Pastor Nathanael Tan shares three lessons he learnt through battling lymphatic cancer.
“I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the Lord, who call you by your name, am the God of Israel.”
— ISAIAH 45:3
Rabbi Moshe Alshich, a Sephardic Torah commentator, suggested that God often hides blessings within hardships, urging us to deepen our faith and dependence on Him. In Jewish thought, times of darkness or difficulty are seen as opportunities for growth and enlightenment.
One interpretation of Isaiah 45:3, regarding “treasures of darkness,” is that spiritual insights and moral refinement emerge from enduring life’s trials with unwavering faith. This resonates deeply with me. Over
twenty-nine years, starting at the age of nineteen, I have faced a series of harrowing battles: one major spinal
surgery, two near-death encounters, three different lymphatic cancers, four titanium rods and eight screws
anchoring my back, fifteen rounds of chemotherapy, and thirty sessions of radiotherapy. My journey includes months of hospital stays, hundreds of medical appointments, and a six figure hospital bill. If dark places were
trophies, I’ve been there, done that, and earned the proverbial T-shirt.
Every funeral wake I attend now reminds me of the fragility of life: “The grass withers, and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the Lord. And so it is with people” (Isaiah 40:7). Yet, by God’s mercies, I am still here, living life fully, albeit with a deeper appreciation of its brevity.
People often call me brave or resilient after hearing my story. Some shed tears; others confess they cannot imagine how I survived. To be honest, neither can I. Most of it is a blur. What I do know is that I stand here today solely by the grace and mercy of God. There were seasons when I didn’t even know how to pray anymore, but the prayers of others sustained me.
Acting in faith sometimes meant overcoming deep fears, but it always brought me closer to God.
As I reflect on these experiences, I want to share three key lessons that have profoundly shaped me: the power of community, the necessity of faith, and the call to trust God completely.
THE POWER OF COMMUNITY
One of the greatest blessings during my trials was discovering the strength and love of a community. In times of vulnerability, having a network of people you can lean on is invaluable. My family—my wife, parents, and brother—became my bedrock. Despite seeing me at my lowest, they never gave up on me. Their unwavering support, even in moments when I needed help with the simplest tasks like eating or bathing, reminded me to keep fighting.
Beyond my immediate family, my church community became another vital source of support. Members offered daily prayers, pastoral visits, and practical help—like ferrying me to hospital appointments, delivering meals, and even providing financial aid during critical times. Sharing my journey humbly with the church allowed God’s love to flow through others in ways I never imagined.
Toward the end of my recovery, I learnt just how vast the Christian community’s support had been.
Strangers from cell groups and churches I’d never met had been interceding for me. A simple WhatsApp message about my situation would spark chains of prayer, reaching people I would likely never know by name.
Their prayers carried me through dark moments, and I remain deeply grateful for their faithfulness.
As Hebrews 10:25 exhorts us, “Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” If you’re not part of a community yet, I encourage you to get connected. The strength found in fellowship is life-changing.
ACTING IN FAITH
Another vital lesson I learnt was the active nature of faith. As James 2:17 reminds us, “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Faith is not passive—it requires action, obedience, and perseverance.
Throughout my battles, I had to step out in faith, often without the confirmation I desperately wanted. Sometimes, clarity only came after I had obeyed God’s prompting. At other times, I clung to His promises, even when circumstances seemed to contradict them. On a few occasions, I literally faced death and had to declare God’s promises over my life to pull through.
Trust means surrendering everything – logic, security, and even cherished relationships – to Him.
Each trial revealed a new facet of faith that needed to be activated for that season. These moments were often lonely, requiring me to discern the Spirit’s leading and respond, no matter how unconventional or daunting the path seemed. Acting in faith sometimes meant overcoming deep fears, but it always brought me closer to God.
As Hebrews 11:6 declares, “Without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for whoever draws near to God must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.” If we desire to please God, faith must be more than belief—it must be action.
TRUSTING GOD COMPLETELY
The hardest lesson to learn was total trust in God. Trust means surrendering everything—logic, security, and even cherished relationships—to Him.
I vividly remember one conversation with God during a dark moment. I told Him I wanted to live for my wife and family. In response, I felt the Spirit ask me, “Who would make a better husband? Who would make a better father?” The answer was clear: God. This was a painful yet necessary revelation. Trusting Him meant accepting that even my love for my family could not compete with my trust in Him.
Time and again, I faced challenges that tested this trust. Whether it was finances—especially since I lacked insurance—or physical healing, I had to learn to let go and believe in God’s steadfast care. James reminds us that in God, “There is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17). It is we, not Him, who are inconsistent.
He showed that when we abandon ourselves to Him, He proves Himself trustworthy.
Through these trials, I saw God’s faithfulness repeatedly. From providing for my family to helping us purchase and renovate our home amid hardship, He showed that when we abandon ourselves to Him, He proves Himself trustworthy.
MOVING FORWARD
There is so much more I could share—testimonies and miracles from 1995, 2017, 2021, and 2022— but one thing remains constant: God is faithful.
In the autumn of 2023, as I took a step of faith to leave a twenty-year career and study at the Bible College of Wales, God confirmed to me in a vision that my season of battling cancer had ended.
Today, I move forward, carrying the treasures gleaned from those dark places—precious lessons that equip me for the journey ahead.
I pray that my story encourages you to reflect on your own life and recognise the treasures God has hidden in your trials. May His grace and faithfulness inspire you to live with gratitude and courage.
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