The month of August was one of the most trying periods in my life. I did not anticipate this so was unable to fully comprehend what actually occurred during the course of it.
Since May, I have been on a journey with the Holy Spirit, asking Him to send me to places I should go. He took me to Tennessee, Wisconsin and Atlanta—all these destinations enriched my life and strengthened my faith. Then He told me to go to Florida. I went willingly though I faced several obstacles to keep me from going. I felt certain I needed to be there. When I arrived, it turned out not to be the miraculous experience I expected. Instead, I was rendered helpless and completely stripped of all the strength I had regarding my faith in Jesus Christ. It was as if I had been led to the desert in order to be tested by Satan.
In the very first week of my stay I almost lost my sight entirely and got pink eye as well. The pink eye was so severe that I woke up unable to open my eyes because they were so encrusted. Later on I lost my sense of taste, I developed horrible acid reflux, and my energy level dropped to the point where I could not even get out of bed. I found myself falling into fear; my body was failing me and there was nowhere to turn for help. I was on my own, or so I thought. Eventually I arrived at a place where I succumbed to the exhaustion and allowed it to take over my body. My struggle with my body had lasted 15 years. I had limited my food intake and exercised to excess. My body had finally had enough and needed rest. Once I let go of control, God started talking to me—a lot! He sent me an incredible message in the soda aisle of the grocery store. I was seeking a sign from Him and suddenly crossed the path of a woman who noticed the T shirt I was wearing (it says “prayer warrior “). She bluntly commented on it and asked if I had a moment to talk. Of course I said yes. She proceeded to relate her miracle of being cured of cancer. Essentially she was diagnosed with cancer that had spread to her bones. Her first X-ray showed extreme progression, but before she had surgery she got a second X-ray and all traces of cancer had disappeared entirely. The doctor told her the only explanation was that Jesus had cured her. She knew this was due to the power of prayer and she even thanked me for my prayers based on the evidence of my T shirt. She may not have realized that her story gave me the confidence I needed to turn my whole life over to God. There was nothing to fear if I placed all my trust in Him.
After that encounter, I continued to struggle with my lack of energy but I had faith that it would improve when God decided it was time. Thanks to my “time in the desert “ the extent of my journey with the Lord was revealed and lo and behold the moment I left Florida, my health immediately got better. My energy has returned and I am ready to go forward by the grace of God.
The greatest miracle of all, however, I never saw coming. When I arrived in Florida, my eyesight was the worst it’s ever been. I couldn’t even read the screen of my iPhone without glasses. I went to the eye doctor to get a stronger prescription, but when I picked up my new glasses I didn’t need them. Today I don’t wear glasses at all (only for driving). This truly shows the power of God’s divine Providence. I never sought to be cured of my inability to see, content to rely on glasses, but all I needed to rely on was simply my Savior, Jesus Christ.
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Originally published at Kitty in the City
Photo: Public Domain
