16 April 2013 by Natasha Kim CM-
Shery Lim was at the peak of her thirty-year career in advertising when the foundation of her life was greatly shaken. She was diagnosed with fourth stage terminal cancer in February 2006 after a twelve year remission. The pain and suffering was too much to bear, not only was she in pain, she was dying inside physically and spiritually. She was literally brought down to her knees. This time she could not rely on her own strength anymore, this time she had to lean on God and rely on Him to save her soul.
At a young age Shery accepted Christ. She attended Church but did not have a close relationship with God. In 1993 however, both her and her husband Geoffrey felt the sudden urge to reaffirm their faith with Christ. “Little did I know that God was preparing me, even then to lean on Him as my rock and Saviour” she shared.
A Jolt of Fear
The following year, she was diagnosed with third stage breast cancer that had spread to the lymph nodes. Knowledge about that fact saddened her as she realised that she would have to forego life undergoing treatment. The added fact that the effectiveness of treatment was uncertain disappointed her.
She had to get a right mastectomy and go through 6 months of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Surrounded by darkness, she couldn’t see the light in the situation at all. During that time, her son was only ten years old which didn’t make the situation easier. She loved him dearly and the last thing she wanted was for him to grow up having to live life without a mother. Due to desperation, she read the Bible from beginning to end. “Never before had I read it in such hunger and desperation” she said. As her spirit strengthened through the Word of God she received healing.
After the happy news, she managed to resume her normal active life. She went back to work and put her advertising career first, above God. Soon the horrifying incident became just a memory in Shery’s mind as she drifted away and started relying on her own strength once more. “I worshipped my career as if it was my God” she said.
Cancer Relapse
In 2006, after twelve years of living life normally, she experienced a relapse! Doctors found that she had a huge tumour about 6x7x4cm in size that was sandwiched between her heart and the left lung. The cancer had spread! And this time surgery was impossible, worse still, this time she had hit the fourth stage (final stage). She remembers crying for three whole hours when they broke the news to her. “I became very fearful, but at the same time there was a voice within my spirit that echoed, “Greater is He who is in me then he who is in the world.” She added that, “Only a miracle could save me.” Once again, she knelt down, prayed and cried out to the Lord, begging Him for mercy. More importantly, she went back to the Word of God.
She wasn’t ready to die moreover she knew her spirit wasn’t ready to meet God. This time she realised that she did not use her talents for His glory and that’s where she went wrong. The following scripture managed to bring a small spark of hope in her, Psalms 107:20, “God sent forth His word and healed them; He rescued them from the grave.” In a way, God was telling Shery that there was still HOPE.
She suffered once more and this time the pain was more excruciating than before. Shery was weak, suffered a loss of appetite, experienced nine mouth ulcers after each cycle of chemotherapy, wasn’t able to stand up to shower and suffered much more than anyone could imagine. “It was like carrying a “stone” across my chest with the “stone” “popping out” she said. Her husband shared that, “After so many years of marriage, I knew her through and through and I knew she was dying inside. She wasn’t the same.” He went through a lot as well but his love for her was strong and he supported her and loved her all the way. Shery’s son stood by her as well.
Despite the pain, every morning at 5 a.m. she would immerse herself with God’s Word. “Whenever I heard His verse for me for the day, I would catch it, quickly type it and paste it on the wall in my bedroom” she said. Soon, her whole bedroom wall was filled with these verses. So whenever her faith wavered she would face the wall and pray the verses back to God. The Bible says whenever we cling on tightly to the faith we profess, He who promised is faithful! (Hebrews 10:23). In the process, she learnt to speak death unto hopelessness and prophesy life to her body.
“It was not an easy fight. The more I proclaimed God’s Word, the harder Satan worked to the extent that I felt him following me to every corner of the house, hovering over me and suppressing me with thoughts of hopelessness and death” Shery said.
Every morning without fail she would also sing. She shared that, “I never knew owning a song and singing out to hear my own voice could be so powerful. The song I proclaimed over myself was: – My chains are gone, I’ve been set free, My God My Saviour has ransomed me, And like a flood his mercies reign, Unending love, Amazing Grace.”
The more she obeyed God, the more He dwelled in her, and the more the Holy Spirit resided in her. “As I moved into this spiritual realm, God revealed to me the four blocks to healing.” She said. The blocks that hinder obedience are namely, unforgiveness, not confessing or repenting, lack of faith, and disobedience. As she sought God with all her heart, His will for her was also revealed during a divinely appointed visit from her Church Pastors from SIBKL, Senior Dr. Pastor Chew and his wife Pastor Lee Choo. God wanted her to write a book while she was ill and she obeyed hence a book entitled “There is Hope” (first edition) was published in 2007. The Bible states that you will find knowledge of God’s will for you as you keep praying (Colossians 1:9-11)
Then God wanted her to start a Cancer Support Group. Again, she did not understand as she was still ill but still she obeyed. Although she questioned her own credibility to minister to others, God replied to her saying, “Did I not tell you my grace is sufficient for you when you are called according to My purpose?”
Psalm 126:6 – He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. So that same year her book was published she managed to form Elpizo Cancer Support Group, she was surprised that people attended. In only two months after forming the group and sharing with others Shery received a miraculous surprise. Her tumour had shrunk in size, 70% less than what it was!
As time went by and she continued performing good works for God she could see that God was paving the road to her recovery. She could see the light in the tunnel once more as God continued to sustain her. Finally in August 2009, the CT Scan showed that Shery was finally cancer-free! She was utterly grateful for Gods healing grace and the loving support of her family, her Church Pastors and many others. This time she gained true happiness and a newfound appreciation of life, gladly professing the works of Gods and his promises to many.
She shared that, “Each time I bathe and brush my teeth now I am reminded of the great suffering I went through and tears fill my eyes now and then. This time it is not tears of sorrow but tears of gratefulness unto the Lord!”
She thanks God that she could dial 333 and cry to God anytime. Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
Those who would like to purchase Shery’s book, “There is Hope” (new edition) can find it in all major including major Christian bookstores. She also has a DVD entitled “Hope through Faith” that comes with Chinese subtitles.
For further information about Elpizo, feel free to e-mail Shery Lim at sherylim01@yahoo.com
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Thank you for this article. It's always inspiring to hear of Shery's faith and trust in God.