HEALED IN AN INSTANT

In my previous blog I shared about my physical struggles and setbacks I'd had since cervical disc replacement surgery in September of 2018. I was in a car accident in December that set back my recovery significantly.  My muscles were struggling to heal quickly and I was still limited in terms of physical activity.  

What I didn't realize at the time is that I had also injured my ribs.  The pain in other areas was so prevalent that I didn't realize I had an issue in my ribs.  They weren't broken or anything like that, however the impact of the accident caused them to shift and all the muscles were straining causing intense pain.  

While on a weekend trip in Michigan I began to feel pain intensifying as I walked around.  I had spasms every 30 seconds or so that would create a burning effect and prevent me from standing up straight.  My back was tight, pain radiated throughout the right side of my rib cage, and I was struggling to get comfortable in any position.  

I was blessed to have friends take me to the doctor who figured out what was going on.  He tried chiropractic manipulation and asked that I come back in two weeks for evaluation and another manipulation, assuming it'd take several weeks for full healing to occur.  I left the doctor grateful for an answer but so frustrated that this pain would go on even longer.  I couldn't sit or stand without burning pain and spasms.  I went to bed in tears.  I was so fed up with pain and struggling with mobility.  I cried out to God, "please fix me"!!  

HE HEARD ME!
That Sunday at church my husband told me that he felt like I needed to have a friend, Allen, pray for me because he carries the gift of healing.  I shrugged it off, being that I had lost hope of ever feeling better.  My husband persisted so I went over to Allen and asked that he pray for me. 

As he prayed, my husband's hand was on my back with Allen's on top of his.  Joe, my husband, noted that Allen's hand was so HOT!  As they prayed I literally felt my ribs shift ever so slightly.  It's like they expanded and moved to the left, then settled into place.  I didn't say anything at the time because I was so afraid that it was just wishful thinking.  

Sunday afternoon I realized that I was sitting without extreme pain.  Sunday evening I went to a group gathering expecting to be extremely uncomfortable, yet had no discomfort.  The group leader, Denny, noted that he had noticed that too. 

As Monday came along I was feeling 80% better.  I still had some soreness, but it was not chronic pain.  Tuesday I was 90% pain free and by midweek I had experienced complete healing.  I was HEALED!!  

God required just a mustard seed of faith and obedience in listening to what He had told my husband.  He heard my cry of desperation.  He saw the struggle and chose to heal my body, preventing weeks of discomfort, lack of mobility, and anxiety that come with it.  

Never doubt that God hears you.  He may not always respond the way you want Him to, but He hears you and He wants to see you whole.  I NEEDED these past 9 months of pain to teach me how to rest.  I needed to learn how to take care of myself.  I wouldn't have been forced to put me first if I had been well all this time.  I had become a professional codependent.  I was so afraid of letting my family, my boss, my church family, and my friends down that I pushed myself to my breaking point.  

I've since learned that the produce market my husband and I direct will go on without me.  My husband and children can function without my full attention.  I learned that I can even surrender my job to Him, knowing that His will is being done in my life.  Resigning to become a volunteer is not often heard of, but I am at peace with my decision.  I am putting ME first.  I am taking unnecessary pressure off of myself and walking in the mysteries that God offers to me.

I choose to surrender to His good and perfect plan for me.  I choose to walk in the healing that He has performed in me.  I choose to use this story as a testimony for Him.  

Why do I say all this?
He wants to see us whole, but many times the journey is more important than the destination.  I needed the valley in order to appreciate the gift of this mountain top.  There will always be struggles, but I am much more willing to embrace them now that I have the experiential knowledge of how powerful they can be in leading me to a point of emotional, mental, and physical health.  

God is so good!!