DebraJ
FIVE YEARS!
I’m celebrating a milestone this weekend: it’s been five years since Jesus healed me of Multiple Sclerosis! Five years ago, on July 30, 2018, after living with MS for 25 ½ years!
Twenty-five years is a L-O-N-G time, and I’ve often thought about the significance of it.
Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for the child the Lord had promised them in their old age. In that long waiting period, they tried to take matters into their own hands, which caused some really difficult situations. But when I came down with MS, even though I’d begged the Lord for healing, He didn’t give me a promise like that. He merely promised He would be with me every step of the way and told me to trust Him.
So, I did.
Sometimes it felt like that was the hardest thing ever.
But He was ALWAYS faithful to His promise. He taught me that I could have a full, rich, joy-filled life living that way. And many of you witnessed the amazing things “we” accomplished when I walked in faith and trust in my Lord Jesus Christ. I learned to talk with Him before I did anything, asking if it was His will and if He would give strength and provision to fulfill the task or commitment. If He said, “Yes”, He always provided, miraculously on many occasions. If He said no or didn’t give a clear yes and I bulled forward in my own (weak) strength, it most often wouldn’t go well.
The Lord showed me that just because I’d “always” done something a certain way, it could be accomplished just as well in different ways. One thing this applied to was singing and playing my guitar. I couldn’t stand up any longer to sing. But instead of giving up, the Lord showed me that with MS I could sit on a stool and have more strength to sing! He allowed me to become a worship leader, despite being disabled. And it gave others with disabilities permission to seek accommodations so they, too, could serve the Lord according to their abilities.
When I had to retire from work due to my disability, He provided financially, allowing me to be approved for disability pay as soon as possible. When I wondered if my boyfriend would stick around despite this illness, the Lord showed me that, although people will always let us down, He alone is faithful. I should trust Him, and He would work things out for good. It’s such a blessing that Keith had the heart of a servant. Even still, it took three years for me to trust he wasn’t gonna bail on me.
In all those years, the Lord gave me contentment, peace, and joy amid the trial. He was faithful then and is faithful still.
Then when the “fullness of time had come”, when His purposes had been fulfilled for that season, Jesus answered my prayer to be healed. You can read more details about that day here: https://gardenlessonsbook.com/four-years/
So, what have I been doing these five years?
A lot of praying, caregiving and serving the Lord in new ways.
God’s timing was perfect for me to be able to help care for my dad and stepmom long distance as unexpected health challenges hit them. After Patty passed and Dad needed more care, we moved him closer to us here in Fullerton. I was so blessed to be with him nearly every day in the last year of his life. Had I still had MS there’s no way I would have been able to keep up that relentless pace.
I’ve prayed for my neighbors as I’ve been able to take long walks and meet so many I couldn’t when I was disabled. The Lord led me to invite the ladies in our neighborhood to join a Bible study in our backyard. Thirteen of us are finishing up our third year studying and worshiping our Lord together. I’m still leading worship for Community Bible Study from September – May, as well. But now I stand on strong legs as I sing and play guitar. And I’m enjoying life with my wonderful husband, who was willing to put up with all those struggles for so many years.
Each year as this date approaches, I reflect on all that happened that day, the days leading up to it, and all that’s happened since. I still weep with joy over all that my precious Lord has done in me and for me. I share my healing story often; many times being met with skepticism. But it’s those of you who walked and prayed me through those 25 ½ years who are most amazed at this incredible miracle from the Lord.
So, will you rejoice and praise our Almighty God with me today? He has done great things!!
“…for I am the LORD, your healer.” Exodus 15:26
My Precious Lord Jesus, Blessed Controller of all things, thank You for healing me. I cannot wait to thank You in person, Face to face. I will be forever grateful. I pray this in the All-Powerful Name of Jesus, Amen.
Four Years…
I opened my eyes and thanked the Lord for this glorious new day that I’d been anticipating for several weeks. July 30th was finally here! The day the forecasters had promised cooler weather would arrive in Southern California.
Life with Multiple Sclerosis is very difficult in hot weather; and boy, had it been hot, as temps near 110 degrees cooked our region. I was experiencing one of my worst MS flare-ups in years, so the prospect of cooler weather brought renewed hope that my symptoms would improve. Even a small improvement would be welcomed!
My husband and I were coming through a difficult season. He was recovering from spinal meningitis and sepsis, having almost died. I was recovering from pneumonia, possibly due to a side effect of a new MS medication. So, my doctor had taken me off of all MS meds a month earlier and was treating this debilitating disease with vitamins and diet. It seems I wasn’t doing well with this treatment, either.
As I got out of bed, putting my feet on the floor I fully expected my legs to be stronger, supporting my body, being able to walk without assistance. But…it wasn’t so. I was in the same weakened state in which I’d been for several weeks.
I was disappointed.
No, I was devastated.
And I wondered if this “new normal” would be my life for years to come.
As I did every morning, I grabbed my coffee and headed out to the porch, holding onto doors and chairs so I wouldn’t stumble. I began my Bible study time with prayer and worship, singing songs of praise to my precious Savior.
My focus for the year was 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – “Rejoice always. Pray continuously. Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” So, I thanked the Lord for His faithfulness during the past 25-½ years that I’d had MS. I told Him I trusted He would get me through this, one day at a time, as He had done faithfully from the beginning. But soon I began to weep as I poured out my heart to Him.
“Jesus, I’m growing weary of this battle. Would you, please, just heal me?” I asked.
Immediately I felt something on the back of my left leg. I mean, IMMEDIATELY!! Not a jolt but an unusual sensation. Could it be that Jesus had answered my prayer and I was being healed? I couldn’t believe it, but I knew something miraculous had happened!! I began weeping tears of joy and gratitude as I thanked Jesus over and over for what He was doing.
I got up from the chair, testing my legs for strength. I walked easily to the door and stepped over the threshold, not hanging onto anything – and didn’t trip! I felt strong! I had energy!
I quickly grabbed my phone and called my husband to tell him what was happening. He couldn’t believe it either but we knew God had answered a simple prayer of faith, at the time that was right for His purposes.
So are you asking, “Yes, but did it last?”
Today is the fourth anniversary of that day on the porch…and I have been healthy and strong ever since.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8
Apple Watch to the Rescue
Last Sunday morning around 8:30 I got a text from Dad, saying “Hard Fall SOS, emergency services called. You’re receiving this because you are listed as an emergency contact.” Then a little map appeared showing his location. It was his apartment.
I was in the shower.
My brother, Steve, then texted, “Dad are you okay?” Turns out all four of us kids got the same text.
There was no reply.
So began the journey our family has been on this past week.
Gratefully, Dad’s caregiver showed up for work moments later and found him on the floor, dizzy and dazed. She realized someone was speaking on his Apple Watch, trying to connect with him. Without his hearing aids he couldn’t hear it. Thankfully, she took over and was able to help emergency services know what to expect when they arrived, which was very soon after that.
Dad spent much of the week at the hospital and is now at rehab working toward a full recovery. I know he’d appreciate your prayers to that end.
I’d tried to talk Dad out of getting that watch. All of us kids did. We thought it frivolous and expensive for an old man of 90 (at the time). He’d persisted, despite our arguments, saying it had this great feature that might come in handy for him – and us – someday. If he fell, it would notify us and call 911 for him, which he thought was important since we all live so far away. Now, I’m grateful he’d insisted, and I gave my blessing, because that’s exactly what it did. And I believe God led us to that decision for this very situation.
Let me encourage you today to pray for your parents and grandparents; love, honor, and care for them well, as the Bible instructs us. And if you’re wondering what to get them for Christmas or their birthday, I highly recommend an Apple Watch. It may be a life saver one day!
Psalm 34:4-7 ESV
“I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them.”