In the Hands of a Loving Father: Memoirs of faith, strength and victory

By Hellen Pawlik

This book is about my journey to recovery during a painful period in my life and how God cured me of the 'incurable' disease called cancer. When you hear the word cancer, it seems as though everything has come to a complete stop and all hope is lost with the future uncertain. I write this book to encourage and let anyone out there, dealing with same or similar situation, know that there is a great future and hope in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Maybe you are going through a different challenge in life, one problem or another, know that with God, nothing shall be impossible.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hellen Pawlik
• Release date: Jan 10, 2017
• ISBN: 9780997499155

Hellen Pawlik

Victorious Grace writes about the love of God for all. She is a firm believer in Jesus Christ. She strongly believes in the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Born and raised in West Africa, Victorious now lives in the United States of America. She wrote and co-directed as well as starred in her first short film, titled 'A view from here'. She has been part of several movie projects, and has studied and trained as an actress in West Hollywood, California. Victorious soon found out she loves learning about God and sharing His love for all with others. Growing up, she has always been intrigued with this special four-letter word called “love”. It only made sense for her to learn more about this enduring love. While she has not yet attained, she does like to think she is better than she was yesterday, understanding and living out this unconditional love with the help of God. In her opinion, there is no one better to teach about love than the one whom Himself is love. Plugging in or connecting to the source of this love is to know more and grow in it. Victorious serves God in her local Church, teaching God's word to children as well as sharing God's love in her local community.

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

This is a story about my journey to recovery during a painful period in my life and how God cured me of the ‘incurable’ disease called cancer. When you hear the word cancer, you ask, Where do I start when everything seems to have come to a complete stop, and all hope is lost with uncertain future? I write this book to encourage and let anyone out there dealing with same or similar situation that there is, a great future and hope in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Maybe you are going through a different challenge in life, or one problem or another, know that with God, nothing shall be impossible.

In the hands of a loving Father came about after my encounter with the living God. So with the same comfort I received from God, I share my experiences with you to comfort you just as I was comforted. I encourage you to surrender all that you are going through into God’s hands. Let go and let God. He shall never disappoint you. I know that it might sound easier said than done. But when I was going through, it seemed like there was no light in sight but I hung on to the promises of God. Hang on to His promise because He never lets those who trust in Him be put to shame. Trust and believe that He can heal you. He can heal that child or your loved one. He can heal your marriage; He can deliver you from that addiction. He can give you that child you are believing Him for. He can bless you with a life partner. Yes, He can give you that marriage you desire. He can heal your relationship. He can restore you and restore back to you all that you have lost. Whatever it is that you are going through right now, know that you are not alone. Find rest and hope in the hands of a loving Father.

We are in the day and age where everyone is curious and wants to know why things are the way they are. Some want to know if God really exists. I believe I was given the dreams I had to help answer these questions for such people. Yes! God is real and He does exist, and does not want you to go through life without knowing Him. God loves you so much He is reaching out to you. He has written so many love letters to you through His Word. He loves you just the way you are and is yearning to hold you in His loving arms. Here are few of His loving words to you:

"Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore, with loving-kindness I have drawn you." (Jeremiah 31:3).

He is drawing closer to you now and if you already know Him even closer.

"But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Roman 5:8).

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and hope." (Jeremiah 29:11).

God’s faithful love for us is the truth stated again and again in the scripture. It does not matter if we believe it or not, our faith nor our lack of faith will not change it. Our acceptance nor our rejection of Him will not change His love for us. I believe you and I will accept His love for us even as He is reaching out to us.

Chapter 1

THE JOURNEY OF LIFE

This book was written in a period of trial and despair, a time of loneliness; where it seemed as though I was separated from everything and everyone. It felt like I had to figure things out on my own. How do you figure out something you can’t even explain or comprehend? When you start this journey called Life, nothing prepares you for the storms, waves, strong winds and high/low currents. You don’t know when the disasters will strike. But we must not live our lives in fear because there is always hope.

Every experience in life comes with a reason and a purpose. We have to search through each one and seek help from above for guidance, wisdom, knowledge and a better understanding on how to apply these elements in life. God has a plan for every person. It is essential that we do not take any opportunity given to us in life for granted. Be thankful to God for every situation or condition you may find yourself in, because God never makes mistakes. You will find out in the end why you went through everything you had to go through. I promise, you will shout for joy in due time and sing songs of praises to Him. I never thought I would write a book, however, going through this journey called Life, I realized that these experiences were not in vain.

Maybe you are wondering, Is there really a God who loves me, why do I have to go through so much headache in life? Take the process of having a baby as an example, it is a miraculous process. A mother has to make sure her baby is nurtured, so that her baby grows and is ready on the day of delivery. When her baby is born, he or she cries, because the baby is no longer in his or her comfort zone. The baby is now vulnerable to the external factors around him or her. The baby feels like it was only a minute ago, he or she sat comfortably in the mother’s womb without worries. As soon as that baby takes his or her first breath outside the mother’s womb, the journey of his or her life begins. As the baby starts crawling, standing, walking, and running, the baby experiences falls but these falls do not deter the child from trying again.

If you are a parent or have ever watched a child grow up, you might have commended that little child for any little effort he or she makes. Cheer him/her up with joy, especially the day the child takes his/her first step. When the child falls and comes crying to you, with compassion you comfort him/her. We are not alone in this journey of life. We have a father in heaven, the one true God, who cares so deeply for us. He is there, cheering us on, when we fall he feels our pain and he is always there to lift us up. Never think that God does not know you, He knows you by name. He created you, He cares about how you feel. He knows your struggles, your darkest times, your desires, your sadness, and your lonely times. Sometimes, we forget to tell Him how we feel. Yes, He knows all things; we tell man our problems without telling God who can really do something about our circumstance.

We extend the courtesy to man by telling them all the things we are going through. Most of the time, the people we share our problems with, might not even know how to empathize with us, let alone solve the problem. Now I am not inferring that we should not let people know when we go through tough times. I am saying when we go to God first, He supernaturally helps us by letting us know how to go about it. He then directs us to the right people who will proffer solutions. Maybe you are feeling like life is not fair, why can’t God just make all the problems go away? Why must we have to go through pains and trouble in life. Well, even God’s own Son had to come to this world, and He himself had an assignment to fulfill. He never once complained because He knew it was God’s will for Him to die for the sins of the world. He stayed focused on God’s given purpose for His life. God being Sovereign could have cleansed the world of its’ sins, but He did not do that, instead He sent ‘His Son’ to die for you and me, so whoever believes in Him will not perish.

The situation you are going through is by design. God can use the same situation to bring you to His big plan for your life, since God can use anything and anyone. He uses our headache and pain in life to bring comfort to others when we share how God brought us out. God loves you and you are very special to Him, do not let anyone tell you otherwise. Identify God’s unique purpose for your life and cry to God with your whole heart, to give insight to His will and purpose for your life. No matter what you go through, endure it in the Lord knowing that the end holds God’s rewarding promises for you. Holy Spirit, the very Spirit of God will be with you counseling you and reveling God’s love to you. Let us move forward in the Lord Jesus, remembering our Lord Jesus did not let anything or anyone distract Him. We must not let anyone distract us as we run this race. Being hopeful to finish well and strong in Jesus name. The scriptures say, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me. (John14:6).

You see why it is vital that we look on to Jesus, because He is the only way to God in heaven. Worship God in truth and in spirit, get lost in His presence and don’t worry yourself about the cares of this world. Give Him your all. Just imagine how saying kind words to someone will make them feel. If human beings would show kindness for saying kind words to them, how much more will God do for us when we focus only on Him when we worship Him. God is all knowing and powerful. He knows what we are thinking at every given moment and nothing is hidden from Him. We are to be mindful of this when we worship Him. We get His attention when we worship Him whole heartedly in truth and in spirit, even as the scripture says, God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24).

We should be grateful, giving thanks to God for everything. The word of God should not depart from us, His messages and instructions to us are in the Bible. We are to pray to obtain the unsearchable riches of Christ and locate the promises of God in the Bible. We are to know the condition attached to the Scriptures and fulfill them, and claim the promise for ourselves. It is imperative that our faith is in God believing His faithful promises found in the word of the living God. When we strongly meditate on the word of God with conviction in our heart, we eventually become convinced of it. The unsearchable riches of Christ only come through God’s revelation.

And to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 3:9).

God’s glory is to be revealed by His Church through the unsearchable riches in Christ Jesus. Trials and tribulations move us to the unsearchable riches of our Lord Jesus Christ. Praying always and seeking the Lord’s help.

To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the Church to the principalities and powers in the Heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Ephesians 3:10-11).

That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man. (Ephesians 3:16)

Let us come to God just the way we are, with our mess, brokenness, nothingness, failures, shame, and lay them down before God. He is the Master Potter; He will surely restore that which we have lost. Do not forget that it is only God that can make any and all things happen. When we dedicate ourselves to God, serving Him whole heartedly, we have His peace in whatever we find ourselves doing.

The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. (Psalm 34:10).

We are to seek God’s kingdom first above all things, everything is subject to change, except God. "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these