I'm wrapping up my study of Malachi and I'm finding that chapter 4 is probably my fave part ....probably because it's about healing. I've been fortunate to experience a couple of physical healings from the Lord as well as a spiritual/emotional healing.
The spiritual-emotional healing was from childhood sexual abuse. That story is for another post.
The physical one was for my paralyzed thumb when I was 19 and a piano major in undergrad school at this college. Two doctors said I would never have feeling in the right thumb ever again. I had sliced the artery in that thumb while attempting to cut apart frozen burgers with a serrated knife. yeah...stupid....but....age 20....hahah....
God healed my thumb after 9 months of paralysis. I learned a lot about my self during that time as well as a lot about God....but...it wasn't until my early 40's that His Healing Presence really made an impact on my life. That was when I had undiagnosed Lyme Disease for over 8 months. I was misdiagnosed a couple of times before one PA whom we happened to know from the church we were attending at that time, gave me an Rx for the meds for Lyme. Within 3 weeks I started getting better. To make a long story short, thousands of dollars later, 4 Lyme Disease specialist trips later, 4 months of antibiotics later, and MUCH prayer from my Christian family and friends, and I was finally back to good health (and hiking!) by the autumn of 2003. The entire saga went from December 2001-September 2003.
Let me tell you: the arthritis pain from that Lyme does crop up every once in awhile, but the healing from the Lord was evident in my joints and other areas. The Lyme specialist said I would have recurrences because Lyme never really leaves your body. It could have been so much worse. My faith faltered during that time, but underneath some doubts, I did have peace. It's the peace that passes our human understanding.
I still can't explain it. I had friends from church helping with my then 8 and 3 year old daughters, helping to cook and clean, praying over me, and writing me notes of encouragement. God healed my body but He also healed my spirit. It was so downcast when for months my own doctor couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. At one point, she came right out and said "Stop calling.....we don't know what's wrong...it's just fibromyalgia!" I KNEW it was not. The spirit of the Living God placed it on our friend's heart (the PA) to take me under his wing and treat me for Lyme. Meanwhile, the Lord prompted me to begin an internet search for NYS Lyme doctors. There were two and one happened to have an office right here in Albany! In fact, he is known through out the Lyme disease community for having a clue and for successful treatment of Lyme patients. I have since referred a few people to him.
But more importantly that Phil taking me under his wing was my Savior taking me under HIS wings.
You see, God promises that we will be healed. It might not be a miraculous, overnight healing. It might be in the form of wise doctors and proper medicine. It might be a soul healing.
But there IS healing in His wings......
The world is imperfect. We are imperfect. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned.
But God...in all His righteousness comes that we might have Life and have it abundantly...and this includes healing.
This is made clear in Malachi 4....yes it is a picture of the "end times" but it is also for us today.
Whatever pain we face...whether it's physical or emotional (like from a wounded heart), we can find healing through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Are you seeking shelter/healing under His wings?
5 comments:
Thank you for the encouragement of this post, Faith. For a number of years, I have had two warts...one on the left thumb and one on my left pointer finger. Regardless of treatment, they wouldn't go away. I had one doctor tell me that it was a virus because of something in my body, another to tell me I would have to have them cut out. Neither of those was exactly what I wanted to hear. Then I noticed a couple of weeks ago that the one on my finger was gone...completely smooth again! And from that same time frame, the one on my finger has been steadily decreasing. It isn't completely smooth yet, but it is definitely getting there. I KNOW that it is that God has done the healing!
Also, I wanted to comment on the doctor who told you not to call again because they didn't know what it was that you were dealing with "probably just fibromyalgia." I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2004 and her terminology of "just fibromyalgia" is why so many people are going undiagnosed with it because there are plenty of doctors out there who have the same mindset as that doctor who told you that. If they can't come up with anything else they tack that phrase on the end of their sentence and dismiss you as their patient. There is so much that can be done to help ourselves...diet, exercise, supplements. I have gone from spending the majority of my time on the sofa or in the bed to leading a fairly normal life again with an occasional flare which is normally brought on by weather fronts. I have a wonderful NP that I am so comfortable with and who understands fibromyalgia patients.
I rejoice with you in the way God healed you from the Lyme's disease and so blessed that someone in the medical profession felt God's leading to help you with it. To God be the glory!
Also...I'm guessing that ballerina college girl made it back to NH safely on Saturday? I prayed for her...and you. :)
What a wonderful, encouraging post. Thanks so much for sharing these things from your heart.
I second what Deb said, what an encouraging post.
Faith, thank you for sharing your healing testimony with us!
He does heal today - He uses different methods and different time frames for each of us because we are all unique and have different needs that sometimes even we ourselves don't know about.
I love that you mentioned He came to bring us abundant life. That doesn't just mean material things but a life that is rich and rewarding and worth living. Often, that MUST include healing!
Very encouraging, Faith! I hadn't realized that you had Lyme.
My dr told me to stop talking about the possibility of my having lupus although three people in my family (genetically) had/have it. Needless to say, I changed doctors.
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