I Was Joking – God Was Serious

“Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; Save me and I will be saved, For Thou art my praise.” Jeremiah 17:14, NASB.

I grew up in a strong Christian family. I became a follower of Jesus at a young age, but didn’t really know about being a serious follower until I faced a major illness. I became so sick that I ended up in the hospital for a year and four months. I suffered from what was described as an incurable, unidentifiable skin disease.

The disease spread all over my body and was unbearably itchy. The doctors tried everything they knew to do, but nothing seemed to help. My family tried traditional, herbal medicines but again there was no healing. I remember crying every night. I couldn’t sleep. It was a miserable time.

I visited my pastor. He prayed with me, and then he said, “Arnie* I think God gave you this disease for a purpose. I think God wants to grow your faith.”

This idea confused me. After all, I was already a Christian. Why would God give me this disease? What more did God want from my faith?

That very evening I had an encounter with God’s Holy Spirit, but I didn’t realize it at the time. I prayed, “God if you will heal me, then I will be a serious follower of yours. I will surrender my life to you without reservation.” I was half kidding, but also trying it out to see if God would answer me.

While I was joking, God was serious. Within a week of praying that prayer I was completely healed! I was also completely stunned. God had heard my prayer. Even though I hadn’t thought through what the prayer meant I knew I had to keep my promises to Him. As soon as I graduated from High School I began preaching and ministering. Many people on my island are cultural Christians, and I saw many people respond to the Gospel.

After a year of local ministry, I got the opportunity to move to a neighboring island to pursue seminary training. While I studied at the seminary I worked with drug addicts and street children through a social foundation. Again, I saw God’s Holy Spirit at work bringing healing to broken lives.

I realized that God not only wanted to heal me, He wanted to use my healing to launch me out into a world full of people who need His healing. I am not a strong person, but I serve a strong God. He is serious about reaching the lost and hurting. My pastor was right. God used my sickness to change my life, and grow my faith. I am a walking testimony of His grace and healing power. As long as I live I will tell about the God who healed me.

*Name changed for security reasons.

Pray that:

God will bless Arnie’s ministry with courage, strength in weakness, boldness, faithfulness and fruitfulness.

The unreached people group that Arnie works with will find healing and salvation in Christ.

Arnie will honor his promise to God all the days of his life.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.