My testimony - Vince Wilkie

In the latest in our series of testimonies from Redeemer Church London members, VINCE WILKIE reveals how an extraordinary moment at his wedding saw the Lord reveal Himself when he least expected it.

I’ve been a born-again Christian for 11 years. One of my favourite songs is called ‘The Lord is Real’. The chorus is very pertinent to my testimony: ‘I know the Lord is real, this is how I feel, in time He will reveal.’

My testimony is about the time when the Lord truly revealed how real He was.

Time for me is going back to September 28, 2012. I'm sitting in a memory clinic at Central Middlesex Hospital with my mum and dad.

The doctor is telling us something we suspected for at least years, that mum had dementia, but we were also being told that she was showing early stages of Alzheimer’s.

As you can imagine for the family that was a very emotional blow, but as a family we would pull together and support our mum in her time of need as she had always done for us as her children and her husband. In holy matrimony we quote the lines in sickness and in health.

My mother and father were certainly true examples of that, and it was amid this time that I also sought to quote those lines as approximately two months after my mum’s diagnosis, I proposed to my then girlfriend and now wife.

In planning for our wedding one of the dreams I kept having and was so looking forward to, was my mum and dad being able to see me get married in a church and be there sitting alongside me at the head table as my wife and I would celebrate our union in front of our loved ones.

We know that mum’s condition would bring us challenges and we were ready to accept them, but even those challenges surpassed what we could ever have imagined.

Over the course of the next 11 months as we were planning for our wedding, unforeseen challenges with mum’s condition were coming to light as her physical mobility as well as mental capacity was decreasing.

Getting mum to physically attend routine health appointments became an impossible task, resulting in us having to arrange house appointments for her.

She had not left the house since that fateful day in September.

I came to the logical conclusion that mum was not going to be able to attend the wedding. The physical challenge and emotional trauma she was experiencing was too much for her to bear and the family to see.

This was a feeling of deep regret for me, I really wanted my mum to be there at the church. However I had to press on with the planning and preparation of the wedding.

The date was now Saturday October 5, 2013. It’s a mild dry autumn afternoon, it’s our wedding day. I am sitting alongside my brother who was also my best man, I’m looking around the beautiful church and constantly in my eye is the Christ on the cross in the altar.

As I gazed on the cross, my brother said to me: ‘Vincent, I need to tell you something. Don’t turn around yet, but mum is here, she’s made it.’

Tears of joy filled my eyes and I turned around and saw my mum with my dad walking hand in hand down the aisle.

I went to my parents, hugged them and made my way back to the altar, again I looked at Jesus on the cross.

The Lord had revealed to me when I least expected it, but when I most needed it, that He was real, and He had revealed this to me in time in his house. A whole 370 days later. My faith had now been sealed.

My logic was not God's logic. He works outside logic, He knew my heart’s desire and fulfilled my wish.  Trust in the Lord and He will reveal Himself to you and at the time you need it most.

Jesus had done the same thing to Peter on the banks of Lake Galilee when Peter - jaded and demotivated - had sought to find fish all night. Jesus spoke to him, revealed Himself and suddenly Peter was provided with a bountiful supply of fish and became one of his apostles.

‘I know the Lord is real, this is how I feel, in time He will reveal.’

A BRAND NEW SEASON

God gives us seasons for a reason

I don't like the winter months, if I could live anywhere in the world then it would be LA where it hits more or less 25 degrees everyday. 

As I sit here and look outside my window, old leaves fall to the ground and collect. The tree withers and becomes barren. As much as I love for summer to stay, Autumn is heading and I can't do anything about that...

A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything and a season

for every activity under the heavens.

A time to be born and a time to die.

A time to plant and a time to uproot.

A time to kill and a time to heal.

A time to weep and a time to laugh.

A time to mourn and a time to dance

(Ecclesiastes 3:1-4) 

As the tree sheds its leaves, often a shedding takes place in our lives that causes us pain. In my case, I made a difficult decision to leave a situation in my life that was not helping me. This has led to loss and a mourning of what use to be and has resulted in unrest and uncertainty. I've experienced cold and dark nights where I've been forced to become dependent on God through prayer, not knowing when difficulties will end and what the outcome will be.

Growth through pain

Naturally I don't always want to embrace the pain that is often associated with growth but through the storms, all I can do is hold on and be still and know that he is God (Psalm 40:10). 

Throughout it all God points me to his mercies by reminding me that "His grace is sufficient and his power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Perhaps God allows us to experience arid seasons for that reason - so we draw close to him. He swoops us up in his arms and tells us "to fear not for I AM with you"(Isaiah 41:10). See this is not some trite platitude from God because he really was with us and he really  did live like one of us. God gave up his rights in heaven and came down as flesh and experienced every human emotion we experience so that "we don't have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses" (Hebrews 4:15) but one who suffered in every possible way. Our true companion is Jesus who wants to walk with us in season and out of season.

Surviving the storm

Weathering the storm is not easy, it doesn't just happen but it takes intentionality. In the same way that squirrels gather acorns so they have enough food for winter. On better days, I make faithful deposits by investing in my relationship with God and filling myself with his meaty truths and promises so when the inevitable strikes, I can withdraw from a full bank having roots anchored in HIM. 

Ultimately, my pain without God is pointless but my pain with God is not, and is not without effect for "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him and have been called according to his purposes"(Romans 8:28)

I understand that this can only be fully understood backwards but this is where faith steps in. My faith gives me hope that by setting my mind on the Spring around the corner, I can endure - looking ahead to the harvest that's to come.

But made to thrive

You see, we were made not only to survive but to thrive and by coming to the true fountain of living water, this produces in us a long term effect. We replenish, we soak up fresh nutrients and in the doing so God produces flourishing fruit within us.

In many cases to yield good fruit, we need to do more than just shedding, a gruelling uprooting needs to take place in our lives and a replanting into fertile and healthy soil. 

This may mean fleeing the temptations that causes us to sin or escaping the weeds that compete for our joy.  Do you know if a shedding or more of an uprooting needs to take place in your life?

Start by giving up former ways of thinking and "be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2)

Letting go and trusting God

Autumn 2017 is almost here and dark nights are drawing in. Butfinally I see a ray of sunlight breaking through the clouds in my life that assures me that my patience in him was worth it. I'm trusting in the wise words of King Solomon - after weeping there will be a time to laugh, after mourning there will be a time to dance.

Letting go is not easy but journey with God and embrace this new season in your life. "Forget the former things, do not dwell in the past for I AM doing a new thing" (Isaiah 43:18)

By Ann Ajet

Starting Oct 3, Anne is helping lead the Alpha course, which includes a weekly meal and chance to explore life and the christian faith. Get in touch for more info.