“I am free to run, I am free to dance; I am free to live for You, I am free”
The words rung through the walls of church on Sunday morning during worship as I leaned on my crutches, unable to bear weight on my left foot, which I found out last week was broken in two places due to stress fractures. As I sang these words, my heart broke. I felt chained to a brokenness that I could not overcome. How am I to fulfill the calling You have for me if I am broken in this way? I can’t do it. I’m tired, and I’m in pain. I can’t run, I can’t dance. I want You, but I can’t have You. Unwillingly, tears began to stream down my face, partially due to the pain, partially due to discouragement.
There have been stories, either ones I’ve heard in the Bible or ones that I have heard from others in which healing has occurred in the name of Jesus. To me, it always sounded nice, but seemed so distant– that’s cool, but why don’t we hear of that happening more often?
This year, my eyes have been opened to see that God’s love knows no boundaries. We have a tendency to forget to trust that His love for us is deep enough to overcome all of the obstacles we face. His desire is for us to be set free from our suffering and healed from our pain.
In that spirit, I’d like to share with you my testimony.
I met with a woman yesterday morning at Moran Park church, my home church here in Holland. It was a meeting I set up nearly two weeks ago (prior to breaking my foot last week); I simply wanted to sit down with a leader in faith to speak with her about the work God has been doing in my life and how to navigate the calling God has for me. I limped into her office using my crutches, unable to set my left foot on the ground.
At the end of our meeting, she asked if she could pray over my foot, and I told her yes, of course she could. I would say I wasn’t expecting much, but that would be the farthest from the truth. I know the truth. I know that our God is healer. As she prayed over me, I could feel the healing take place. The pain– the pain that kept me from being able to put weight on my foot, even with my Aircast on– dissipated until it went away entirely. “God, let your kingdom come, heal these bones, awaken them to the life to which you have called them.” She asked me how it felt. The pain was gone. My x-ray last week showed callous structures growing on my bone, and I could still feel the bumpiness as my foot sat on the ground. I told her, and she prayed over me again. “Jesus, we know You are healer.” I felt my bones become smooth.
Did that just really happen? I walked– I WALKED– out of the room without using crutches. Overjoyed. Astonished. Amazed. But not shocked.
Not shocked, because I know that Jesus has overcome. He is mighty, and He chooses us and wants us to be alive, fully alive in him.
“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” – Romans 8:11
Since yesterday morning, I have walked without pain, worn normal shoes, and regained normal life. It sounds crazy, I know. But I also know that the desire of God’s heart is for us to be made whole in Him.
All honor, all glory, all praise be to You. Thank you, God. He brings us freedom, mighty power, and grace. His love is unlimited. His power is great. And each day, He brings miracles to us that go far beyond the imaginable.
Keep up with me @hopesophie17, or if you have questions or comments please feel free to comment below or send me an email at sophie.guetzko@hope.edu. Blessings, grace, and peace.
Sophie, I am so proud of your witness! We learned in our Bible study lastnight we say, ” I love you too” because He loved us first. Continuein your faith.