by Sheila Tapan Diola
I am a second-generation Christian. All my life, I believed I knew God and was living righteously for Him.
Raised with head knowledge of God and taught proper conduct, I built a reputation for being upright.
Yet deep inside, I had no real relationship with Him. I didn’t realize that the true Christian life doesn’t begin on the outside, but with a transformed heart.
The turning point came during a wilderness season marked by deep afflictions and trials, not just for me, but also for my husband and our only daughter.
I was overwhelmed and devastated, especially when sickness struck my daughter.
She was born healthy, with a 9.8 Apgar score, and was dedicated to the Lord at five months old. We named her Amanda Shane, which means “worthy of love” and “a gift from God.”
Despite working full time, I breastfed her until she was 4½ years old, gave her nutritious food, and ensured she received all her vaccinations. By age two, she could already read billboards along EDSA.
She had a beautiful voice, often sang with her Lola on the Magic Sing, and even composed songs spontaneously. She also excelled academically, earning the highest honors in second grade.
But then, her health suddenly began to decline, starting with her vision. She was diagnosed with macular dystrophy, a condition involving the thinning of the macula, which affects central vision.
The doctor said there was no cure, only management. Soon after, her balance and coordination worsened, and she was later diagnosed with mild cerebellar atrophy. Again, no cure, only symptom management.
I poured myself into research, desperate to find a way to reverse the disease.
Eventually, my husband and I decided I would care for her full-time. But nothing worked.
Last year, she was hospitalized due to pneumonia complications. Although she did not undergo genetic testing, we chose to use the funds instead for her continued care at home.
Her initial diagnosis, based on her symptoms, is spinocerebellar ataxia: a rare, progressive, degenerative genetic disorder with multiple types, each considered a neurological condition in its own right.
Since then, she has been bedridden and dependent on a nasogastric tube for nutrition. She is now 19 years old.
Then, as if that weren’t enough, my husband was diagnosed with the same eye condition in 2015, and his balance also began to fail. That became the rock bottom of my life—watching both of my beloved ones suffer.
I was broken, yet deep inside, a part of me knew: there had to be more than this.
I began to seek the Lord wholeheartedly. I didn’t realize it at the time, but it was God Himself who was drawing me to repentance.
Through the leading of the Holy Spirit, I began to see the holiness of God, the wretchedness of my own heart, and how deeply I needed Jesus, not just for salvation, but for every moment of my life.
The road I’ve traveled over these 46 years has been bumpy, but it was in those very bumps that I met the true Jesus of the Bible—the author of my story.
I’ve endured multiple health issues and major surgeries: dengue, urticaria, lumbago, appendicitis, and a total hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy. But by God’s grace, all of these have come to pass.
Later, I learned that the same illnesses affecting my daughter and husband ran through my husband’s father’s bloodline.
The Lord opened my eyes to the truth that if generational blessings exist, then generational curses do, too—and these sicknesses were part of that spiritual bondage.
But God is my Deliverer! Psalm 18:2 says:
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
Since then, my journey with Him has been a process: dying to self, surrendering daily, renewing my mind, yielding to the Holy Spirit, living by His Word, and walking with Him.
Yes, salvation is free, but following Jesus costs everything. Yet the eternal reward is beyond measure!
If given the chance to choose the journey of my life, I would still choose the same path the Lord has taken me on—this journey through the narrow road that leads to union with the resurrected Christ through the Holy Spirit.
This union is the ultimate purpose of God’s love for His children.
All by grace, for the glory, honor, and praise of my Lord and King, Jesus Christ.
Hallelujah! Amen.
SHEILA TAPAN DIOLA and her husband, Fred, are both certified public accountants (CPAs) in the Philippines. Sheila became a full-time homemaker and caregiver to their daughter Mandi, and now shares about Jesus through her Facebook account. Fred works from home due to a medical condition that makes commuting difficult. Together, they live each day fully dependent on God’s grace and provision.
About Author
+ There are no comments
Add yours