The Refiner's Fire, Guest Blog by Regina Rodgers

 

Regina Rodgers, an author who has released her excellent debut novel, The Gamble on Love, tells about an experience in her life that is a testament to the power of God. 

In March 2009, I got a phone call that no one wants to receive. After a routine mammogram, my doctor wanted me to come to the office so he could talk to me. On the appointed day, I sat in the examining room. A young intern strode in ahead of Dr. Reuter, and without a word, approached me, felt the lymph nodes in my neck, and gave me a sympathetic look. A few minutes later, my doctor came in and told me very matter-of-factly that I had breast cancer. He said many other things that rushed past my ears as I sat there in shock. One thing that I do clearly remember was him telling me to buy a wig because all my hair would come out.

My ears roared, and I felt like I was in a bad dream. No, my loving Heavenly Father wouldn’t allow this to happen to me. I’d often heard people say that after a terrible experience, they were angry with God. I wasn’t angry, but I felt so very hurt.

As I drove home, I passed the tiny church just a few blocks from my house. Although I was saved at nine years old and have always had a relationship with God, I wasn’t attending church. I set up a counseling appointment with the pastor of Susquehanna church, and he invited me to start attending there.

“We have a wonderful women’s group. They’ll make you feel right at home.” He asked for my permission to tell an older lady in the congregation about the battle I was about to fight, and I said okay.

The following Sunday, I took tentative steps into the sanctuary and found a seat on a back pew. A tiny, eighty-something-year-old woman walked up and introduced herself. She stood probably four feet ten inches tall, almost a foot shorter than my five feet nine. Her hair was a fiery red, reminding me, for all the world, of a little match stick. It suited her perfectly—she was a diminutive dynamo.

“Oh, I’m so glad you’re here.” She sat down and took my hand. “I’ve prayed and prayed that the Lord would send someone to me who I could help through breast cancer. I had it, too, a few years ago.”

Teresa sat with me at every church service. She’d bring me little gifts. She called me almost daily and prepared me for every step of my treatment, telling me exactly what to expect. I showed up for Bible study every Wednesday morning, where we’d have wonderful lunches and fellowship afterward.

When I laid my head on my pillow at night, I felt peace. As I think back on this year-long experience, I find it amazing that I have no unpleasant memories. I felt the Lord with me every step of the way. I grew closer to Him during that time than I could have grown otherwise in a lifetime. And He sent me my sweet little Teresa, who kept me wrapped in motherly love.

I learned so much from this season in my life. While having breast cancer isn’t something I’d wish on anyone, God turned it for good. What it taught me was to lean on Him through everything. Sometimes we must pass through the refiner’s fire, so the insignificant and the unimportant in our lives can melt away like dross and leave our faith bright, intact, and strong.