Mark Hall, the lead singer of Casting Crowns, has revealed that recovery from a recent surgery he underwent has been "slow and a little frustrating," but thanked fans for their prayers and support.
In a recent Facebook post, Hall explained that despite his slow progress, he hopes to be well enough to attend his youth group's Bible study this coming Wednesday and eventually tour alongside his band to promote their latest album, "Thrive."
"Hey guys! Thank you so much for your prayers and support. My goal is to attend THRIVE (my youth group bible study) Wednesday. Recovery has been slow and a little frustrating. And our tour starts in 2 weeks. Thank you, crowns family," he wrote.
Last week, the singer was released from the hospital after a successful surgery to remove an "aggressive" form of cancer from one of his kidneys. After sharing the sobering news of his health condition a week earlier, Hall asked his fans to pray for healing and for peace for his family. Following his surgery, his wife, Melanie, shared a Facebook post in which she revealed details of her husband's recovery.
"He's getting a little better every day. We are very thankful that he has the big stuff behind him. Now he has to focus on slow and steady progress. He is resting mostly, but also walking around a bit and going on drives sometimes..He has about 2-3 hours worth of energy at a time, but then feels a bit wiped out afterward," she wrote.
Melanie explained that because Mark is used to a busy lifestyle--he has served as a full time youth pastor for the last 24 years in addition to working as a full time musician--he is struggling with the notion of "taking it easy."
"We 'disagree' quite often with what he should or shouldn't be doing," Melanie wrote, revealing that her husband continues to conduct youth ministry staff meetings, meet with his fellow youth pastors, and exercise from home. These activities, Melanie explained, keep him in "good spirits."
"Today he said to me, 'The Dr said that it would be 4-6 weeks before I felt up to 50%, but I already feel like I'm up to 50%.' I said, 'Hun, after you are up for 2-3 hours at a time you have to lay down and take a 5 hour nap.' Not to mention his "up" is usually sitting down...Bless his heart. He didn't like my dose of "reality". But considering he normally works a 10-12 hour workday, I think that puts him closer to 25-30%. Then I reminded him that he is progressing exactly as the Dr said he would be and not to be discouraged. Healing is coming, it's just going to be slow and steady instead of overnight," she wrote.
Just as her husband is struggling to come to terms with his "slow and steady" healing, Melanie encouraged others fighting similar battles to rely on God for patience and strength during difficult times.
"There are a lot of times when Healing comes Slow and Steady, instead of overnight. Maybe you are waiting on physical healing for yourself or a loved one. Maybe you are praying for a broken marriage to be restored or for a loved one to know the Love of Jesus. Maybe you are waiting on relief in your work or deliverance from a family problem. Just remember Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up," she wrote. "Be Joyful in Hope, patient in affliction, Faithful in prayer."
