Singer/songwriter clings to faith during family trials

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Singer/songwriter Aaron Shust and his wife, Sarah, have relied on their faith in Christ to sustain them as their 2-year-old son, Nicky, has battled eosinophilic esophagitis—a rare and extremely painful condition that does not allow the body to take in any nutrition.

This condition has also caused Nicky to battle several other serious medical issues, including silent aspiration and septic shock.

"The doctors have told us that this is the most severe case they have ever seen, even in adults," Shust said. "It's been heartbreaking to see everything he has gone through."

While spending several months in the hospital, doctors tried six food formulas, but Nicky's body rejected each of them. With the seventh formula as the last available option, the Shusts rejoiced when Nicky's body accepted it without any problems.

Although the doctors still believed Nicky would need to be on a feeding tube and would require steroids for the rest of his life to manage the pain, this formula finally was a step in the right direction and offered a glimmer of hope. 

Throughout the ordeal, the Shusts went online to research the side effects of each steroid, and they continued to ask their family and friends to pray for Nicky's healing. 

Not long after, the Shusts re-ceived stunning news from Nicky's doctors. All of the test results were coming back normal, and there was no longer a single trace of eosinophilic esopha-gitis in Nicky's body.

The doctors could not offer any explanation as to why the disease had disappeared. But the Shusts know the reason.

"We were on our knees before God in prayer, and now we're on our knees before him with thanksgiving," Shust said. "When your whole world is suddenly shaking, you need a firm place to stand. You see what it is in your life that's stable, true and strong enough to hold you up. You reach for that, run to that and find out what you really believe."

Walking through the difficult season left an indelible mark on Shust's songwriting. With a deeper understanding of God's amazing grace and im-mense love for his children, Shust's new album, This Is What We Believe, reflects a journey of hope and healing.

"Through all of the sickness and heartache, my family has run to God and his promises," Shust said. "We've been forced to our knees, but this trial has made life exponentially more meaningful.

"And through it all, God has never left us. He brought strength to our weakness, peace to our uncertainty and healing to our wounds.

"He's given us the grace to handle what we didn't believe we could. And ultimately, he's let us experience the joy of seeing his miraculous grace at work.

"To witness your own child being healed of something that doctors told you was permanent, painful and incurable—well, if that doesn't move your heart to worship, I don't suppose there's anything that will."