment share with the listeners what was going on in your mind during that message and what that was all about for you?
Speaker 3:Okay. So, as you said, yeah, I had been in pain for about three years. I had gone to the doctor a couple 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 crying out to God like I need help, I need an answer. And you were preaching that Sunday and it was about the woman that touched the hem of Jesus' garment and I said just in my spirit Lord, that's the kind of healing I need. And so it was a moment between he and I. I didn't mention it to anybody, I didn't say anything, but, as you read, it led to something pretty awesome in my testimony.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we're going to get to that in just a little bit, praise God. So, listeners, I need you to kind of put a bookmark in that part right there, because we're swinging back around to that. In the fall of 2015, the doctors do some testing and they discovered that you've got a cancerous tumor on your spine. And when you found out the news, share what was running through your mind, grace, but also share how it wasn't long before you felt the peace of God in your situation.
Speaker 3:So I can say that's not something you ever think you are going to hear. So I'd gone to the doctor and I was at a neurologist and he said, hey, I really think you need to go to the hospital for testing and I thought I don't have time for that. I have to buy peanut butter after this, you know.
Speaker 1:You still got life to do Right I have life to do.
Speaker 3:So I called Sean and said, hey, this is what's going on, and he was planning to meet me up there. So we're sitting in the back part of I think it was St Francis and the physician's assistant comes out and said, hey, we've done, you know, the CT or the x-ray or whatever it was, and there's a mass on your spine or in your chest, your chest is expanded, something like that, and everything just stopped. It was like, you know, so much disbelief. But at the same time I almost was like I totally get it, like life is too good, like everything can't always be this great, like I just felt very blessed to have, you know, met Sean and married him and had four children and become a teacher. And I just felt this blessing over 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're like well, that's not what I meant Be careful what you ask for.
Speaker 1:Philippians 4, 7, because we're talking about how, like eventually, you begin to feel that peace with the.
Speaker 1:Lord. Philippians 4, 7 says and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. And how wonderful it is, sean and Grace, that the peace of God protects us, even in our thoughts and our emotions, during difficult times, not just during the good times. Right, sean, this is your wife and this is the mother of your children. This is your sweetie, right, and you guys have three daughters and a son. Everything, as Grace just mentioned, up until this point just felt like a dream. Perfect, right, everything was just going great. Sean, share with the listeners what you're going through as a husband and a dad as you hear this for the first time.
Speaker 2:It's. You know it can be pretty devastating. Back in the day I always referred 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 wife goes 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 hospital trying to figure out first process what they told us, realizing she's not going home. And you know your next thought is 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 few hours, and it was just us by ourselves. I mean it's pretty overwhelming to try to take in that information process. You know we were 34-ish years old at the time. I mean that's not something you ever expect to hear at 34.
Speaker 1:I couldn't even imagine, as a husband and dad myself, thinking everything that my wife does around the house, which is a ton, everything that my wife does to help my life click you know and work and to be without problems as much as possible, to to all of a sudden have to think I've got to take on that load?
Speaker 1:Yes, I couldn't even. I wouldn't even know everything that she does. Probably, I confess that you know, 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 moment when y'all hear this news, together, y'all, y'all got a choice You're either going to fall apart or your glue is about to get stronger. You know what I mean. And in that, what I mean is your glue is about to get stronger.
Speaker 1:You guys, rather than fall to pieces, you're going to lean on God, because I know the story, I know the testimony, I watched, you live it, watching. You still live it. You know you guys have chosen and still are praise God, pressing into God so that he gets the glory. Matthew 5, 16 says in the same way let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father, who is in heaven. And the two of you have been very transparent with your journey. That light has been shining. God has been getting the glory through your testimony. So you guys have been extremely transparent, which is what I love about it. That's why you're here today as well, and God has used it and is still using it to encourage a lot of people.
Speaker 1:Eventually, you guys make your way down to Johns Hopkins Hospital and, grace, walk the listeners through the moment you have with the Lord that you kind of referenced already at the very beginning of this episode. Walk the listeners through the moment you have with the Lord in the hospital, when God symbolically bought you that sermon that you mentioned earlier with the hymn of Jesus, the hymn of the garment of Jesus. Now you are there at Johns Hopkins and something powerful happens. Share with them what it is.
Speaker 3:Well, if I'm like any other listener, I don't feel like I answered the first part of your other question, that piece. So we are sitting in that hospital you know devastating news and less than an hour. And you said you know we had a choice of where we were, how we were going to deal with this, but in my mind there was no choice.
Speaker 3: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 the outcome, 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 even got there it was like, well, why wouldn't I go to MCV or UVA, like it's right here. But I was trusting in God and he 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 want you to go here. And I was like, all right, this is where the Lord is telling me to go. He's given. And how humbling for a doctor to say this is bigger than me.
Speaker 3:So we literally leave St Mary's I think it's like at 11 o'clock at night and we're traveling up to Baltimore through ambulance and we get there and I think it was the next day and we actually had two sisters in Christ that went with us, dropped everything you know, and they were there when we went into the administrative building in Baltimore Maryland and John Hopkins and there is the divine healer statue standing there in the hospital and it is enormous and it is amazing. And every time I'm there I go back, and so I was able to symbolically touch the hem of Jesus's garment. Only he knew that and I just, I mean, there's a picture of it. It was just a moment and I was like it's going to of it. It was just a moment and I was like it's going to be okay, god is here, he's put me there and actually, ironically, my dad had done some research when we were saying, you know that we were going to John Hopkins and he was telling me, like there's this statue, you know, in Baltimore in that hospital, and I was like what?
Speaker 3:Like just thinking about the time like Jesus is still in that hospital, like Like just thinking about the time like Jesus is still in that hospital, like how is that even possible? Yeah, but it's, it's amazing People walk through there.
Speaker 3:Right, they haven't moved it. People walk through and they touch his feet and they it's, it's really cool. And they leave things at his feet and it's just. And it has the verse come to me? All that are heavy laden, I will give you rest. And that's at the bottom of it and it's in Matthew. You probably know the verse, but um, you know, just to see that it still stands there in this time, you know, is amazing to me. That's not by accident.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I remember when we went up to visit you one time going you had told me about it. I didn't know that the statue was down there myself, right? So I was like, well, I gotta go check this out because you're right in this day of age, right? You know, john Hopkins has still decided to leave this statue in there and all the you know. Hey, all the credit to them for doing that.
Speaker 1:I mean, it is a beautiful, beautiful statue, but a very 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 to refocus your mind when you're in the hospital. Absolutely, so you spend 21 days in the hospital. Yes, right, your surgery was 14 hours long and the doctors removed three of your vertebrae. And even through all of that, your trust and your faith are still in God.
Speaker 3:It was so strong, like during that time. I just remember feeling like just his presence and I wasn't worried about anything. You know it was, he was there. I mean, I remember we were encouraging nurses and handing out devotionals and people just loved being in the room, you know, and I would have people call me that were, oh, I'm so sorry to hear about you, and they would get off the. You know we're getting ready to hang up and they're like I'm just so encouraged by talking to you. I feel better now than I did when I called and I'm like, well, that's awesome, that's all God.
Speaker 1:Yeah, praise God, praise God, sean. 21 days is a long time to be away from the regular routine of life 21 days. I couldn't imagine going on like a resort island vacation for 21 days and not being wore out. You know what I mean. Like I go away for four or five days, I'm ready to come back home. I'd imagine that most guys are.
Speaker 2:Yes, I mean, and prior to that I had probably six days, was the most I'd ever spent away from a good old country boy.
Speaker 1:Yes, that's right, just working hard, loving the Lord and living life.
Speaker 2: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 my life I could put on hold. Once we were able to know that my kids were safe, then okay, now it's my time to take care of her. I mean, that's, you know, that's what the vows say, you know, for better or worse. So I actually stayed with her every night in the hospital and once we went to Johns Hopkins, that really wasn't an option to come home.
Speaker 2:So I was, you were there, yeah, I was there, you know. But you know, on the side of the faith for me, you know, on the side of the faith for me, that was my second year, that was really my first full year in my new business. That you know, I was running the shop by myself and that was October. You know things are starting to pick up and but you know, I just just knew, I mean it almost it was a decision, but it wasn't a decision Like I'm just going to shut the shop down.
Speaker 1:It'll be all right. It'll be all right, you know.
Speaker 2:I just feel like if you make the right choice for the right reasons, that everything's going to work out for you.
Speaker 1:That's a good word. That's a real good word If you do it the right way.
Speaker 1:God's way it's all going to be okay In y'all's testimony. I know, Sean, a lot of people from the community offered to help in whatever way. You guys needed help, and would you share with the listeners, brother Sean, on how important it is to help in these types of circumstances, because y'all have lived it. You've been the family that's given help, but you've also been the family that's had to receive help, and I know there's a lot of people that listen to this podcast in many different countries, not just here. And the odds are, Sean, that someone out there right now knows someone who's going through a crisis and maybe they don't know how to respond. Maybe they don't know how to help and maybe they're praying and that's a ton right. If nothing else, we should be praying.
Speaker 1:It's power in prayer, I know you all believe that, but would you take a moment, sean, and let the listener know how important it is to simply reach out and offer help, and what that could look like.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I mean for most of my life, as you know, like I'm wired as a giver, a helper, a doer, hands and feet, and never wanted to ask for help or receive help. Yeah, so that's a big piece too. And I had a couple of good friends talk to me early on in this thing and and and really hammer into me hey, you're going to need help, like you don't necessarily have to ask for it, but when somebody offers it, you take it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and they explained it to me and it finally sunk in that, you know, even if, if somebody wanted 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 blessing down the road by not letting them bless me.
Speaker 1:That's right.
Speaker 2:So once I got a grasp on that, um it was. It was very, very humbling and so powerful. Like seeing being on the receiving end is something that it's. It's one, one of the things in my life that I you really can't describe it to people until you're in. I hope people are never there, but if you are there it is so inspiring and powerful to see the things, um, um. I mean I can give you a few examples if you'd like them all. Yeah, I mean I can give you a few examples if you'd like them all, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:A few days in, we were still here in Chesterfield at St Mary's, and I told Grace that we normally 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 to want to do that this week. You know, maybe I could get mom or friend or something to do it. Within an hour, hour and a half, one of the teachers from school calls me and says hey, is it all right if I take your daughter with me? I'm going to go get groceries. I'm sure she knows what you need. That's awesome. So I know that sounds simple, but that was huge. That's huge. We had a man in the community that sold a bunch of extra hay he had and donated us all the money.
Speaker 1:Wow.
Speaker 2:Um, there were people uh doing stews, um different, uh you know, not even necessarily people we knew, but I mean the power of prayer and and and the whole, the power of the chain of churches. I mean just reaching out beyond. I mean it was just true body of Christ. It was just so amazing. So I, I shut my business down. Um, I basically told, decided with Grace, I said, well, I'll go back to work when you can take care of yourself. So I basically didn't work from the the end of around the 20, 21st of October until around sometime in January. When I thought she could take care of herself was when I went back.
Speaker 3:That's when I went back to work.
Speaker 2:And um, throughout all that, I mean with all the, the gifts and the provisions and and, and you know, the small things even add up when, when somebody brings you, you know, uh, uh, uh, case of paper towels, yeah, that's $10.
Speaker 2:I didn't have to spend, yeah.
Speaker 2:Or, you know, spend the time to go get, and yeah, or the time, you know, and, and so you know, when people do those little things, they might not think they're doing a lot, but it adds up and it's huge, yeah.
Speaker 2: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, all the blessings we even had a rebate come in for something I had a few hundred dollars left in the checking account when I started making money again, but I mean we were able to pay all of our bills through this and you know, and to the credit of people that you know helped us along the way, but I mean it's just so amazing to be on that side and, um, you know, before this, this incident, I definitely tried to help, but you know it, just it kind of ramped up my mission afterwards to get more active, more involved. Do as much as I can for anybody and everybody you know. Try to pay it forward, pay it back yeah, however you want to look at it.
Speaker 1:That's such a good word because I think that there's always something that somebody can do, like you said, if it's just going to get in a case of paper towels, you know what I mean. Bless someone, however, you are able and capable to bless someone.
Speaker 2:I mean, we had one or two teachers that were making our kids lunches.
Speaker 1:Wow, Come on man.
Speaker 2:Meals lunches kids' lunches. The other piece of it that we saw in the provision piece was some of the things that we hadn't even thought of. That people just you know collectively, you know you got many minds working that they are, you know we didn't know we had a problem and they already had to come up with a solution for it. That's so good.
Speaker 1:That's God. That is that truly is In your testimony, grace. It states that post -surgery. So let's get there for a moment because that's a little rough. It was Post-surgery. You begin to struggle with anxiety 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 your testimony that you developed a saddle blood clot in your lungs which only compounded that fear, just added to it.
Speaker 1:You state also in your testimony that through prayer, praise God, the anxiety did subside. It was with you, but the fear remained right, and this is the part I really want the listeners to pay close attention to. You said the fear was always there, stealing your joy. And isn't that what fear does? We just touched on that for a moment, that just that fear was that thing the enemy used just to take joy from you.
Speaker 3:Right. I think that that you know resonates across any testimony, any trial that you're going through, that the devil does not want to see you walking in your purpose. You know he is out there to steal your joy and he will do that however necessary. And for me it was anxiety there. For a little while I wasn't afraid in the hospital at all, like I went through all the surgery and came out and no fear at all, and it was at home when things slowed down in your mind. You know that's when the devil kind of snuck in there and really like physically, like I would shake. I was so anxious about whatever it was. And I remember one day in particular. You know, usually it happened at night and I could pray through it and work through it, but it followed me to work the next day and you actually had reached out to me about some other person in the church or something and I just asked you to pray with me that day.
Speaker 3:Um, and you did, and from that moment, like the anxiety left um but the yeah, it was amazing, um, and I had reached out to some ladies in the church to continue to pray, and I wouldn't say that the fear controlled me, but it was always there. There was always this fear that it's going to come back. You know this is, you know it's going to be back, and so I did live with that. And you know, like every time you have a scan, you know it's in the back of your mind and I've read it's a terrible analogy but very true that it's almost walking around with a loaded gun to the back of your head and you just don't know when it's going to go off. And, yeah, that was very accurate. That's how I felt.
Speaker 1:In 2018, they discover another tumor in your neck.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 1:And at that point you began questioning your healing yes, and at that point you began questioning your healing yes. Walk us through why that was and how God was showing you how to trust him, no matter what happens.
Speaker 3:Right, so yeah, well, yeah, in 2018 it came back and I like to say that it took the wind out of my sails. You know, I was like Lord, I've done this, like I walked with you through it, I honored you, I gave you the praise for it. Like I had a really hard time understanding like why, why my fear was realized and I'd say that hung on for a few days, maybe a week. I actually talked to your sister and she told she gave me some good, strong advice and all of a sudden, you know, the Lord just gave me the word obedience and I was like okay. And I was like Lord, I don't even know what that means, like how does that even apply here?
Speaker 3:And so, little by little, he started to reveal it to me and what he said was that you have to be okay with this, no matter what. So you're going to have to trust me in this, no matter if you live through it or you don't. You know that it brings you home. And that is when the fear completely vanished and I started walking in joy every day. Now I'm not saying it doesn't get hard sometimes. We're human. I'm not superhuman, um, but I don't carry that fear.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, praise the Lord. Someone at church I read in your testimony someone at church shared a prophetic message that God used to encourage you. God used it to strengthen you, and this actually happened twice. Do you mind sharing that with the people?
Speaker 3:So I think the coolest part of that is that it never came to me Like both times he 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 was presented to my husband and then he gave it to me.
Speaker 3:And so the first one I'm trying to think back was Sean might have to help me here. One I'm trying to think back was Sean might have to help me here. He, he had come and said oh, I know what it was that. Um, he had a vision while I was being prayed over in the church and he said he saw me in the front of the church where I was being prayed over and I was lifted up and moved to the back of the church and he said and your hair turned white. And he said and what that told me was in your old age, that it will bring you much joy. And I was like, well, that's pretty cool. What was cool about it, too? A God thing. Like I'm all, like God is all in this. I was about to start new treatments, like the next day or something, and I was like, wow, like wow, god, that's awesome.
Speaker 3:So the second one again, he shared that with Sean. The second one was very similar. He was looking for me, couldn't find me. He wrote it on an offering envelope and it said it was Psalms 118, 17. He said I woke up with your face in my mind and this verse on my heart, and it is I shall not die but live to declare the works of the Lord, which I thought was kind of cool, because when I was in John Hopkins or maybe I was at St Mary's and they were getting ready to transport me to John Hopkins I felt very heavy on my spirit that the Lord was saying you're going to have to write this down, you're going to have to share this. And so here he is calling me out on like, you're going to have to declare the works of the Lord. And so from like I don't have a problem with that, like, I will sing God's praises because he is the only reason you know that I'm able to walk through this every day.
Speaker 1:Praise God. I know you end up going through radiation, yes, and you. You don't receive any severe burns, which a lot of people that go through that do. That's right.
Speaker 3:I didn't even know that was a thing, like the nurse asked me you know one of them in a follow-up, like how bad were your burns? I'm like what? There were no burns. And of course I'm always relating it to scripture. I'm like that's like Shadrach, meshach and Abednego, like I went through the right that all the time with people Like what a blessing he kept you from it. Yeah, he kept you from it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, now he doesn't keep you from all hard things because let me let me make very clear Radiation was no fun. Um, when I was locked down to that table, uh, the mass that they had me in it was so close to my face that my eyelashes touched. And the first time they locked me down I broke down and cried because it was so overwhelming. And there's nothing wrong with being human, like well, that's what we are, you know, but you have to really draw on that faith to get you through those hard things.
Speaker 1:That's good. That's good Something I want to touch on here as well. You guys had people praying for you this entire time.
Speaker 3:Absolutely.
Speaker 1: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 day where 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 plug into a local body of Christ and actually be present in the building? Because I think you guys are a perfect testimony of you're not just part of the church, but you also receive from the body that you're part of and also other churches around that are still the body of Christ.
Speaker 1:So why do you Sean? How have you experienced that being part of a church body is important?
Speaker 2:Well, grace and I are both very independent. We try to do our own thing and and Typically private people, and so you know I can relate to this Pretty good in that aspect. You know that I mean it's, it's really important to have. I can't imagine Not having that. It's, it's, it's almost, I want to say it's like a fallback or a safety net that you never realize is there until you use it, until you need it. You know, because that first Sunday I come to church when you know she was still in the hospital and the people that come up to you and say, hey, we got your back, we'll help you.
Speaker 2:You know, I can't imagine not having that. I don't even know how, how. You know it just, it's just yet another, it's another way to relieve problems. Concerns that that you might not even know you have yet. You know, and and you know we always try to do our own thing. But you know, when it comes to something that's bigger than we are, you know you've, you've got to have God first. You know foremost which. That's another one that boggles my mind Sometimes. You know, I just try to think like, 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 the things in society that we see. Yeah, because they don't have an outlet, you know a comfort, they don't have a resource or you know the bigger body of churches and people to help them. They don't have anybody to lean on, like that, yeah, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1: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 doing immunotherapy for two years and, even though they said the tumor was not supposed to shrink, praise God hallelujah, it did. And the doctors. They couldn't explain it, but you knew, you knew, sister, you knew it was God I knew.
Speaker 1:So you continued to be monitored over the next few years and during this time your testimony states that you walked in the peace and the joy that God had for your life.
Speaker 3:That's right.
Speaker 1: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 midst of all this, where it's discovered that your middle daughter had a brain tumor. Yes, and you also tragically lost a sister-in-law. Yes, right. So only by trusting in Christ I'm just going to say this that only by trusting in Christ can we victoriously make it through all of this. Yes, you know, but by Christ alone. You know, I couldn't even imagine you're fighting all of this on a regular basis, and then with your daughter and then your sister-in-law.
Speaker 1:Just one hit after the other.
Speaker 3:So, as far as our daughter Bailey, the Lord revealed that in my spirit. Long before that happened, I knew something was coming for one of my children. I didn't know what, but I felt it in my spirit, that something. You know that it's one thing for you to have to go through something, right, Lord, I can do anything that you put me through, but watching your child go through something puts it in a whole different respect, you know. It was like, okay, you're trusting me with your life, Do you trust me with hers? And it was like, of course I do, Lord. Yeah, and I mean like that whole situation again like not fun but very blessed, Like I remember when Bailey went in for surgery that day, um, she told her neurosurgeon, who was a Christian, like the Lord revealed that to us, you know, and that's not common nowadays.
Speaker 3:She said I want to be at church on Sunday. This was she was having surgery on a Thursday night. I'm like I don't know, Bailey, like we'd have to be out of here like Saturday, because there's no way we could leave Sunday morning. You don't get out of a hospital early on a Sunday, you know and make it to church. God did it.
Speaker 3:That girl was there on Sunday morning. 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 through things you know, so that grew her faith even as a child.
Speaker 1:You set the standard.
Speaker 3:Yes, and I was thinking on Sunday, like to me, the biggest blessing in my life right now is looking in our row, which we take up a lot.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:All of our kids are there, like our oldest daughter's 21, bailey's, 18. You know we have a 16 year old 13. We don't fight them to go to church. This is what we do on Sunday Jesus. This is what we do on Sunday Jesus is what we do on you know every day.
Speaker 1:Can I just point that out for a fact? Yeah, Just point that fact out for a moment. Like she watched mom and dad go through this.
Speaker 1:And you know, we see that our children do watch us, yep. So she watches mom and dad go through this and, at the worst of life, this is how mom and dad respond, right? So it trains a child in the way that they should go In the worst of life. This is how I must go, this is my path, because this is the path that my parents have trailblazed for me, and so this is what they did and I'm going to do as they do, which is, I just think, beautiful. Again, shauna goes back to what we were talking about just a moment ago the importance of going to church and having a family. You know, y'all went to church. You showed her that, and now she's ready to go back to church. That's her strength, that's her comfort. She wants to be with those people, she wants to be in the house of God, and I just think that that's an amazing, amazing testimony.
Speaker 3:And while we're kind of talking about it, you know our kids are the reason we started going back to church. So Sean and I had attended church, you know, as younger kids and uh, but when we got married we had stopped going and one Sunday you preached and you said it'd be 10 years and you've been out of church and I'm like, oh my gosh, but the reason we started going Lexi was little and Bailey was a baby. Riley was two months old, so we've been going for 16 years. Um, and it to me it was. I want my kids when they hit middle school, high school, when these kids feel like there's no hope, that they know their hope is in Jesus.
Speaker 1:That's a good word.
Speaker 3:And here they are, like the Lord has honored that and even like with Joshua being born, like we have three girls, you know, and I told them, like he knew, the Lord knew, and I just felt like he honored, he's honored us and provided for us, and it's not even money like it's so much more than that.
Speaker 1:That's right. The provision is way beyond that. Remove all the money and your family is still rich.
Speaker 3:Oh, absolutely Still wealthy. Oh, yeah, wealthy in Christ.
Speaker 1:Amen, and with all of the love and the memories and everything I wouldn't trade it. Absolutely amazing. In 2022, the tumor that they had been monitoring it begins to grow right. So we've touched on that. You know that you've still got that joy right. You still got that joy and one particular Sunday, you're sitting in church listening to the Word of God being preached and the Lord, that particular Sunday, had me preach on a message about something that took place in the garden of Eden.
Speaker 3:Right.
Speaker 1:Remember that Right. Share with the listeners how that plays out in your testimony.
Speaker 3:So I'm human, and so here we go round three. I'm like, oh Lord, I thought you said I was healed, lord Like. And then I've heard this voice say did he really say?
Speaker 2:And.
Speaker 3:I was like I wasn't really thinking a whole lot about it. And then you were preaching and you were talking about the garden of Eden and Satan saying to Eve did the Lord really say? And I was like wait a minute, that's Satan. And I was like, yes, he said and I was healed the first time and I was healed the second time and I will continue to walk in that healing, no matter what it looks like. And he told me, I told you to be obedient. I didn't say it was over, you know. 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:That's right. Something new comes up. God can get rid of that and handle it the same way he handled something that was there before and he's still working, it I mean praise be to God.
Speaker 3:Even a couple of weeks ago. I'm sure you're going to get to that. But again, like I'm standing in church and you're preaching and he's revealing stuff and I'm breaking down in tears because he answered another question that I had, Do you want to share that real quick?
Speaker 3:Sure. So you know it's unfortunate how many people you see that lose their life. They don't lose their battle because they're home with Jesus, you know, and that's where we're all headed. But there is a certain amount of, 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?
Speaker 3:And my favorite verse of all times, proverbs 3, 5, you know trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding, always acknowledging your. You know direct your path. And I was like you were preaching I don't even remember what the message was, but I had that in my mind Like this verse applies to what Lee's preaching. And, sure enough, you came out with it and I was like, yes, lord, like I felt that confirmation. But then you kept going and it goes into Proverbs seven and eight. And let's see, I need to pull that up.
Speaker 3:But I had never looked past. So my question was to the Lord like, lord, why, when I've seen so many paths, am I still here? And if you just continue to read, he says but be not wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Okay, it will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. So the Lord is saying to me I took it as because you're trusting in me with all your heart 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 I just broke down, I start crying in church and I'm like he again. I didn't say that question, I didn't say that to anybody. This is just something between he and me and the Holy Spirit just laid it on me, you know. And so God sends little bits of encouragement in this walk and that's why I'm able to keep that joy.
Speaker 1:Do you ever think the people that sit near you guys that can see y'all in your section, because there's a lot of people in there? Right Do you think the people that can see you in your spot they may hear you crying or see you crying and think praise God, look at the Lord working on grace again. I hope.
Speaker 2:I hope they might be thinking what happened this time, grace again.
Speaker 1:They might be thinking what happened this time? How's God working?
Speaker 3:it out. That's right. He didn't promise it would be easy. He promised he would be there and he has kept up that promise.
Speaker 1:Yeah Well, you know, as we wrap this episode up, I've got a few more points that I want to make. So, folks, trust me, you got to hang in there and finish strong with us, because I'm getting ready to share something that I found in Grace's testimony. That is kind of like the cherry on top of all this. But before I get to that, I want to read something else that you wrote that maybe can bring perspective to the listener to understand what others may be going through, and this is what you wrote when you are battling cancer, you wait a lot Wait for doctors, you wait for treatment, you wait for answers. I waited a whole year before I finally restarted treatment. I trusted the Lord the entire time. I was not anxious because I knew and know it is his timing. Moments ago that I read in your testimony, grace, that was kind of like that cherry on top for me. It was so powerful, so raw, it was so real, so encouraging.
Speaker 1:This is what you said, and I quote a lot of people. This is one that I may add and I'll say, you know, and a quote from Grace Wyant. But this is what it is Following Jesus has not been easy, but it has been worth it. Absolutely Following Jesus has not been easy, but it has been worth it. Absolutely Following Jesus has not been easy, but it has been worth it. And then you go on to say this I cannot imagine going through life without him.
Speaker 1:He is the center and the cornerstone of my life and when I read that I was just like man, if that doesn't just explain everything that you guys have walked through and how you are still standing, not just standing On the rock yeah, because you were on the rock. You guys aren't just standing. I've seen some people stand and still look like they're about to fall over. You know what I mean. But you guys are standing and you're standing strong. So what a walk that the two of you have done, and you've done it well.
Speaker 1:The reason you've done it well, there is no secret formula. You've been very public about it. It's Jesus Christ, it's your faith in God. You've chosen to trust God. You've allowed Him to use your life so that he can get the glory. I believe that, as you have been faithful with the small, he has blessed you and given you the larger to take care of and be faithful with, so he can be acknowledged that he would get all of the honor, glory, credit and praise. You've acknowledged that he has all 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 an opportunity to share hope to many who hear and see your testimony unfold.
Speaker 3: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 not been easy, but I wouldn't trade it because the way that my faith has grown you know what it's done for our family, like it makes it all worth it.
Speaker 1:You know it's not always going to be easy, but he's always going to be there and the people that you've touched along the way Right and if you're not in Johns Hopkins Hospital, you're not seeing the nurses, the surgeons, the doctors, you're not seeing other patients in the hallway or family members in the elevators. Yeah, I mean, you just don't know who that you don't bump into if you're not walking this particular season in your life.
Speaker 3:Well, and I want to share too. You know, back in February I went for a scan and they didn't even have to tell me. Like I said, the Lord already laid down my spirit hey, what we're doing is not working. And I'm like I know, and but I felt like the Lord was nudging me to okay, we're going to do this a different way. And so I did a little something different, you know, prayed about the wisdom that I needed and 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 they are, because he's telling me the way and I'm going to walk in it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I think that's a testimony of the importance of listening.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:You going to walk in it? Yeah, and I think that's a testimony of the importance of listening. Yeah, you know, listening to how God directs you in the way that you should go and being in your word like I can't.
Speaker 3:I can't explain how important that is because, just as you know, I might not be able to say exactly where it is, but I know the word. But you know it and I can, you know, have that one word. God will give me that one word and 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 to live our testimony, but you know, we are overcomers by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony.
Speaker 3:And so I choose to stand on that.
Speaker 1:Amen, amen. Well, I want to say thank you for the two of you coming in. I know that this is going to be a blessing probably one of the fastest 43, 44 minutes of my life but that's what happens when you're having a good time and you got good people sitting here.
Speaker 3:in good godly discussion and I'm just so excited because it's about healing. You know, and people you know, healing looks like so many different things. There's so many things that we can heal from, and I just want to encourage people to trust in the Lord no matter what, and they need to hear it.
Speaker 1:Yes, as Sean mentioned earlier, this world's in such a bad place. You know, I love the healing piece. I also love the piece that we kind of touched on as well here today about if you may not be the one going through something, but you know someone who is. So do something. Send a card, send a message. Go fix their children lunches. Stop by the grocery store, see what needs to be done. Pick up some paper towels, some toilet paper, do whatever it is. Go mow the yard, whatever needs to be done that they currently cannot do, do, something that would encourage them.
Speaker 3:Whatever the Lord lays on their heart. Yeah, Right.
Speaker 1:And you know that's a. That's a great point. Maybe, maybe, pray God, how can I supply a need here? Right, what is it? Maybe it's just going, and just I know people that have been to the place before in life where they just needed someone to come sit with them on the porch.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know, just just have a presence you know, because the spouse had to go to work, right, you know. So, just just just have a presence so that they're not just just lonely, you know, by themselves. So well, I'm going to pray and then we'll. We'll close out. Father, I thank you so much for this amazing family and their testimony. I thank you, god Almighty, that they are so in love with you and they don't mind sharing that, lord. They don't mind sharing what they've had to walk through, and they certainly are faithful to acknowledge that you walked with them through it every single step of the way. So I pray, in the name of the blood of Jesus, that this just continues to go forward in a way that honors you, the health in Grace's body and also in Sean's and their children's Father, that this family would just continue to be a voice, an instrument that points to you. And we ask all this in Jesus Christ's mighty name and blood, and all God's people said together amen, amen and amen Until next time on Beyond Sunday. God bless.
