"You're Not Forgotten"
Posted: Wednesday, October 22, 2008
by Deborah Hall-Branch
Fruit of the Spirit Ministry
The voices and laughter I once heard out in the corridor became as whispers in the wind. Paused in front of the mirror, numbed, sounds of life seemed to slowly fade away. Negative thoughts fought to find place in my mind. Although she'd assured me the tumors were more than likely benign, fear worked diligently to detain my hope. A plea of rescue bellowed from within. "God help me."
"Lord Jesus, please heal me." I said. The cool water felt good as I applied it to my face, only if it could have washed away the fear inside of me. Glancing back to take a second look into the mirror before leaving the bathroom a sudden reassurance entered my heart.
"Are you all right?" She said.
With uncertainty, I responded, "Yes, I think so."
"You will be. Don't worry." She said smiling.
"Who is this woman, and where did she come from?" I wondered. But her presence gave off a feeling of warmth, protection.
Muffled within the sounds of apparatus, gurney's with immobile patients being pushed up and down the hall, doctors consoling family members; in a far distance I heard my husband's voice calling my name. It became separate from all the others. Turning towards its direction, there he was walking briskly down the hallway towards me. Glancing back in an attempt to speak more with the elderly woman she'd disappeared.
"Did you see that woman?" I asked.
"What woman?" He said.
On the ride home we both remained silent. Glancing out of the window of our Suburban, you couldn't help but notice autumn's breeze had already begun to whisk up the golden brown leaves moving them from one location to another. Quietly, with a smile on my face I thanked God for sending His angel. Hope had been once again restored within my heart.
Just as the angel said, all was well. The tumors were benign. When they woke me up after my operation, the surgeon was standing there at my bedside. With a smile on his face, he reached down and grabbed my hand holding it firmly.
"You're going to be fine young lady." He said.
Sickness, disease, calamities of life can cause even the stoutest heart to become weak. And, when we are weak, He is strong. That day, the footprints missing from the sand were mine. In my weakness it was then He carried me.
Many wrestle with questions about why God would allow such things to happen. Void of complete healing is not proof that your prayers have not been answered, or, that you don't have enough faith to believe. It simply means He wants us to trust that He is working in ways we may never understand. That's called "walking by faith, not by sight." Even though that day I could not sense Him the way I'd grown accustomed to, faith remained.
Christ promises comfort in our sufferings as He wipes away our tears. There is absolutely nothing we go through He doesn't already know, and has power to heal. Even through the toughest circumstances in life, the Sovereign Lord is always with us. The first paragraph in an old poem from "Glad Tidings" says:
When distress and cares oppress you,
Look up, friend, for God will bless you,
"He is mindful of His own."
hi deborah,thank you for joining my fan club.i sincerely appreciate it,my best,sue thomYou're welcome.Deborah
Hi Deborah. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful testimony; you've certainly brought tears to me but good tears... good tears, Deborah. God bless you!Thank you so much for both comments. Judi, I'm so happy they were good tears you shed. These past few years I've found myself coming to a greater understanding that although we can't determine what each day will bring, one thing we assuredly can stand on, and that is, the sovereign Lord God will never abandoned us.
Be Blessed Always.Deborah
Hi Deborah -- I've already commented but enjoyed reading this again -- God bless you!
Great ArticleI know many will be encouraged to trust God, I am. I will share with my mother and cousin.This article really touched my heart. God is trully using you to bless others.You have been and "Angel "to someone today bringing them this message of hope.God Bless YouThank you Borah;Please do share. That's what it's all about. I really pray someone has been encouraged to trust God, and I'm glad you are. Suffering souls will never get the opportunity to know about His healing power, and His sovereign grace if we who have been healed don't tell our stories.Deborah
Beautiful article, Deborah. Faith is a wonderous acheivement. You seem to be such a strong person--always keep the faith and you will never be alone.God Bless you and yours.SandraThank you Sandra you for your words of inspiration. I never knew how strong He'd made me until one day when I glanced back over one of my journals did I realize I'd survived through some torrential rains, a little bruised here and there, but nonetheless, a survivor.Deborah
Deborah: This is so amazing -- and so very well written. An amazing woman of faith with an amazing story of God's Grace! Please, please, tell this story over and over and over any opportunity you get. People need to know God still speaks to mankind, in real time. I will forward this story to everyone on m y mailing list. Thank you for sharing.Thank you so much Christine for your heartfelt comment, and by all means please do forward to your mailing list. I never want a day to go by that God is not glorified through my life, and as he strengthens me I remember to work diligently to strengthen those who have become weakened from life's tragedies.God Bless You!Deborah
Hi Deborah, thank you for your vulnerability. What a beautiful testimony. And somehow I think that if your answer would have been different, the word from God's angel would have still been just as comforting. Lord bless you for the great witness you are here on SW. Love and hugs, TeresaGod Bless You Teresa;Received both comments. :-) Thank you. I agree, and there's no doubt in my mind that if the results had been different His word still would have brought great comfort to my heart. His reassurance of being that very present help in times of trouble has been there for me on so many other occasions when the conclusion was not so favorable.Deborah
HI Deborah, I keep puting the comments in the wrong place. :-) Lord bless you and keep preachin' it, sista :-)
Awesome Deborah! I absolutely believe in angels and I know that when times seem to be to hard to bare, that it is the Lord's footprints that are there only, while He carries me.God bless you always,Praise God Michelle,Thank you. Your comment brought a smile to my face, and a chuckle to my heart as I imagined the Lord carrying all those who cry out to Him at the same time. Isn't He wonderful? One of my favorite poems is "Footprints."Be Blessed,Deborah
Although I'm not religious, I am a believer in a higher power. This story has inspired me and re-affirmed my belief. I'm very happy that this all worked out for you and let's not forget to spread the hope as others need it.Hi Bobby;I'm so glad you were inspired by my story. Thank you also for your shared joy, and as long as strength remains within me I will forever spread "hopes" good news. That's apart of a "believer's" job, to reintroduce hope to those who have lost there's, and introduce it to those who don't know it's God's promised blessings to them.Deborah
More comments