I’m a vicar, so people would expect me to say

My Bible: reasons to believe in the power of the Bible

'I’m a vicar, so people would expect me to say that the Bible is the foundation of what we believe in. But on a personal level, I’ve found that scripture isn’t just about guidance; it’s not just a foundation of what we believe, it’s an ongoing resource.

I found that to be true in 2009 when my Mum – who’s now about to turn 70 – had breast cancer. She found a lump and put off going to the doctor’s. When she found out, my sister, who’s a nurse, went ballistic. I think my Mum knew that it was a problem.

In the end she had a partial mastectomy and had her lymph nodes removed. My Mum said that as she was being taken into theatre, she remembered Psalm 23. That was the lynchpin during that experience.

She felt that that God wasn’t going to heal her of the cancer, but he would walk through it with her. For me, when I read those verses, I realised that there weren’t any quick fixes. God doesn’t come along with a magic wand and wave it all away. But he does promise to be a source of strength and support.'

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