Introducing Jesus

The scars you see and the ones you don’t will be healed. I fully understand now.

What a whirlwind of a year. It will end in praise. Yes, it sounds cliché, but that is my affirmation and assurance. I’ve cried enough tears to fill a river, but through it all, I’ve learned to say: Thank You, Jesus for the small victories and for the big ones too.

It all started with an abnormal test result that required a biopsy. I read the letter and cried. Got the hospital appointment letter and cried even more. By the time I got to the hospital, I could barely say my name before the tears came.

But God.

God has this incredible way of showing up. Maybe the nurse that day was an evangelist or maybe she was an angel but whichever way, she was sent by Him. Throughout the procedure, she encouraged me to lean on and fully trust the Lord. She said, “Stress comes when we think we know what to do when really, we don’t. So why not trust in the Lord?”

In the middle of that storm came allergies. Ah, what a season. I was in my prawn sushi era living life until suddenly, my eyes were swelling and my skin was itching constantly. Then came a doctor (a Nigerian, to the glory of God!) who sent me for blood tests. The results? Allergic to anything that comes out of the sea… and apples. Apples!

That one hit me hard. I had to cut so much out of my diet. The healing process was, and still is, long and hard. The smallest thing can trigger a reaction. Now, I read every label like a detective and always ask, “Is there crayfish in this rice?”

But please, please, who puts crayfish in Jollof?

One random afternoon, I got a call from the hospital:

“You were referred a while ago. Do you still want the appointment?”

“Yes, please.”

A week later, I was in the dermatology clinic. Sometimes we get so used to discomfort that it becomes our norm itchy skin, patches everywhere. That was my reality. The consultation was fine. The examination? The dermatologist gasped: “Oh my goodness. It’s bad.”

Even I was shocked.

That led to an escalated treatment plan: 20 weeks of light therapy.

But my faith? It was at zero.

“Why is it always me getting sick?”

“Why is there always something?”

Every day felt like I was drowning. My GP suggested talking therapy, but the wait was long. My bestie found an alternative. I couldn’t even bring myself to fill in the forms she did everything. I just showed up, and by God’s grace, was matched with a Christian therapist. Thank You, Jesus.

By that point, all the colour in my face had gone. I looked pale and ashy. My hair was falling out. Everything felt like a mess.

Light therapy began in November. I made a promise to develop a prayer life. My first attempt? 37 seconds in the light box; I was done praying 20 seconds in. But I was determined. As my time in the box increased, so did my prayers. By the end, I was spending 3 minutes and 54 seconds in that box—and it still wasn’t long enough for my prayers. Thank you, Jesus!

God met me there. The dermatology nurse another angel sent by God would always say,

“Don’t let things fester or the stress will make things worse. We don’t want to have to medicate.”

They encouraged me constantly.

But the stress did worsen. Panic attacks followed. Crushing chest pain. Fear of everything.

The GP called it chronic stress. I didn’t even know that was a thing, but it is, and it’s common. He gave me medication and said, “Take this whenever you feel the pain.”

But every time I looked at the box, I thought, If I take this tablet, my heart might stop beating.

My hair was now falling out at 10x the normal rate. I knew I had to cut it.

I walked to the barbershop… and walked past.

First time.

Second time.

Third time…

“Come in!” the bros waved. 😅

Two days later, with moral support, I walked in and embraced the cool, crisp air on my bald head.

December. In the middle of light therapy, I went on a prophetic prayer journey 14 days of reading Psalm 6 and praying into the healing waters. Daily I poured my heart out to God:

“Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long?” – psalm 6:2

By Day 8, I had to start the 14 days all over again. And so I did pressing in, believing for complete healing, body and soul. That season of intentional prayer laid the foundation for so much of the restoration I later experienced.

Christmas 2024. I was halfway through light therapy. My skin was shedding like crazy flakes everywhere. Morning and night, the hoover became my background music. But I looked a bit better than the year before. I showed up to Christmas dinner stronger, more present.

The only worry? Redundancy was looming.

And my flexible work request? Still ignored.

It is well.

New Year, New Me?

I started job hunting half-heartedly. Until my sister sent me an application. I wrote the cover letter and said, This one is mine.

I submitted it in mid-January. End of January? “There’s a delay.”

And then work told me, despite everything (pain, occupational health notes, GP letters) I’d still need to come into the office twice a week.

I cried until I crode.

But God.

That January, while working from home I tuned in to every conference that was on YouTube: WOFBEC, Harvesters, Next Level Prayer Conference to name a few. Specifically At NLP, a parent gave a testimony about his son. I had no faith left, but my sisters said, “We’ll believe on your behalf.”

Hallelujah Challenge, February 2025.

For the first time, I participated fully. Fear kept me awake at night anyway, so I stayed up at midnight to pray. Pastor Nathaniel declared Day 10 as “Dress Like Your Miracle.”

I carried my printed offer letter my evidence and believed God. I prayed one prayer:

“Dear Lord, one interview. One job.”

That same week, my redundancy was confirmed my last day would be Monday 31st March 2025.

God heard me.

One interview later, my job offer was confirmed. 🙌🏾🙌🏾

I was at peace. I am at peace. Peace is my portion.

March 19th: My final hospital appointment. The specialist said, “May we never meet again under these circumstances.”

My face? Clear.

My back? Clear.

My arms and legs? Healing.

God is restoring.

Fast forward to July.

I’ve started my new job and settled in.

My skin is still healing.

And now?

If you stress me, I block you. 😌

I repeated the test that originally led to the biopsy.

And to God be the glory

The results were NORMAL.

When I Say thank you Jesus, it’s coming from deep down in my soul.

Thank You Jesus!

Acknowledgements: To all of you who were a part of this journey, I can’t thank you enough. I could never repay you for your love and support, my prayer is that God will open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings upon blessings unto you and your families.

To my sisters, thank you for endlessly encouraging me, for supporting me through every hospital visit and always being a shoulder to cry on. I love you forever!

Joshua and Tiwa my angels, thank you for always telling me to hurry up and get better 🤣

Camille, my bestie. We’re stuck together for life! Thank you for everything.

Pastor Sam & Pastor Bunmi Owolabi – thank you for your prayers and support.

Iyanu thank you for being my sister. Thank you for the early morning chats and the late night VN’s.

To Sam my brother, thank you for your reinforcement and telling me to do what’s best for me.

Last but not least my mummy and daddy who have cared for me like I was a new born, thank you.

I LOVE YOU ALL DEEPLY.

Love always,

Debbie. xx