Today, while at the Womens’ Fellowship Luncheon, I heard Julie D. give her testimony about her ailments that started soon after she and her family had a trip to Cancun and returned sick. Many of her family members were treated immediately with antibiotics through a family doctor while she went back to her college’s infirmary wherein they suggested to letting it run its course.
She suffered a long time (about 6 yrs I believe) before they were able to get the diagnosis finally of Crone’s Disease. While they were despondent because the diagnosis also brought the news that it isn’t curable, although it is manageable through a series of medicines, she is thankful that they finally have something to label and attribute her ailments towards.
She discussed the day that she finally admitted to the Church what was happening after many years of remaining absolutely silent and keeping the suffering and pain only within the family. She was thankful how the Church prayed for her in Church and out of Church, folks would bring them dinners, held a luncheon in her honor and prayed for her for 45 minutes, and had her speak at Church services and now our women’s group today. She had always questioned why people who don’t even know her would pray for her, make her family dinners, and continue to encourage her; however, she says that she finally says that she accepts the “gifts” that the Church has given her because it truly is a gift that one would be so very giving to another.
I guess what sticks more than anything in my mind is the fact that she said that she and her family had kept the illness problems a secret from anyone outside of their immediate family. I think that many of us do that instead of telling the world. It can be so discouraging when you are seeking answers unanswered questions to be reminded that others are there around you.
We tend to pray for ourselves when we keep our problems to ourselves. Something that someone told me years ago (it might have even been in a prayer class) makes particular sense today — prayers are heard the best from God when people pray for others. That is when the true power of prayer truly works.
I have prayed for others all the time and have seen improved status in others; however, it is often humbling to admit that one isn’t perfect and also needs some prayers.
What Julie D. might not realize just yet because she is still recovering from some hard times with her disease is that the power of prayer is working for her now because she and her family humbled themselves to admit that they need some added prayers. With that admission, while the power of prayer isn’t always healing in the physical sense, it does give one the glimmer of hope that there are better days to come. It is a much healthier perspective to hold.
Kudos to Julie. May God always shine upon you and bring you strength to continue spreading the good news of God. May his ever warming arms bring you the solace in knowing that you are doing what you are able to do on this earth. God never asks the world of you; instead, God brings the world to you!
