My True Story of Being Healed by Prayer (Part 2)



Yesterday, I shared the first part of my story about how God has healed me of my psoriasis through prayer. (Click here to read Part 1 of my story of healing.

Here's what happened next...

For three years, I was healed of the pain, the itching, the lost hair.

But then, a couple of months ago, I started noticing the itching returning, the hairs gathering on the shower drain. I prayed and prayed for myself, but to no avail. So then I told my husband about it and asked him to pray for me. He did, and it stopped once again.

I told him the good news but then, a few days later, it started again. I had the feeling that this was a story that God did not want to go silent. I had the feeling that this was a means for me to be bold in asking for prayer—and a testimony to others.

So I went to my community group at church and asked them to pray, telling them about the two previous bouts of being healed.

They prayed for me. And then, like both times before, by the following day, all was well and I could again claim being healed.

It was enough to make me wonder, “Why?”

Why can I pray for myself to no avail, but the moment I let go of my pride, open myself to vulnerability and ask others to join me in prayer, does that prayer get answered? Why does it get answered so immediately, when others’ prayers don’t?

I don’t have all those answers. But I do know that I feel like in my instance, it’s an opportunity that God has used and wants to use to proclaim his name over everything, over people like me, over situations like mine, over the complete ordinary events in life—even a scalp that itches.

I feel like it’s an opportunity for me to continue to let go of my pride and open myself to vulnerability to tell others what God hath done for me, and that though it might look very different in your own life, it’s what he wants to do for you, too. It may not be a physical healing, but maybe emotional or relational. Maybe it’s neither of those, either. But what it most certainly is, is a spiritual healing that transforms hearts and minds and souls to a goodness and a peace never otherwise understood.

Jesus spent so much of his ministry healing brokenness, particularly of the physical variety. In one notable instance, he heals ten lepers. Yet, only one of the healed men (who also happened to be a Samaritan) returns to thank Jesus. “'Didn’t I heal ten men?'” Jesus asks. “'Where are the other nine? Does only this foreigner return to give glory to God?' And Jesus said to the man, 'Stand up and go. Your faith has made you well.'” (Luke 17:17-19)

I may not know why it all happened, but I know that it did. And I know that I do not want to be like one of the nine who took the healing without giving glory to the One who healed them.

No, I will give glory to my God who healed me: Praise God, I’m healed!

Related Posts
Amy's Testimony: Beyond the Physical Healing
The encouraging testimonies of answered prayers

12 comments:

  1. It's interesting that this story ends on a cliff-hanger; and even more so that you mention letting go of pride.

    I guess I expected something different to happen? Last comment I mentioned a family member and it occurs to me that maybe she's proud too? Like I was once...I learned to let go of pride a few years when God put me in a position where I had no choice...Maybe this is the same thing.

    Anyway, before I always thought that asking people to pray for me meant I was weak, then I learned that it just means I'm human =)

    Again, thank you for sharing, Carmen.

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  2. Thanks, Jackie! I didn't mean to make the story seem like a cliff hanger, because to me it isn't at all! He has healed me consistently of my psoriasis when I'm willing to ask for others to pray for me. Just because I've had to ask multiple times doesn't make me feel like it's any less of a healing. It still has taught me so much about his incredible love and mercy!

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  3. Good for you to give thanks!! And this reminded me of when Ann Voskamp shares that story of the lepers in her book. A beautiful story. Voskamp suggests that because of the one's thanks, Jesus saved his soul as well as his body. Thankfulness is a power thing!

    Interesting about the others vs. self prayer. Can't say I have many people praying over me, so I don't know!

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  4. Agreeing with Abigail...it is awesome to give thanks! I can attest that having others praying for healing (emotional, physical, etc.) is an amazing feeling. In my experience, it really taught me to not be so private and let myself be vulnerable - that it was okay to do so!

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  5. This story DOES seem to end on a cliff hanger (haha) but only God knows why He allowed things to happen the way that He did. He is glorified in this situation! I was on the edge of my seat yesterday waiting for part 2 of this story. Bless God for healing you!

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  6. Abigail, I loved that book! I don't remember that part specifically (but it's been a year since I read the book), but I'm not surprised that she had something incredibly wise to say about it. :) I'll have to look it back up!

    Urban Wife, I feel the exact same way about the need to ask for prayer; it can be quite humbling and I can always use practice in that area!

    Clarissa, why does it seem to end on a cliff hanger? I'm kind of baffled by that. I didn't intend that to be the case at all :) Perhaps I wasn't clear enough... Let me know and I'll try to clear it up if so!

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  7. Great Part 2; thanks for sharing the rest of the story. Truly appreciate the praise you're giving to God for this healing. Something that just occurred to me this morning is to pray for healing from my gluten intolerance that's seemed to creep up. Not sure why I forget to pray about little things like this, but your story was a good reminder to offer all ailments to God.

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  8. Woops -- meant thankfulness is a powerFULL thing! Haha.

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  9. Carmen: It's not a "bad" cliff hanger. It just felt like one to me because there was no "definite" answer to your question of "why?" But I LOVE the way you approached the "why" by discussing that it was an opportunity to let go of pride, discussing the story of Jesus healing the lepers, and being vulnerable and having others pray for and with you. You're right - God gets the glory! Bless His beautiful Name!! I rejoice with you! :)

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  10. Alysa, that's a great idea! I am so surprised sometimes when I realize the things I forget to pray about--because they just seem so ordinary or unimportant. And yet, they matter to God!

    Clarissa, thanks for the clarification! I can totally see what you mean now :) I guess sometimes this life just ends up being a cliffhanger, in and of itself!

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  11. I stumbled upon your blog post today. Wonderful and very inspiring! I am also suffering from skin disease. Its getting healed by God's grace. There were days when my face looked awful. One of my mom's friend suggested me to go and visit a doctor, who is a believer. I am under medication. Even before I got fully healed, I went to the altar in our church to give my thanks to the Lord. That was my simple gesture of my faith in HIM that I am already healed. I have just got few more marks on my skin. I praise GOD how HE builds each one of us for HIS glory and Kingdom!

    Shalom!
    Mary (India)

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  12. Thanks for sharing this Carmen, my pastor had the same experience as you have, even it coming back twice but he hasn't let go of the claim that he is healed despite any physical "proof" that says otherwise.

    This also allowed me to see where I've been walking in pride, I've been having some major financial struggles and I haven't been completely silent about it and have asked for prayer from the body but a week ago my Pastor did an alter call for those that were having financial problems (among other things as well I believe, that was the one I needed) and I didn't go up for prayer. I felt that I was getting a breakthrough at that time so for me to go up would mean I didn't believe God the first time. It was prideful because I specifically felt that the Holy Spirit was bringing it to my attention that I needed to go up but I didn't and my finances haven't changed I'm still struggling. Please keep me in prayer in this area and I plan on speaking with my Pastor to pray as well,perhaps God wants me to have him pray for me specifically for whatever His reason and it's a matter of obedience more than anything.

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