Faith and Healing

*Update* Kalyna is now on a third antibiotic and it is staying down! Praise God! We are not out of the woods yet, but we are definitely on the right path. Thank you for your prayers. God has heard our petitions and calmed my fears.


Original post:

Does your Faith get shaken? I find it hard to answer this question sometimes.

I have been through some pretty rough situations, and I have had my focus taken away from Christ, but to say that my Faith had been affected doesn't sound accurate. Even in my angry times, when I didn't understand why God had allowed things to occur, I didn't question His authority or His love for me. I think that was the only thing that got me through the painful periods of my life.

The one area I still struggle in is when my kids are affected. You can throw financial turmoil my way, and I'll flinch, but I know I'll come out just fine with God's help. You can throw stress into the mix of my life, and I'll depend on God to guide me through. When it comes to my children suffering....well, I just don't want that to be part of my lessons.

My youngest daughter, Kalyna, is suffering from pneumonia right now. She has tried 3 different antibiotics but cannot keep them down long enough to be of any help. She is not sleeping at night, and she's not eating much at all. Prayer has been a stable part of her treatment (seems to be the only thing I can do for her), and I'm feeling quite spiritually attacked through this experience.

I do trust that God has gone before us with this struggle, and that I will come out of this hardship with a much stronger Faith and a testament to His healing powers, but fear is something that is gripping my heart right now.

Please help me to lift Kalyna up in prayer as her little body fights this awful illness.

God Bless you all.

What do you need?

For the past 5 nights, my younger son, Alec (9), has been staying up late in his room. When I would walk past his room (around 10 pm) to turn out the light, assuming he was asleep, I would find him either reading his book, playing his Nintendo DS, or just tinkering with this lego.

My initial reaction had been exasperation and frustration, with quite a few sighs thrown in for good measure. I admonished him for staying up so late, knowing that he needed rest for school starting up again after the holidays.

That first interaction produced some tears, and I went over to hug him. I ask him why he couldn't sleep. Was it a tummy ache? no. Was it a headache? no. Do you need to use the washroom? no.

"What do you need, Alec?"

Mom, I'm scared to close my eyes. Every time I do, I see bad pictures and have bad thoughts.

Ahhhh....now that's something I know how to help with.

I placed my hands on Alec's head, and prayed, "Dear Jesus, we ask that you place your healing hands upon Alec, and take away his bad thoughts and dreams. Lord, give him the rest he needs in order to wake up refreshed and ready for the new day. Thank you, Lord Jesus, Amen."

I looked at Alec, and he smiled. I told him that the prayer needed one more thing. He asked what it was, so I answered, "It needs for you to agree with the words spoken by saying Amen."

Why is that, Mom?

I answered, "Because the Bible states: 'For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.'"(Mat.18.20)

Again, that smile crept across his face, and he whispered, "Amen."

Each night after that, he would stay awake until I'd pass by his room. He would complain that he couldn't sleep, and I'd ask, "What do you need?"

A little smile, and a shy, "I need a prayer, Mom" would be all that was needed to get me to cross the room to his bed. I would ask him to state to Jesus what his fears were, and he'd go through the list of concerns. I would then say the prayer, with Alec echoing his 'Amen' at the end.

What began as an annoyance, has become a beautiful bedtime ritual; one that has brought me the joy of praying with my children. I think the Lord used a child to lead me (again), and showed me the need in my life: laying my burdens before Him, and trusting that He will carry me through.

Alec is sound asleep within 5 minutes of prayer.....trusting in His Lord and Saviour to fulfill his needs.

Prayer time

I know how important prayer is in a Christian's walk of Faith. I have seen time and time again the changes that occur in one who prays diligently. I have experienced the shame and embarrassment when I realize that I don't spend nearly enough time in communion with my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

There was a time that the shame kept me from seeing all the opportunities in a day to communicate with God Himself. As that nudging feeling would remind me that I needed that closeness again, to refill the Spirit within me, I would turn away and put my Friend back up on a shelf.....

I was too busy. I had too much to do. I didn't know what to say, and I had fallen so far off the path--how could I face Him again?

I could imagine how Eve felt as God came looking for her in the Garden of Eden. She knew she was naked and exposed, and tried to hide from Him. I felt a similar wave of fear with each reminder that I was avoiding my part in a relationship. I was not fearful of repercussions, I was fearful of the disappointment that I would surely face from the One who knew my deepest thoughts.

Since I did not answer His call during the day, The Lord came to me in my sleep. It was the only time that my mind was not racing with the day's activities, and I could actually hear His voice. He was not angry. He did not admonish me. He embraced me and told me He loves me. Always. He does not need for me to wake early or stay up late and meditate, all He asked for was a dialogue, a friendship.

"Hello Jesus, today I'm feeling rather low. There is too much on my plate, and I'm feeling overwhelmed. Please help me carry this burden, and help me to be who you want me to be."

I found myself including Him in all that I do. From putting the dishes away, to breaking up yet another argument between my kids. He was there to guide my reactions, or to help me clean up the mess I left when I would lose my temper. I began to see how He was making me a better Mom, wife and person.....and I wasn't losing any time by adding Him in my life. In fact, I was enjoying my time much more.

God is not a part-time listener....He's a full-time Father who yearns for a relationship with His children. One day I hope I can be in a place where my devotions to Him are longer than my focus on worldly 'needs'. Until then, I know that He will continue to mold me into the child He intended for His service.

Have you said 'Hello' to Jesus today? Don't be surprised if He answers back.