(August 30, 2025) Robert and Maureen McQuillan share sincerely…

We know, we know… we’ve written before about trusting God when troubles hit, particularly sickness— for example COMPASSIONATE GOD AND DIVINE HEALING | Connecting with You!

But… due to some recent personal incidents, and learning that other seniors are unwell, some even wanting to back away from ministry, we want to encourage everyone to— and here we use a simple phrase that we find we’re giving to various individuals these dark days— Keep On Keeping On!

Great Provision
Just as God is the great provider, forgiver of repentant sinners and blesser of His followers, He is the divine physician! For decades we’ve known all these gracious acts of God in our own lives, and today we especially recall healing recoveries. And in the lives of others that we’ve prayed for… healing/relieving answers happening sometimes promptly, sometimes later, but all in His timing. And one hears or reads the testimonies of famous ministries over the decades who knew this great truth and applied it by praying for the sick, witnessing healings, even miracles.

But (another ‘But’!)… we tell people, especially Christians, not to neglect the advice of the medical profession! Faith in our compassionate God is tops so when sickness occurs we can pray and leave it with our heavenly Father! Yet… there are times when we should seek medical help and get the best advice— we’re foolish if we don’t!

In a nutshell, we personally look to God first and foremost (and that includes recalling and quoting His comforting word!), then confidently pray about whatever the illness is, believing that He has everything in control and everything will work out.

Sadly there are still some Christians who don’t believe in visiting a doctor and taking medical advice. Some won’t even take medication or have operations, believing you should trust God alone! Yet… Paul thought it wise to have Dr Luke accompany him! (Colossians 4:14).

If the door of sickness happens to slam close on us, Maureen and I operate what we call our Threefold Key of Trust, Faith and Hope. In God of course, and His word, the Holy Bible! But we would never neglect seeing our good doctor friend… or a specialist if considered important, necessary.

Great Scriptures
Speaking of God’s word, healing is mentioned many times on both testaments. I, Robert, have three favourite scriptures—

• Psalm 30:2, ‘Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.’
• 3John 1:2, ‘Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.’
• James 5:14-15a, ‘Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up.’ (See Maureen’s October 2022 testimony Twas a Cold Wintry Night- Nere a Sound was Heard/).

Various issues, especially sickness, can cause us to be anxious and Maureen’s favourite verse is Philippians 4:6, ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.’

As some readers are aware, sickness came our way recently, that is on me, Robert. Firstly I, who am always warning seniors to avoid falling, had a very bad fall myself July 3 and can’t really walk or drive! And it’ll take about three months to get over! Coupled with this, we were advised that cancer was spreading in my liver and lung and we agreed that I commence chemo tablets Monday past. Maureen laid hands on me, anointed me with oil and prayed (as have others) that I’d have no side effects, which praise God, I haven’t had!

Great ‘Neighbours’
Now this brings us to that great emphasis of Jesus—that we should care for our neighbours… neighbours being whoever needs assistance. On rereading the Bible presently, we noted that the apostles highlight this in their New Testament letters! And we praise God that at this time we have several ‘good neighbourly friends’ both here and around the world who are caring for us regarding Robert’s health needs! We thank God for them and their love!

Without listing them all— and to shorten this article—  (Paul just listed some of his friends in Colossians 4:7-17), there’s Elke, our next door neighbour who does what she calls ‘the Christian thing to do’ and looks after our bins. She even volunteered to do Robert’s typing as he can’t really use his computer at present but must keep resting after that fall.  

Then there’s Geri B, an interstate friend of many decades and her encouraging scripture-based email re Robert’s current situation— ‘Where the expertise of man finds its limits, God is able to go beyond what we could hope for or imagine.’ 

Among several overseas friends is that great article writer in Oklahoma, Carol Round (When God Prunes Us/). For years this dear friend has been praying every day for Maureen and me… but recently she amazed us! On sharing  Robert’s medical condition with her, she immediately prayed and announced that she was putting him on her church’s special prayer list! Astonished, Robert responded, ‘But I’m a stranger… your local Baptist prayer group doesn’t know me!’ Her response? ‘No worries, my friends!’

There are others beloved by us— Dr Sam Selva Raj, Chennai, India. This dear brother who established Echo of His Call ministry (now entering its 57^th year) sends us great encouraging scriptures weekly. This week’s was God’s assurance of Jeremiah 32:40, ‘I will never stop doing good to you.’

Oh the depth of that word ‘good’— yatab! Sam adds encouraging truths such as… ‘His nature is full of goodness, mercy, and prosperity. When we say, “Lord, let Your will be done,” He causes all His goodness to come on us.’ (Do read a particular experience of Sam’s regarding trusting God for needs: In the Hands of our Wonderful God/).

Also worthy of mentioning briefly are granddaughter Bonnie-Jane who lives round the corner and happily drives us to the hospital specialist some distance away. If she can’t, her dad our son-in-law Steve willingly drives over from his home several kilometres away, picks us up and takes care of us.

And it must be mentioned that good interstate friend Neil, a converted Jew, on learning of Robert’s troubles phoned and prayed so seriously for him (for us) in Hebrew! Wow… although we didn’t understand a word, Robert sensed their power!

As intimated, others have been caring and praying for us both, especially Robert and we’ll only mentioned one more… good Iraqi friend Big Sam, doorman at a favourite restaurant we were going to. He too prayed so strongly in his native language… right there in the restaurant! Naturally we didn’t understand a word but Robert particularly felt their power.

Great Hope
Now you might not have a special group of caring friends around the world— but there would be strong prayerers in your church as well as your pastor who can gather around you and pray sincere intercessory prayer over you!

In any case, know this: You can exercise your own faith when any trouble, not just  sickness, hits causing anxieties and worry. Regarding needed healing, do know that one of God’s titles is Jehovah Rapha… the Lord who heals! (Exodus 15:26).

Know too Peter’s strong advice against worrying… ‘Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares about you’ (1Peter 5:7). When he recommended ‘casting’ he used a word epirrhipto which refers to his fisherman skill of strongly casting his line way, way, way out into the sea!

So then… is sickness— or some other trouble— making you unable to ‘Keep On Keeping On?’ If so, cast your worries way, way, way out into Jesus’ strong arms. And in trust, faith and hope believe that He can and will deal with it!

By the way, when we declare that we’re moving in our Threefold Key of Trust, Faith and Hope, we’re aware that while Christians can know about trust and faith, ‘biblical hope’ can be a different matter! Here we’re not referring to ‘Hope’ in worldly terms of ‘Er… hopefully’ or ‘Er…well, I hope so’ or ‘Well… maybe it’ll work out.’ No, hope in God and His word is not some weakish wishful thinking! We’re talking about a strong assurance that despite the darkness of this present age our God is still in charge!

Hope is elpis… to anticipate with pleasure. And Paul who relied on and exercised his faith by trusting God in everything, boldly stated clearly that our heavenly Father is ‘the God of hope’! (Romans 15:13). He also wrote that Godly ‘hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us’ (Romans 5:5).

The CJB (Complete Jewish Bible) reads ‘this hope does not let us down’ and John Wesley’s comment was that ‘Hope shames us not— gives us the highest glorying. We glory in this our hope.’

Great Renewal
A top Bible verse regarding renewing our hope is Isaiah 40:31— ‘But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.’

In closing, our prayer is this… need encouragement to help you through some difficulty, illness, trying times, some lacking or loss, or ministry blockage?

The answer is in exercising that threefold key of trust, faith and hope… and thus leading to Keep On Keeping On! (And… don’t forget to love your neighbour worldwide as yourself!).

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Dr Robert and Pastor Maureen McQuillan’s links are OnlinerConnect@gmail.com and Facebook.
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