Healing - Eternal Life Assembly

Another Chance to Live for Him – A journey of trust and surrender

Philip Sng — Sat, 30 May 2026 04:08:43 +0000

“You have cancer.”

Those were the only words that registered when the doctor called me in January 2026 with the final biopsy results. A large, bleeding polyp had been discovered during a colonoscopy—and it was cancerous. Just weeks earlier, on the last Sunday of 2025, I had experienced severe abdominal pain accompanied by a significant amount of blood in my stool. Two doctors initially diagnosed it as a colon infection, which subsided after a course of antibiotics and a pain injection. I thought the episode had passed. I did not expect it was only the beginning.

The news left me shell-shocked. My doctor explained that I would need surgery to remove about 20cm of my colon, or else the cancer could spread beyond control in 3 years as it would hit the lymph nodes and liver. For now, the cancer had already reached the deeper layers of the colon tissue. He reassured me that the cancer was in its early stage, and that the prognosis was good.

Yet, despite the hopeful outlook, the word ‘cancer’ felt like a death sentence and the three years, a timeline.

I struggled with the sudden news and tried to make sense of it all.

Cancer? Where did that come from? Why me? What happens next? Questions flooded my mind.

Would I face long-term treatment like my late father did with kidney failure? Would I even survive the surgery, or have the same outcome as my mother, who passed on the operating table during an angiogram? I was confronted with a future I was not ready for. What made it even harder to grasp was that I had already been dealing with autoimmune conditions—vitiligo (a chronic skin disease in which cells that make pigment are attacked and destroyed, causing the skin to turn a milk-white color) and a dysfunctional thyroid. Since August last year I had been seeking medical treatment to manage and prevent further complications. And now cancer? Why another health battle?

I was not afraid of dying.

Really. I was anxious about what life would look like after the operation if I should survive the surgery. Honestly, I was a little disappointed at this setback. There was so much I was looking forward to in this new season. I had just completed my doctorate. I had just stepped into a new leadership role in the church. I was teaching at Bible Institutions. There was momentum, vision, excitement and suddenly, everything felt interrupted and put on hold. I just couldn’t process it.

I began making calls to close friends and colleagues, informing them of the diagnosis. I am deeply grateful for my brother, family, godfamily, mentors, ministry partners, colleagues, and church friends. Though they were equally taken aback by the news, they rose up in faith — praying and walking with me in the weeks leading up to surgery.

Community became a tangible expression of God’s assurance that I am never alone in my struggle.

I was scheduled to travel to Baguio, Philippines before my surgery, to speak at an international women’s conference. With my mentor’s prompting and reminder, I decided I would focus. I chose to do so through worship, prayer and the Word. I curated a Spotify playlist titled ‘Songs of Comfort’. It played constantly — throughout the day and even during my hospital stay. I held on to God’s word daily, especially Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.” As I fixed my thoughts on Him daily, His peace guarded my heart. I prayed in the Spirit as often as I could because I just had no words to describe my pain, disappointment and confusion. Praying in the spirit strengthened me spiritually and it also prepared me for the days ahead. As my body was wasting away, God was giving me life through his Word.

During the final session of the women’s conference in Baguio, in a time of worship, I was overwhelmed by the presence of God. I found myself on my knees, face to the ground, weeping. In that sacred moment, the Lord quietened my fears and spoke gently to my heart:

This is a reset. A new season. You can trust Me.

The encounter was deeply personal—reminiscent of when I first received my calling. But this time, it was not a calling; it was a recommissioning and I had to come to a place of surrender. I had to surrender my confusion and the need for all answers. Surrender my plans, my future, my will and my entire life to Him. God was beginning to expand my faith, my perspective, and my vision. I still wrestled with my “whys”, “how comes” and “what ifs”. Surrendering was a daily exercise.

There were many moments of tears. But each time in my struggle, I sensed the Lord gently reminding me: Trust Me. Trust my plan.

I told the Lord that I would walk through this fiery trial, as long as I was assured of His presence. And He reminded me that my life was not my own. You see, when I was two years old, I had been miraculously revived from an epileptic episode that almost took my life away. My parents had prayed me back to life. For 50 years, God had held me in His hands. He would not fail me now.

I told God, “If I live, I will continue to live for You, for You are my strength and my victory each day. Because You live, I can face tomorrow, whatever the outcome. And if the surgery does not go well and I die, it is truly gain. I will be with you.”

In fact, in a conversation with Sister Diana, Pastor Gary’s wife, I told her that this was my stance – “for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Two days before the surgery, I attended my last onsite service. I remembered singing the song ‘Firm Foundation’ loudly.

I was declaring truth: My house is built on You. Christ is my firm foundation.

The announcement of my surgery was made to the church after the service. The congregation prayed earnestly. I felt an overwhelming sense of love, support, and, above all, the peace of God.

God has always been faithful to see me through every fiery furnace and deep waters. In this season, I sensed that the Lord was inviting me to live out the very message I have been preaching to the church for the year:

To trust the Master’s plan, to yield to the Potter’s hand and to allow Him to empower me for expansion even through this trial.

On 24 February 2026, I went into surgery with a deep sense of peace that Jesus was with me. When I woke up from surgery, there was a deep rejoicing in my spirit although I was in pain.

I was alive! There was no infection, no stay in the high-dependency ward, no blood transfusion, and no complications. The surgery was described as “uneventful”—the best possible outcome.

I had a good surgeon—and an even greater God who presided over it all. The first words I uttered to those waiting for me in the ward were: “I am alive!” I was so grateful for another chance to live for God!

During the eight days in hospital, I witnessed God’s healing hand at work – swift, steady and sure. Each day brought good progress and much encouragement. I cleared one milestone after milestone swiftly, much to the medical team’s delight and surprise. I received exceptional care from doctors and nurses, and was surrounded by the love of family and friends. Visits, prayers, and messages strengthened me. I rested well and soon had all four tubes removed from my body. After discharge, I continued my recovery at home.

I learnt to rest and be patient with my recovery. I chose to focus on thanksgiving and praise. I curated another Spotify song playlist and played it daily, giving thanks to God and strengthening my spirit because I knew if I didn’t, I would be consumed by what I couldn’t do, couldn’t eat and where I couldn’t go. It was a season of deep restoration—physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. I thank God for people who sent groceries, lunches and made healthy meals for me.

On 11 March 2026, the full pathology report was released. My surgeon called with the news:

All was well – I could now be considered cancer-free. No chemotherapy. No further treatment.

This is nothing short of the grace of God. My heart overflowed with gratitude. I stood in awe of God’s mercy and kindness. He is my Healer, Deliverer, Redeemer, and Restorer. I have been given another opportunity—to live for Him, to love deeply, and to embrace the relationships and calling He has entrusted to me.

I trust Him still to bring healing to every other area of my body.

I have learned that surrender is not a one-time moment, but a daily choosing – of laying down my plans, my questions, my need to understand. And a daily renewing of my trust in my Lord.

Today, I stand on the other side of what once felt impossible. Cancer is no longer my diagnosis. Christ is my everything and my all. I carry in my body the marks of surgery which are evidence of God’s mercy and grace. What could have taken me out became the very place where I encountered God more deeply than ever before. He did not just bring me through — He met me there, walked with me and worked in me there.

I was finally able to return to church for Good Friday service. My heart was filled with joy as I stood among my church family once again in worship. In that sacred moment, I was deeply reminded that because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, I am not only a cancer overcomer I am more than a conqueror.

My life is not my own. It never was. And now, more than ever, I live remembering that every breath is a gift, every day is grace, and every step forward is an opportunity to live fully for Him.

For me to live is indeed Christ and to die is gain – ultimate, full restoration and everlasting life with Jesus. But it is not the end until He says it is the end. I look forward with faith to the good things He has prepared for me in the days to come.

The post Another Chance to Live for Him – A journey of trust and surrender first appeared on Eternal Life Assembly.

When Faith Was Blurry – a 2,800 degree prayer

Philip Sng — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 03:55:00 +0000

The Early Years

At three years old, Naomi’s parents took her for an eye check-up and discovered that she was severely myopic as a toddler, with 1,500 degrees of short-sightedness in each eye!

Her parents then realised why she often avoided bright, moving images, and she would always walk away from these light sources. She also showed no interest in watching television.

From that time on, after the eye check-up, Naomi wore thick, heavy glasses that became a defining part of her early life.

Naomi’s childhood was different from other children’s. She dreaded the yearly eye check-ups, with the painful eye drops and intimidating bright lights.

At ten, when her classmates enjoyed swimming lessons, she could not join them because she was too young to wear contact lenses at the time.

During physical education lessons in school, she would avoid ball games and often ran far away from any ball, constantly fearing that the ball would shatter her thick glasses.

Academically, Naomi’s parents lowered their expectations, hoping she could pass every subject without further straining her eyes, including passing over the opportunity to study Higher Chinese.

At twelve years old, Naomi’s eye retina had become overly stretched, and she underwent freeze-treatment surgery to prevent tear and detachment, spending a month after her Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) to recover from surgery.

Around that time, she learned about lens implant, a reversible procedure that could drastically improve vision. However, the high cost of the implant, at S$20,000, was far beyond her family’s means, and the idea was shelved indefinitely.

In Naomi’s growing-up years, she accepted that possessing blurred, imperfect vision was her reality.

She thanked God daily that she could still see and function, despite this eyesight limitation.

A Prayer

During a routine eye check-up in October 2022, Naomi’s doctor gave her the sobering news that her retina is weakening and she may lose her vision over time.

That day, Naomi was gripped with fear after receiving this sad piece of news. She chose to persevere in her faith in God and shared the doctor’s diagnosis with a few close friends. One of them, Si Qin, sent her this message:

“Just leave it to God. Pray for Him to restore and renew your retina, that He will give you a new pair of eyes when you wake up.”

Naomi thankfully responded with “Amen,” but silently wondered in her heart, “Is that even possible?”

The Decline

In the early part of 2024, Naomi’s vision began to worsen rapidly. She did not tell anyone. The prospect of losing her sight began to change everything for her.

Having experienced miraculous healings from God in the past, she believed God would heal her eyes. She prayed fervently, in her room, at the church altar, asking God to restore her sight so she could continue serving effectively in church ministry.

Instead of improving, her vision continued to deteriorate.

In June 2025, Naomi travelled alone to the United States for the first time. She could barely read the information signs at customs check counters and prayed her way through the process, leaning on God’s grace.

Two months later, she travelled to China on another work trip. Again, she could not see the information on customs check counters, but God provided a staff escort who accompanied her from the airport to the hotel.

During a meeting with a client in a brightly lit room, she was almost blinded by her eye floaters and blurred vision. Naomi was overwhelmed, physically and emotionally.

By September 2025, her eyes could no longer function normally. With much apprehension, she went to see her optometrist. After a lengthy thirty-minute check, she looked at Naomi tearfully and said,

“Your eye myopia is now 2,800 degrees. I can’t help you anymore. You need to consult your doctor immediately.”

Naomi broke down and cried.

Her optometrist said to her, “We will pray. Let’s believe in God’s miracle.”

Naomi’s doctor appointment was six days away. It was the longest six days of her life.

The fear of losing her vision completely terrified her, and every night, she was kept awake. She prayed fervently and sought out her close friends and churchmates to pray for her.

She prepared herself mentally and emotionally for the eventual outcome of the doctor’s visit.

The Turnaround

With bad news from her optometrist, Naomi was uncertain about what to expect from the doctor’s visit.

On the day of her medical appointment, her doctor said, “Miss Ng, you have mature eye cataracts and will require surgery as soon as possible to implant new lenses.”

Naomi was stunned. “Cataracts at thirty-eight years old?”

The doctor continued, “After surgery, you will be able to see clearly again—without glasses or contact lenses.”

She was unsure if she had heard the doctor correctly. “Did he say that she wasn’t going blind but she would be able to see clearly again?”

Naomi left the clinic overwhelmed with gratitude and joy. God has heard and answered her prayers, not in her timing, but in His.

God’s delay is not his denial. While she thought He was silent, He was preparing a healing experience beyond what she could fathom, not just to restore her eyesight, but to provide for the costs of the procedure completely.

What was considered out of reach when she was a child, is now covered under Medisave and company insurance.

When Naomi shared the good news with her close friend Si Qin, she reminded her of what she told her in 2022: “God will give you a new pair of eyes.”

Indeed, He did.

The Second Miracle

As part of pre-surgery checks, Naomi needed to undergo a retina scan, which revealed two blood clots. Due to early detection, these clots were treated in time. Indeed, God is all-knowing, abounding in His mercy and grace towards her.

Due to Naomi’s extremely high eye myopia and irregular retinal shape, her cataract surgery carried a higher risk.

Her doctor assured her, “Trust in His sovereignty. We live by faith, not by sight. Worrying is not of God—it’s a sin. Let’s pray.” These God-moments continually assured her of God’s abiding presence.

Naomi’s surgery was a success.

A New Vision

Today, every morning when Naomi opens her eyes, she can see her world vividly – sharper colours, clearer details. She no longer needed to depend on spectacle glasses or contact lenses. It is an experience that she has never savoured before.

To her, life has become cheerful and bright. Although she still needs to use reading glasses and can see floaters in her vision, she is deeply grateful to God for healing her blurred vision and giving her a new set of eyes to see His creation in all its beauty.

Naomi can now truly say: “I once was blind, but now I see.”

God has given her not just physical sight, but a new vision and zest for life.

Reflections:

What is an impossible 2,800 degree fear that stands before you today?

Impossibility vs Provision: : “God’s delay is not His denial” What does this mean for you today?
Faith in doubt: Faith isn’t the absence of doubt, but trusting God right in the middle of it.
A New Vision for Life: Do you need new eyes to see today what God sees for your life today? Ask Him to show you.

The post When Faith Was Blurry – a 2,800 degree prayer first appeared on Eternal Life Assembly.

When God restored to us our wedding rings – and our marriage

Zanna Ker — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 03:58:00 +0000

TRIGGER WARNING: This story mentions suicide ideation that some may find distressing. Reader discretion is advised. If you have thoughts of suicide or self-harm, do reach out for help.

It’s hard to fathom how close I was to attempting suicide. Not just my own life, but I even considered ending my children’s lives before I took mine.

“Till death do us part” was how I wanted to end the marriage, to end the pain, and to end it all.

My husband Eric and I got married very young in the Philippines. Although we faced many struggles as young parents, we managed to overcome them through working hard.

We moved to Singapore for better prospects, but we never expected our marriage to face its toughest test. Debts piled up from the high costs of living, and our relationship began to strain.

I worked multiple night shifts to provide for our family, leaving little time at home. In my absence, Eric had an affair.

The betrayal shattered me. Rage was my first instinct. How was this justifiable? Even if I was busy at work, it was for the family.

In anger, I filed for annulment in the Philippines. Thoughts of “life is no longer worth living” kept resounding in my head. I even thought of taking my children’s lives!

How could I let them live with a man who has betrayed us! Deep down, I knew these thoughts were wrong, but my heart was so wrung.

Broken and betrayed, I poured out my pain on social media. That was when Pastor Bob and Pastor Alvin reached out to me.

Before this crisis, Eric and I had a shallow faith. We were contented Sunday Christians. But when our marriage crumbled, God sent pastors to walk with us.

They were spiritual fathers who relentlessly guided us toward healing and a deeper walk with God.

They arranged for us to go through marriage counselling. Pastor Bob taught Eric to court me again, while Pastor Alvin consistently prayed for me and encouraged me to forgive.

The restoration of our marriage seemed foolish. Suicidal thoughts persisted.

Many nights, I wrestled in agony, crying out to God to forgive me of my dark thoughts.

Yet every morning, my phone revealed the countless missed calls from Pastor Bob, who never gave up on us.

I clung to my grief, refusing to forgive him. Why should I? Bitterness festered like poison, and my anger led me to believe he was undeserving of even a drop of forgiveness.

I removed my wedding ring and confiscated Eric’s. He had no right to wear it. I had planned to sell them, to erase all memories, but the rings went missing, and my plan failed.

Harbouring that grudge deepened my turmoil.

As a child of God, I knew I should forgive, but living it out felt impossible.

I tried every way to forgive Eric, even chopping cabbages until they were mashed to release my anger.

Weary, I asked God for signs to forgive my husband: first, that our wedding rings would be found; and second, that Eric would have a renewed relationship with the Lord.

The second sign came quickly. Eric became more serious about his faith. He grew in the fear of the Lord, and this assured me that he would not repeat his mistake.

The first sign unfolded like a miracle. During a service, the speaker gave an altar call for families, and I felt nudged to step forward with Eric, but the rings were still missing!

Tearing, I reached into my bag for a tissue. My fingers brushed something hard and cold. The missing wedding rings! Tucked inside the very packet of tissue I had carried daily, unseen and unfound, until this exact moment.

I was speechless.

God had timed this perfectly. Gazing at the rings on my palm, I whispered, “Lord, I surrender.”

As we walked to the front, I silently told God that if Ps Bob prayed for us, I would give him the rings. When he approached near the end of the altar call, I surrendered them and said,

“Pastor Bob, today is the day I forgive my husband. Will you pray for us and bless our marriage again?”

Tears streamed as Pastor Bob prayed, recommitting our marriage into God’s hands. At the altar, we exchanged our wedding rings once again.

It had taken us four long years. I realised that while Eric bore responsibility for his choices, I had unintentionally contributed to the distance in our marriage. The enemy simply seized the opportunity to steal, kill, and destroy.

Today, there is no unforgiveness in my heart toward Eric or the third party. When she faced a crisis, I was the first to help her, pray for her, and even hug her, without resentment.

Beyond the emotional restoration, God restored us financially and spiritually. He placed different people in our lives to teach us how to overcome our debts and manage our finances properly. As Joel 2:25 says “I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten”.

In addition to this threefold restoration, God gave us a calling. Eric and I pursued our Bachelor of Theology and now serve as ministers in the Filipino Ministry, enjoying a vibrant relationship with Jesus and the privilege to serve Him!

God has blessed our children with stable jobs and bright futures. What the enemy meant for destruction, God turned for good (see Genesis 50:20), displaying His power and unfailing love.

Today, I am a testimony of God’s ability to heal all wounds. He restored my heart, our family, and gave us a future overflowing with hope!

Everyone makes mistakes in life, but who am I to withhold forgiveness if God has already forgiven us all.

If you are struggling to forgive someone, would you allow Jesus to heal you today?

The post When God restored to us our wedding rings – and our marriage first appeared on Eternal Life Assembly.