God Healed Me: A Story to Encourage Weary Leaders
Photo by OC Gonzalez on Unsplash
In 2021, I had a bilateral pulmonary embolism which meant blood clots in both lungs. I have been on blood thinners ever since. In 2022, I had two kidney stone surgeries, and the second one found I had a scarred ureter or stricture in my left ureter. After they determined my left kidney function was good to go, I then had a third surgery that year. This was a reconstructive surgery of my ureter with a graft out of my mouth which still today has scar tissue and swells (not a good thing for a preacher). The graft was the worst part! In 2023, I went through a week-long depression after burying my abuser. At the start of 2024, I declared this would be the year of the shift and boy, has it been not just for me but for our country and many around us.
In September of this year, I was in a meeting and as I looked up from my computer onto a projection screen, I saw a yellow circle. I tried to determine with which eye that I had seen the circle and it was my left eye. I waited a few days and then was seen by an eye specialist. After spending about three hours in the office, he diagnosed me with a hole in my macula. Surgery was prescribed. I contemplated, prayed, and spoke with a few people about this, decided to go on vacation the next week, return home for two weeks, and then have the surgery on October 9, 2024.
During the time between the diagnosis and my surgery, I walked in faith that God would heal me entirely! I asked everyone to believe with me. My symptoms started to change over those few weeks and I no longer saw the yellow circle. It became very faint. The Saturday before the surgery was scheduled, I saw a big floater in my left eye which is usually a sign of a detachment. I spoke to a friend of mine that Saturday and asked if I should try and see the doctor before my October 9 scheduled surgery. He reminded me of the story of the ten lepers and told me to just arrive that morning and show myself to the priest (doctor). So that's what I decided to do.
I arrived and checked in to the surgery center that day. I paid the bill; I told any and everyone who would listen that I believed I was healed. They called me to the back and I told the nurses that the doctor needs to examine me before the procedure to make sure there is still a problem. I shared that I am a woman of faith, I am standing on that and speaking from a place of faith. I had to explain it to them a second time without using faith language. I explained that something had changed and my symptoms are not what they were! They understood and sent for the doctor. He agreed to come after his current surgery and take a close look at my eye. Meanwhile, the nurse dilated my left eye and I was told it would be dilated for 48 hours to a week and at the time of the writing of this blog, it still is…but praise God anyway…
The doctor came back with his equipment, checked my eye three times and said, “Looks like we don't need to have the surgery. The vitreous has detached and it is healing on its own. Everything looks good.” He advised me to return to his office in 2 to 3 weeks for a follow up to keep an eye on the healing process. The doctor walked out to speak with the anesthesiologist and nurses. Meanwhile, I am in the room shouting, crying, and praising God so much that I know everyone could hear me. For those of you who might be skeptical about this miracle, here is further proof. My best friend who was with me that day overheard the doctor tell the nurses that this was very unusual and never happens! They refunded my payment and I went outside and ran around the parking lot. I asked the doctor, nurses, check-in folks, a stranger in the parking lot, and the lady who served us a meal at the restaurant if they knew Jesus! I am so grateful; I can hardly stand it. God woke me the next morning and instructed me to write this blog. You see, people of God, when the Lord does something for you whether you think it is miraculous or not, we need to build each other up in our most holy faith by talking about it. This was a faith builder for everyone who witnessed it. If you need a miracle, expect it, stand in faith, and watch God do like only He can do! God healed me!
Maybe you are reading this and are thinking about all the tumultuous and worrisome stuff that has happened to you or around you over the last few years. Covid, elections, sickness, death, waning Church numbers, etc. I could go on, but my point is not to overstate the struggles, but to acknowledge a God who is with us in our struggles. The Lord is still on the throne! Do you remember the Israelites following the cloud by day and the fire by night? They followed not knowing exactly where they would end up. Well, they ended up at Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea opposite Baal Zephon with Pharoah’s army behind them. I love The Message version of Exodus 14. 13-14, “Moses spoke to the people: “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and watch God do his work of salvation for you today. Take a good look at the Egyptians today for you’re never going to see them again. God will fight the battle for you. And you? You keep your mouths shut!” I did advocate for myself on the day of surgery and that is important for us all to do, but we can take a lesson from Moses and Israel and just stand still and watch God work. I pray that if an “enemy” is plaguing you, you will never see again after today!
One last reminder for those of you who need a faith shot in the arm. You are a leader. You may have lost friends, congregants, customers, loved ones, money, and maybe even hope. This is for you! I wrote earlier that some may be skeptical about this miracle. Do you remember Peter’s release in Acts 12? The angel smacks him and he leaves prison and heads to John Mark’s mother’s house where the Bible reads that the saints were praying “strenuously (MSG), intensely (NASB), earnestly (NLT), without ceasing (KJV).” My point here is that it seemed that the church was praying around the clock for Peter’s release. Peter gets freed and hurries to the house. Rhoda hears his voice, gets excited, and runs back to tell everyone the good news. The saints are like, “Hold up wait a minute, you are nuts, maybe you saw his angel” (Stokes version). The Church was praying but not believing God could answer their prayer. Prayer without belief/faith is no good. Why are we praying if we don’t believe? Brothers and sisters reading this blog…believe God can do the impossible.
