Isaiah 53:4,5, "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."

 Psalm 103:2,3, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases"

 Psalm 107:20, "He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions."

 1 Peter 2:24, "who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed."

 Matthew 8:16,17, "When evening had come, they brought to Him (Jesus) many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses."

 Over the years, our family has experienced God's healing power.  Donna was healed of a kidney infection.  Our son, Steve, who had frequent migraines, felt the Lord told him to go forward at church for pray concerning them one evening.  He has not had another one since.  Eric has been healed from the flu and stomach issues.  As a small child, our son Chris, because of our prayers for him, when he was sick, came up with his own saying, "Rebuke or puke."

 Although I have seen God's healing in our lives and in the lives of others, I still do not understand all there is about divine healing.  I believe strongly that God's Word concerning healing is true, however, we have also seen those who have not been healed.  Deuteronomy 29:29 tells us, "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."  Thus, when healing is not manifested, even though I continue to pray for healing, I have to let God be God and continue to trust Him.

 We have heard some say that people do not receive a healing because of a lack of faith.  I have known people of strong faith who have not received a healing and have entered into their heavenly home.  Kathryn Kuhlman, a woman used by God in a tremendous healing ministry, passed away from a heart condition.  Carman, a Christian singer, was healed of cancer and yet recently died from complications following a surgery. 

 Personally, I have been fighting one physical malady after another since 1992, when I had surgery on my lower back , after the doctors determined I have degenerative disk disease.  Do I have answers or an understanding of why this happened?  Is there a particular purpose for this? I do not have the answers to these questions.  Then, one morning, in 2006, when I was shaving, the Lord spoke very clearly to me.  He said I was about to go through the greatest physically challenging times I had ever experienced.  However, He also said, "I will go through it with you."  Even though I did not fully comprehend what was coming, or what all it would involve, I remember thinking, "I am not sure I like the sound of that, however, I know that I can trust Him!"  I understand that there are those who believe that I missed God, however, through it all, He has never left not forsaken me.  In the time and experiences since receiving that Word, I received much divine revelation and have grown closer to my heavenly Father than ever before.

 A couple of months after the Lord spoke that Word to me, it was discovered that a disk in my neck was pressing into my spinal cord (my face had been going numb). The Dr. said one wrong jolt and it could sever the spinal cord, and recommended an immediate surgery.  Following the surgery, I experienced many symptoms and nausea (24/7) that were so severe they incapacitated me for ten months.  None of the local doctors could determine what was wrong.  One thought anxiety, one concluded it was the gall bladder, which, after testing, was found to be functioning at only 4%, and thus was removed.  The symptoms however, remained.  After months of tests and finding no solutions or help, I requested my Dr. send me to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.  At the end of ten days and every test imaginable, a gastro-intestinal specialist from Scotland, figured out that the vagus nerve had been damaged during the surgery.  The vagus nerve, when damaged, causes severe depression and could send a constant nausea message to the brain. (Which it did for me.)  There is no treatment for nerve damage.  If the nerve heals, it can take up to a year.  For some, it never does heal.  The only thing they could do to help me through this "time process" of waiting to see if the nerve would heal was prescribe an anti-nausea pill used for chemo patients.  The problem then, was that the pharmacist's cost for one pill was $50.00 and with the RX for me, my cost would have been $3,000 per month.  I was not making that much a month.  Praise God for His intervention!  Our pharmacist gave us information so we could contact the drug company to request some help with the cost. Not only did they "help," they sent us the pills at no cost! All told, we received $18,000 worth of medicine free.

 This trial was not only difficult for me, but it was also taking a toll on Donna, my caregiver.  Our Dr. agreed that it would be beneficial for me to spend three weeks in a nursing home.  The insurance company did not think the nursing home stay was necessary and refused to pay.  Once again, the Lord provided the thousands of dollars needed to pay the bill.  I praise Him for His faithfulness!

 My district superintendent of Open Bible Churches, visited me in the nursing home and asked, because of this ordeal, how I was doing in regard to my relationship with the Lord.  I could only reply, "Who else is there?  He is my only hope."

 As I stated earlier, a nerve can take up to a year to heal, if it does at all.  Praise God, mine did heal in ten months.  I praise God also that the nausea is gone even though I do have the residual problem of neuropathy in my feet from the damaged nerve.

 The trials and adversity did not end with that surgery and experience.  Since 1992, I have undergone 12 surgeries, some of which were another back surgery, one on the inner ear, prostrate cancer, carpal tunnel in both wrists, and just recently the removal of the wrist bones in one wrist.

 Today you are hearing both the good and some of the difficult events on my story line.  So, more good news - since the prostate surgery, I am cancer free!  Since the inner ear surgery, I am no longer suffering from vertigo!  God has been with me through it all.

 John 16:33, " These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  This verse lets us know that we "will" have tribulation. However even in the midst of it we can have joyful peace because of Christ's victory.

 Hebrews 13:5, "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  And, He has not!  In all this time, He has given me visions and dreams.  He has carried me through the very dark times.  I have never been alone.  Another scripture I stand on is Job:13:15, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him."  Through all of these years, I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, I can trust Him.

 We see in scripture that Paul suffered many things and yet remained faithful to the Lord.  2 Corinthians 12:7-10, " And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."  2 Corinthians 4:7-9, "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--"

 This I know, whatever happens to my physical body in this life, the day is coming when I will receive a new one.  1 Corinthians 15:42,42,49,53 and 54, " So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. ... 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. ... 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."  Praise God!  We are sojourners, this is not our final home and the day will come that He will call us home.  I realize that I do not have to understand why everything that happens, happens , because I do not see everything as He does.  My knowledge and understanding are finite, however, He sees the entire picture!

 Mine is but to trust and obey.  Many saints and martyrs have suffered over the years, but there comes a time when all of that will be forgotten.

 I encourage you to keep your eyes on Jesus, let Him hold your hand and when necessary, carry you.

 He will be there, with and for you, in the midst of every trial and adversity you face! 

 If you are struggling with some things and could use some prayer, feel free to let me know in the comments section or email me and I will be happy to pray with and for you.