There is a song that says, “All my life you have been faithful, all my life you have been so, so good, with every breath that I am able I will sing of the goodness of God”.
Yahweh has been so good to me it's an understatement. I can do nothing else but sing of his goodness and faithfulness in my life.
My life has been a journey of highs and lows, hills and valleys, victories and defeat, but through it all with Jesus I have been persevering. God brought me over mountains I thought were impossible to climb. I watched him clear paths in my life and opened opportunities I least expected, opportunities I thought I was not qualified for.
I watched God carry me through fire; he carried me through situations I thought would overwhelm and consume me. When fear and doubt tried to shatter me, God reminded me of all his promises.
Yahweh has been faithful and every season of my life, I prove him to be true.
The beginning of a new season
In my first article “Unshakable Faith”, I shared how my journey of Medical school started. It was one of the biggest decisions I made. I chose to leave a job I just started and set off to pursue my dream of becoming a physician. I had no idea how I was going to finance the remaining 20% of my fees each year for the entire program, where I was going to live, or how I would take care of my daily expenses and needs.
When I started in 2019, there were so many people who were happy for me and encouraged me. Then, there were a few negative and discouraging comments from people, some of whom I had looked up to for moral support in past years. I remember one person asking me, “Are you really sure you could manage medical school?”
I was also told that I could not study medicine because I did not have the support. I was told that I “have a first degree to fall back on, in case I changed my mind”, along with many additional discouraging and negative comments.
The negative comments led me to contemplate on whether I was “strong enough” to fight against the odds and pursue my heart’s desire. I was questioning the opportunity; I was questioning God.
I remember the Friday night I cried out to God, I prayed to him for answers. That night I wrote in my diary; “God show me a sign tomorrow, if this is where you want me, just show me a sign”. And he did. When I went to church the following day, God gave me my answer. He assured me through one of my Pastor that I am on the right path, and he would take care of me, the journey would be hard, but God would never leave me.
I was motivated and ready to conquer.
The Journey
I watched God as he brought me through my 1st year of medical school, he provided a home for me, he took care of every need I had including providing the 20% I had to pay for that year. What a mighty and faithful God!
We all know that life is not smooth sailing, we will all be faced with trials of some kind, the key is to persevere.
James chapter 1 verses 2-4 says “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything”.
Consider it pure joy when I am tested? How can I? Well, I have learnt to do so.
First year had its challenges of all kinds, when I gained the victory, I was so happy and joyful. Little did I know that the season to come was filled with problems of all kinds.
The Tests:
When I started the academic year 2020-2021, I remember I prayed to God and told him I was ready for this season and whatever came my way.
Around November of 2020, I started to experience tinnitus in both ears, this continued for months. I visited the doctor and also realized my inferior turbinates were massively swollen and we did not know what was causing it. Everything was just happening so fast.
The real problem started in January of 2021 during my second semester. My ears were ringing so badly I had difficulty concentrating, it was just noisy in my head. I was at a point where it was too much to bear, there were nights I cried myself to sleep, questioning God, why me? This was just too much for me, not to mention I had to be studying.
During all this, I never stopped praying for my healing, I had friends and family praying with me as well.
I went back to the doctor and she referred me to an ENT specialist. I was examined, and still, they could not find the source of the tinnitus. I traveled back and forth to the doctor during the semester, I was exhausted because we could not find what was causing my symptoms. Prescriptions upon prescriptions nothing was working.
I was referred to the Caribbean hearing centre where I did a complete hearing test. And Glory to God, everything came back normal, nothing was wrong with my ears, they were fully functional.
At this point I realized, there was nothing I could do, but pray and rely on God. I cried out to God and he heard my cry. He told me that even though there is chaos around me, he is my peace. Even though things were not going as I wanted it to, I was reminded to press on.
God did not take away the tinnitus (I am still living with it), but I felt a sense of peace like never before. My ears were ringing but it did not stop me from doing what I had to do, sometimes I do not even remember about it.
I know there is a purpose for all I go through, I still cannot see the purpose of the tinnitus but I am trusting God.
I trust God completely with my life and my circumstances, he knows what is best for me, he will work everything out for my good.
The victory
Despite all the challenges I faced, my victory was secure. God brought me successfully through the semester, with my mind intact, I stood strong after my health was attacked for so many months, I now have peace that no one can take away. All glory and praise to Yahweh-Elohim.
New Beginnings
In a week and a few days, I will begin my 3rd year of medical school. I am still in awe of God and his favour over my life. I know it will not be easy, I know challenges will come, But I am ready to conquer with God. Matthew chapter 19 verse 26 “With God, ALL things are possible.”
Be encouraged, don’t give up, persevere because there is a purpose for all you go through in this life.
I am Victoria Richards, a fourth-year medical student at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica. Serving the Lord brings me joy. I enjoy sharing the gospel through singing, writing poetry and encouraging others.
