Today even more than ever, I hear of more and more people afflicted with terminal diseases. I wonder God's plan in all of it for surely, there is a plan. While we may linger in the presence of the situation, God wants us to praise Him and hold on to His promises.
While we have been truly blessed as a family, I do recall a situation that almost ripped us apart. I don't mean as a family but as single units. My youngest sister is a nurse and if ever she chose the right profession it was this one.
Unlike me, she is meek, and mild. She has a tender heart that loves life. She is caring, patient, compassionate, giving and trust me, she is one of a kind. The other four of us are completely different. We plow through as she is stopping at every point to care for the wounded.
Almost 15 years ago we got a call at 4:am that she had a headache for two days and had suffered a seizure. She had never had a problem before much less a seizure! Coming from Atascocita to Conroe, I was one of the last to arrive. When I arrived her boyfriend and my parents had made the decision to move her to the medical center where her doctor could care for her.
When I went to visit her for just a few minutes, I discovered that she had lost her sight. We got her to the medical center and there a neurologist saw her. He told us he would order a spinal tap and informed my parents that she would not make it through the night.
I remained with her so I never heard that conversation but when I stepped out for just a moment, I saw my dad in tears asking God to spare my sister's life and mother was beyond words. The doctor came in, conducted the spinal tap and we waited. I had not cried through the ordeal.
When my brother arrived from Brazil, I had to leave to pick up my four year old from a friend. But before I left, the doctor made the diagnosis...spinal meningitis. It was dark as I walked outside. I was alone and felt alone. I walked out to my car and somehow found myself on 610 . I pleaded to God, cried out to God, implored God to save my sister who the doctor' s had said would not make it through the night.
I knew my sister! I knew she would take a second chance and use it to glorify God. Why did he want this soldier so young?
Back in the Old Testament there was a king named Hezakiah. He is described as a king who "did right in the eyes of The Lord." (2 Kings 18:2) He "held fast to The Lord and did not stop following Him." (6) There was no king like him among all the kings of a Judah.
One day, King Hezakiah received this news from God by way of the prophet Isaiah after becoming ill. (2Kings 20)
This is what The Lord says "Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover." Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to The Lord "Remember Lord how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion have done what is right in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
Before the prophet Isaiah could make it out of the court he received another message from God.
"Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, this is what The Lord, the God of your father David says: 'I have heard your prayer and have seen your tears; I will heal you..'"...
God gave him an additional 15 years to live (v6). Had God healed my sister and given her only 15 years, this would be the year. Instead, He just healed her! She recovered completely and true to her self, she continues to worship God and honor my parents.
Many of us are in need of healing. Not just physical but spiritual as well. Ask yourself what you would do to honor God if he said "I will heal you." Read what Hezekiah did in the rest of the story
(2 Kings 20:12-21)*
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let him pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of The Lord. And the prayer offered in faith the sick person well and The Lord will raise him up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. James 5:13-15
*if you're wondering why this happened....Hezekiak's pride.
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