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A testimony of God's healing power, grace, mercy, and how he answers prayers.
Submitted by our Christian sister Pam. We love you Pam and thank you for sharing this
with others.
In January, 1990 I fell on hard candy on the floor of a local department
store that someone had apparently dropped. I didn't feel hurt at the time
and just wanted to get out of there and go to work. (More embarrassed than
anything) A couple of weeks later I started out of bed and couldn't move
my head and neck. This started a 3 year round of doctors, tests,
medications and frustration.
I was finally told in 1993 I had reflex sympathetic dystrophy (rsds),"a
muscle disorder, learn to live with it." I felt I had no reason to doubt
him, he was a specialist who ought to know. How little did I know at the
time that you should always do your own research.
That day in January when I couldn't move my head and neck was the last day
I ever worked. I continued on and the pain continued to progress down my
right arm until it had contracted to about 3-4" shorter than my left. I
was given pain medication by my family physician.
In February, 1995 I felt a pain I can only describe as a sledgehammer
hitting me in the back over and over as I got up out of my chair. After
over 2 weeks in the hospital that was of no help I came home with a walker
and a wheelchair, no diagnosis or anything. After 7 months and not being
able to walk I was finally told that the rsds had spread down my left lower
side and I would never walk again. I finally wised up that I better do
some research on my own.
I was angry, so very angry!! At myself, the doctors, my family, and mostly
at God. I had grown away from my Lord quite a while before that, but He
never completely left my mind. (Once you've accepted Him as your Savior, He
never does, does He?) and in October, 1995 I found myself crying out to
Him, "I hate you, God! I hate you, God"! He is so very just and willing
to forgive us. He knew I didn't mean it and that it was a cry for help.
That was my turning point in my walk again with God.
I'm not saying I returned to church right away, but I knew He was there
with me through it all. He led upon my heart to start a chronic pain
support group in our rural country area and to my great surprise it really
grew. How sad so few people know about chronic pain. The patient, family,
friends, and most times, their health care provider and they are bounced
around as I was for months and years until you begin to believe it's all in
your head.
The following Father's day my husband asked if I would go to church with
him. A friend of his from work had been asking him and he really wanted to
go. I said since it was Father's day I would go with him. That was the
turning point. We rededicated our lives back to the Lord that very day.
I wish I could say that miraculously I jumped out of my wheelchair that
day, but it doesn't always happen that way. I knew God had a plan for my
life but at the time I didn't know what.
Several months later, I pulled myself up using the pew in front of me and
announced to the congregation that someday I would walk again. I didn't
know when, or where but I would. Little did I know my opportunity came
just several weeks later when we took my electric wheelchair over for
servicing. I asked the salesman if he had the aluminum crutches that wrap
around your arms and when he said he did, I asked for a pair. There was no
hesitation, I knew I would walk. My husband told me later that he and the
salesman were very skeptical, I hadn't walked in over a year, my leg had
contracted and atrophied until they said it would never be useful. He said
when he looked into my face there wasn't one shred of fear. They helped me
up and I walked around the showroom twice.
The following day I walked into our little church for the first time. All
our pastor could do was cry with me.
As all of us who take a stand and believe God for "that miracle", satan
will do his best to keep us down. When he found he couldn't keep me from
walking, he hit from a different angle. He has caused severe, blinding
headaches that causes stroke like symptoms. This time I have two doctors I
admire and respect very much. My family doctor, and the headache
specialist he has sent me to. This has gone on for 10 months now, but this
time there is a difference. I still walk as often as I can, my physical
therapist cannot believe that God has healed the contracture and atrophy
down to 10%. I have a lift for my shoe and now use no crutches. I also
know that God is still with me. He will never leave me, nor forsake me. I
am human and when the pain is severe and seemingly unremitting I wonder
where He is, but it is really the opposite, "where am I?"
My favorite saying is "This too shall pass" and the Lord will reveal all He
has for me to do. I am doing a part of it now by sharing my testimony with
you.
We all have our shortcomings, whether they be physical or spiritual, but it
is we who leave Him, not the opposite. Just close your eyes and you will
see His hand reaching down to you. Just reach a little bit higher and you
will feel your hand in His.
I hope that all of you will keep this in your hearts that He says in His
words, "That above all else He wishes us to prosper, and be in good
health!"
That is what I have learned and I've learned that the God of the mountains
is also the God of the valley. As the well-known poem "Footprints" says,
"it was then that I carried you."
Allow Him to carry you today. You will never regret it.
In Christian Love,
Pam
Please keep Pam in your prayers as God is still healing her. If anyone would like to
correspond with Pam, e-mail us and we will ask her if it
ok.