‘In the darkest part of my life, in the middle of the mess and suffering, Jesus was there, holding my hand and giving me the strength I needed to simply stand in the storm.’
One in two of us in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in our lives – and all of us who are not will be close to someone who is. So when the diagnosis comes, when the storm strikes, where will we go to find strength and comfort?
In 2016, speaker and worship leader Matt McChlery and his wife faced just this question. Shortly after the loss of an unborn child, they discovered he had life-threatening cancer – Stage Four non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Confronted by such darkness and a brutal treatment programme, Matt found himself wrestling with faith and the God he thought he knew.
Grounded, honest and vulnerable, Standing in the Storm shares their deeply personal story, and the practical, emotional and spiritual challenges his cancer presented. Based in part on the blog Matt wrote at the time – which attained a ‘Finalist’ position in the Premier Digital Awards in the ‘Most Inspiring Leadership Blog’ category – it tells how Jesus was the rock that held fast throughout, and how, on the other side of the storm, Christ’s hope shone more brightly than ever. As Matt comments, ‘In the darkest part of my life, in the middle of the mess and suffering, Jesus was there, holding my hand and giving me the strength I needed to simply stand in the storm.’
Those dealing with cancer and similar trials will know how much we can long for divine intervention. But as Dr Hugh Osgood, an experienced pastor and president of Churches in Communities International, says of Matt’s book, ‘Although everyone would love to tell a story of miraculous healing, I know that stories of discovering God’s grace while pressing on can be just as inspiring. This is a great story that fits right into this category.’
Matt comments, ‘I decided to write this book because when I was first diagnosed I really wanted to read something by someone who had faith in Jesus yet was also facing cancer. I searched and searched, but could not find anything – so I decided to write the book I was looking for myself. Faith can deepen and grow in difficult circumstances, so I also wanted to share the hope and comfort Jesus gave to me in that difficult period to help others.’
Whatever challenges you may be facing, Standing in the Storm will help you to find the comfort, hope and inspiration you need to keep going.
‘A wonderful reminder of God’s peace and presence during the challenging times. So helpfully written, filled with heartache and buckets of hope.’
Rev Cris Rogers, chair of the Spring Harvest Planning Group
Standing in the Storm by Matt McChlery (ISBN: 9781912726530) is published by Instant Apostle and is available on 20th May 2022 from bookshops and online retailers. Christian Life and Practice, paperback, 192pp, £9.99.