With these hands - holding on to God in the storms of life, by Leanne Mallett

Mallett's account of firmness of faith while struggling with cancer will encourage Christians and make others think about Christ

With these hands - Holding on to God in the storms of life
By Leanne Mallett
Authentic
ISBN 978-1-78893-274-5
Reviewed by Martin M’Caw

Whatever the strength of our faith during crises of life, be they our health or other persistent problems, we may find ourselves asking whether God is leading us up a blind alley or to a very high cliff edge. Leanne Mallett, a busy, healthy woman, with strong faith, and the wife of a Pentecostal pastor, was kidnapped by breast cancer. This book is her account of how she bravely worked through the cancer, paralleled with her reactions to the ongoing testing of her faith from January to December in 2021.

Each chapter finishes with two sub-sections. ‘In His hands’ relates to what she learned about God in that phase of her experience. In ‘Take a moment’ she asks the reader to reflect on how their life relates to her experience of God’s guiding hand, and that those who have no relationship with Jesus will discover something about a loving heavenly Father who is looking for them to grasp his loving hand.

The ups and downs of chemo were bad enough, but her treatment ended with a double mastectomy and the removal of her ovaries and tubes, and opting not to have reconstructive surgery. The ongoing surgical progress was one thing but knowing she was in the hands of Jesus was what made the whole agonising process bearable. In ‘Take a Moment’ she writes ‘whatever you are going through now, remember God is there with you.’

The final chapter ‘Moving On’, Leanne sets her priorities from all the lessons she has learned in her battles with cancer in the hope that readers and friends will be encouraged to place their hands in the hand of God who will be present to comfort, support and guide.

This is a book to go and get. If you are a Christian, Leanne Mallett’s experience will encourage you. If you are not a Christian and think following Christ is a waste of time, Leanne’s firmness of faith while struggling with cancer will invite you to think again: it will make you consider putting your hand in the hand of Christ to find a whole new vista of life through the love redeeming love of God.

The Revd Dr Martin M’Caw (Retired Baptist minister and Wing Chaplain No2 Welsh Wing RAF Cadets, also retired)

Baptist Times, 14/07/2023

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