There were no better hands to be in
In 2020 Leanne Mallett faced the diagnosis every woman dreads. In her new book With These Hands she shares how she coped with cancer, what she learned about God’s faithfulness, and the strength he gives when we need it most
Your book With These Hands has just been published. Tell us about it.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer just before Christmas in 2020. I then embarked on a journey of treatment which included five months of chemo and a few operations.
Through that time I faced many fears and uncertainties, but I learned so much about my heavenly Father and felt him with me through it all.
The book is about that journey and the lessons I learned about life and Jesus.
What made you write it?
While I was taking time out to recover after treatment, I felt prompted to write a book, not just about the things I experienced but what I learned during that time. I had to face some of my greatest fears and my faith was tested like never before.
My perspectives, priorities and life generally have changed so much and I wanted to share these things to help and encourage others.
I was also so thankful for what God brought me through that I wanted to express my gratitude in some way. Sharing about his goodness in a book was a way in which I felt I could do this.
Where did the title come from?
During my treatment I was watching TV one evening and heard a song called With These Hands.
Although it wasn’t a Christian song the words instantly reminded me of what the hands of God had done – and were still doing – for me.
The song made me think of how many times God’s hands had held, comorted, led, steadied and provided for me. I was very aware in those moments that I was firmly in the hands of God – and there were no better hands to be in!
You talk about seeing God’s fingerprints running throughout your life…
When I started to write about my experience of cancer and what I learned, I also recalled when I had recognised God’s fingerprints in other situations throughout my life; those times when it simply had to be God! I had got to know my heavenly Father’s hands growing up, and so when I went through this storm I was able to trust he had me close and that I was safe in his arms.
What life lessons do you discuss in the book?
I talk about things like how we handle disappointment and how important it is to guard your heart.
I went through operations that could have affected me emotionally as well as physically, so I also talk about image and how my view on that has changed. I learned how life is more important than what we look like.
I reflect on the tough moments too – the uncertainties, disappointments and fears, and how I dealt with them.
I also reflect on the goodness of God and what he showed me about having faith. There were times when things seemed uncertain and I was scared, and my faith went to another level because I had to hold on to the fact God could change the outcome.
How did the Bible help you?
I became very aware of how powerful the Word of God is – it was as if Scripture became more real to me. There were verses I held on to that were a huge comfort. Isaiah 41:10 was one I felt God led me to right at the beginning, and it became very special. The promise of God reminded me not to fear – that he would be beside me, helping and strengthening me, and upholding me with his hand.
What is your favourite part?
At the end of each chapter I encourage readers to ‘take a moment’. I didn’t want people to just read a story about me, but instead to also take time to reflect on their own lives.
By sharing some of the things I learned in that particular part of my life, I wanted to challenge and encourage others about how God might be speaking to them too.
I really enjoyed writing those sections because they relate to where people are at. They may not be going through a health battle, but they might be struggling with loss, disappointment or other challenges.
Whatever readers are facing, they can know they are not alone. There is a God who loves them and is right beside them in their storm.
If they don’t yet know God personally, I hope they realise how different life can be when we journey through life with him – hand in hand.
I saw a picture of the cross... behind it was a background of a yellow, pink and orange sky and the cross stood out in front of the colourful backdrop
I was reminded of the power of the cross, face down on an MRI scanner
In an excerpt from her book, Leanne Mallett shares an experience that gave her confidence
The day after my ultrasound examination, my husband, Darren, and I travelled to Cheltenham to have my MRI scan as planned. This particular scan meant I would be face down on the table and I would have to have my arms above my head while the scan took place underneath.
It would take 20 to 25 minutes and so I wondered how I was going to stay still in such an awkward position for that amount of time. However, I thought I could turn it into an opportunity to pray and hear from God. I almost had an expectation that God was going to speak to me and so I went to the scan that day ready to hear!
It wasn’t too uncomfortable. There was a space for my face to fit and it was much better than I expected. Once the nurse had positioned me, I lay there ready to hear from God. I wanted him to speak to me about it all.
The nurses had told me that the scan would be particularly noisy and to expect lots of banging and knocking noises. They gave me headphones so I could listen to music but as the noises of the scan started I couldn’t hear much – and that was OK, as I wanted to pray anyway. I wanted to hear God’s voice so I asked the Holy Spirit to speak to me.
The scan started and all of a sudden there was a siren-type alarm going off and a loud banging noise – just as the nurses had said would happen. However, as I lay there praying, the noises of the scan seemed to illustrate a scenario that I could picture. I was picturing a battle that was happening above me.
The knocking and banging I was hearing from the scan began to morph into the noise of the battle.
Throughout these last few weeks, I knew people had been travailing in prayer for me. My daughter Abi had become a little prayer warrior and I had a picture of Abi and me fighting in the battle in prayer with swords. I could sense the fierce battle that was above me. We were fighting the fear and dread and the cancer.
When the noise of the scan got louder my praying seemed to get louder over it and the fighting got more intense – it was like waging a war. The noise of the scan and the picture of the battle I was seeing went on for some time. It was as though the battle above me represented the battle I was in and this was being fought by prayer, by the power of prayer.
Suddenly, there was a break in the scan and the noises stopped. The picture of the battle ceased… and there in the silence, I saw a picture of the cross – it stood bold and powerful. Behind the brown wooden cross was a background of a yellow, pink and orange sky and the cross stood out in front of the colourful backdrop. I remembered the words Jesus said on the cross that day: ‘It is finished.’
The message of the cross was enough. The cross stands as a reminder that Jesus has already won the battle. It’s astonishing when we think of what he did for us and what the cross represents. Jesus had paid the price for us. He has already won the victory over sin and death.
What a moment to be reminded of the power of the cross, face down in an MRI scanner!
With These Hands by Leanne Mallett is published by Authentic Media. Extract used by permission. For more information visit www.leannemallett.com
Leanne Mallett leads Aspire, her passion is to equip, encourage and enable women to rise up in their giftings and callings. Aspire is Elim's national women's ministry that cares and connects with women to encourage them to be all that God has called them to be and to equip them to fulfil His purposes.
First published in the April 2023 issue of Direction Elim’s monthly magazine.
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