I told you the healing tent was in town. The pitch man said the good book says, 'By His Stripes Ye are Healed'. I'm inclined to believe the good book, but I got to think about the concept of Stripes Healing. I'm all for healing, but what's a stripe?
Miquel once said....
When I was 6 my family was stationed in Juneau, Alaska (army) and my eardrum ruptured. There was no military medical services to treat it so I needed to be flown to Anchorage for the Air Force hospital there to do surgery. I was terrified at that time in my life both flying and of anything like surgery/medical practice. We got to the hospital and I was all prepped for a 6am surgery the following day. My Mom said I should pray for God to help it “go easy.” I was scared, I chose to pray “God save me from this! I’m scared.” The next day they were doing one last body check before wheeling me into the OR. The doctor stopped and looked puzzled. He looked at me and went, “It makes no sense, but the giant hole in your eardrum has suddenly closed about 60% overnight. It shouldn’t be able to do that…certainly not that quickly. Let’s cancel the surgery and see what another 24 hours does.” 3 days later I was not only healed, but flown back home and never had ear problems since.
In 1999 I totalled a car. Broke the frame, collapsed the dashboard, pushed the engine block through the radio, took 1.5 hrs to saw me out of the car kind of bad wreck. I’m claustrophobic. When I woke up and saw my situation I cried out, “God, I’m scared. Save me from this…let me not panic…this is bad.” Instantly the peace of God descended upon me. All of those verses I had memorized for years as a youth rushed to my mind and I went from a state of fear/panix to one of praise - to the point I felt it was a spiritual retreat of sorts. The paramedics were confused at how I could be so injured, so in pain, and yet so at peace. They were sure it was shock, but I had full faculties and awareness of all of my injuries - I was just removed from them in a way.
I had a crippling case of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis from age 4 combined with severe asthma. They completely altered my childhood experience - as sports and activity could put me in bedrest or the hospital. When I was called to ministry in high school I remember saying, “God, I know if you want me to go somewhere that doctors say I shouldn’t - you’ll take care of it.” Eventually I began saying, “God, i’m going to press my body and seek Your joy…please give me the strength necessary.” 3 years later my lungs were healthier than a non-asthmatic and my blood tests showed no evidence I had even had arthritis.
Does God heal? Oh yeah. To what purpose, though?
I believe it’s to His glory. And I give Him ALL the glory!
Best wishes for your quest on this subject.
Miguel de Alaska
