Healing
Last Thursday I took a sick friend to our family doctor. Conclusion? She is HIV+, has pneumonia, and most likely has TB “underneath all this pneumonia.” Ugh. The Lord had been preparing me for this, yet still when the official news came, it was not easy to hear.
He did an instant HIV test. Reminded me of a pregnancy test in how it looked. But pregnancy tests check for new life; this test checks for a killer inside. And AIDS has done its work in Swaziland, wiping out as much as 1/3 of its population in the past four years.
When the doctor let us know the test results, my friend simply stared at the wall. It reminded me very much of a scene from the movie “Yesterday” (a must-see movie!). No emotion was evident on her face, yet surely there was so much going on underneath. I went over, sat next to her on the examination table, and put my arms around her.
She has eight children, the youngest of which is three years old. Husband is dead. My eyes burn with tears as I type this. So much suffering! UGH! This is NOT the way God meant for our world to be when He created it.
When I consider the pandemic of AIDS that is leaving so many orphans, I struggle with feeling overwhelmed and hopeless. Perhaps reading this is making YOU feel that way. Please read on. It does get better!
You see, God is in the redeeming business. He is all about bringing healing. The Bible, from cover to cover, shouts the message of His huge love and desire to buy us back from the enemy’s grasp. He is our Healer, and He is Mighty to save.
So many times healing is a simple act of faith away--choosing to believe that the God Who created the Universe can heal us. Of course He can. And we ask for Him to do so.
I talked with the Lord about this last Friday, the first day of our 40 Days of Prayer. “Lord, I know You can do anything. ANYTHING. I’ve just seen so much death, and I’m not sure why You’re allowing it. Please will You help me know what to pray for, what to believe for?”
He so loudly yet simply voiced in my spirit, “Healing.”
Yes, He is the God that heals. He is ALWAYS in the healing business. Healing may look different in each situation, but His objective is ALWAYS healing. Do we believe Him for it?
I share sentiments with the man in Mark 9:24 who said, “Lord, I believe! Help me overcome my unbelief!”
Lord, please show up and do Your thing. Please HEAL Africa. Help us believe You for it!
“Jesus said, “‘Everything is possible for him who believes.’” Mark 9:23
He did an instant HIV test. Reminded me of a pregnancy test in how it looked. But pregnancy tests check for new life; this test checks for a killer inside. And AIDS has done its work in Swaziland, wiping out as much as 1/3 of its population in the past four years.
When the doctor let us know the test results, my friend simply stared at the wall. It reminded me very much of a scene from the movie “Yesterday” (a must-see movie!). No emotion was evident on her face, yet surely there was so much going on underneath. I went over, sat next to her on the examination table, and put my arms around her.
She has eight children, the youngest of which is three years old. Husband is dead. My eyes burn with tears as I type this. So much suffering! UGH! This is NOT the way God meant for our world to be when He created it.
When I consider the pandemic of AIDS that is leaving so many orphans, I struggle with feeling overwhelmed and hopeless. Perhaps reading this is making YOU feel that way. Please read on. It does get better!
You see, God is in the redeeming business. He is all about bringing healing. The Bible, from cover to cover, shouts the message of His huge love and desire to buy us back from the enemy’s grasp. He is our Healer, and He is Mighty to save.
So many times healing is a simple act of faith away--choosing to believe that the God Who created the Universe can heal us. Of course He can. And we ask for Him to do so.
I talked with the Lord about this last Friday, the first day of our 40 Days of Prayer. “Lord, I know You can do anything. ANYTHING. I’ve just seen so much death, and I’m not sure why You’re allowing it. Please will You help me know what to pray for, what to believe for?”
He so loudly yet simply voiced in my spirit, “Healing.”
Yes, He is the God that heals. He is ALWAYS in the healing business. Healing may look different in each situation, but His objective is ALWAYS healing. Do we believe Him for it?
I share sentiments with the man in Mark 9:24 who said, “Lord, I believe! Help me overcome my unbelief!”
Lord, please show up and do Your thing. Please HEAL Africa. Help us believe You for it!
“Jesus said, “‘Everything is possible for him who believes.’” Mark 9:23
Labels: healing
posted by Susan Rodgers at
12:10 PM
3 Comments:
Your dad and I have been discussing this same thing...
We feel like the guy in the Bible who said, "Lord I do believe, help thou my unbelief!' and the Lord healed his child.
We feel like we are on the verge of something really awesome.
What's coming?
By
Jean Ohlerking, at 8:13 PM
Susan, your words are such an encouragement to me. Sometimes it just seems that healing isn't coming as we'd like to see it. I'm with you. Lord, I believe you can do miracles, please help my unbelief.
By
Nancy Holte, at 9:21 PM
Dear Susan---
You don't know me, but my heart is turned toward you and your family today as I pray for you and as I read your blog. I lived 2 years in Swaziland back in the 1980's as a single missionary. This was the time in history when Swaziland was near the top in all things good among African nations. It was second only to South Africa for living the longest, being the most financially prosperous, having healthy babies and children, etc, etc.
Fast forward 20 years and its all been turned upside down. I was able to return to Swaziland in January of this year with my two oldest daughters. We visited several carepoints and even met two CC missionaries at one of them, the one started by Gugu Dynamite.
And it breaks my heart to see the difference between then and now.
Reading your blog about this woman, a mother like I am...with just one more living child than I have...brought tears to my eyes as I am once again reminded of the desperate need to pray and give sacrificially for His precious, hurting ones there in Swaziland.
I'm going to feature this blog post along with your family's "prayer focus" on my blog today. I'm praying for y'all as so many others are. And yes, I'm praying for your friend and I'm praying for healing...spiritually, emotionally, and even physically.
Sala Kahle,
Elysa "Thandeka" MacLellan
By
Elysa, at 3:52 PM
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