I guess I have to go back to Sept 08 when I woke up with a sore neck. It felt like I just slept wrong and needed to pop it and I’d feel better. Tried just ignoring it, but within a few weeks, I started having tingling and numbness in several fingers and thumb of my left hand. Weeks turned into months and after Mid January of 2009 I decided to go to the Chiropractor. I went about 5 times and after having no relief I decided to go to my GP. They took x-rays and an MRI of my neck and determined that I have bone spurs and the channels that the nerves travel through are growing closed. He prescribed anti inflammatory medicine and something for the pain, combined with physical therapy. After 2-3 weeks and 5-6 visits to the physical therapist I was feeling pretty much back to normal. Thank God.
Fast forward to January 2010, woke up one morning and “not again” the pain that I had before was back; only this time I wasn’t going to wait to do something about it. I made an appointment with a massage therapist and after 4 or 5 visits and no relief I decided I probably needed to head back to the Dr. So back to the GP I went on the 18th. I had a dentist appointment on Feb 25th that I ended up leaving after a few minutes because it hurt so bad laying back in the chair. I was having similar pain and tingling as the year before, but now I was having muscle cramps under my shoulder blade and left tricep of my arm and the feeling and strength in my left hand was going away from the nerve damage. The Doc put me back on an anti-inflammatory and a painkiller with instructions to go back to the physical therapist for traction and electrical stimulation and strength exercises.
I went for 9 visits and after zero relief, the Doctor gave me a stronger pain killer, a muscle relaxant, and referred me to a spine specialist so he could review my case. That appointment was on March 15th. Penni went with me that morning and I was in a daze thinking that one of the options that my Dr. discussed with me was surgery and I just wasn’t ready for that. He gave us several options that started with a nerve medicine, that at best would be temporary, and if I was ”lucky” I could go through this routine several times before I actually had to have surgery. I asked him if he were in my shoes, what would his choice be and he said the nerve meds would be the place to start, so that was what we decided to try next. I took one on the evening of the 15th and the 16th and I went to therapy on the morning of the 16th and 17th. So far there was no change in my symptoms, and I was planning on going to church that night (March 17th) because I was scheduled to work in the media booth at church for a prep service for our women’s conference that would be starting the evening of the 17th and continue through the weekend. My Pastor came up on the platform and opened service with prayer as he always does and after praise and worship was done he returned and prepared to begin his message.
The pastor who was opening the conference the next night, Pastor Sheri Roberts from Lima, Ohio, had arrived early and came to service to hear pastor Hart preach. He had announced Pastor Sheri’s early arrival and asked her to come up onto the platform and greet the congregation, and maybe sing a song if she felt so inclined. Pastor Sheri came up and greeted the folks and began to sing a song, not a song that you would have words for, but a song (psalm) that she was singing straight to God. It was beautiful and it completely changed the atmosphere of the place. She then mentioned to pastor that on the flight to Omaha she believed she heard God tell her that he was going to heal someone who was having pain in the neck, left shoulder and nerve issue. She thought it was for the next evening because she hadn’t planned on being an active part of the service that night, but she felt as if she was being prompted to release that for Wednesday. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Did God send this woman a day early just for me?
The minutes that followed were mostly a blur, but I tell you that I was receiving every bit of what God had for me. I threw my hands into the air and began to thank God for touching my neck and for sending the word for me. To be honest I was bawling like a baby. I had been in pain for the past several months, taking all kinds of meds and really afraid that I would eventually have to have surgery on my neck. Several of the Elders and my wife who had been praying for me also knew that the word that was going forth was for me as well, and within seconds there were 4 or 5 of us in the media booth rejoicing and praising God for what was happening. Pastor Sheri then said that she wanted me to do something I couldn’t do before. I had to stop for a second because although I was in pain and had the numbness and tingling and the muscle cramps, there really wasn’t any restriction in my mobility…
However, in the midst of my thanking God I hadn’t noticed, but the pain in my neck was completely gone. Not only that, but I didn’t have any tingling in my fingers, and the numbness was also gone. I remember slapping the back of my left hand and the sensitivity in the skin was also there. I have seen God do some amazing things before. Miraculous healing types of things and has even allowed me to be used in a few of those situations while praying for others. But I had not received a special healing personally. I have had the opportunity to testify to the gift I received that evening, to my doctor and the physical therapists, my workmates and others. I haven’t taken pain meds since and I went ahead and had one more final physical therapy exam just so I could show the folks that my strength was restored as well.
There is a God and He is still in the miracle working business, and I stand as one who has received from God. I give Him all the glory, honor and praise because He alone is worthy.
Hebrews 11:6 says: and without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
1 Peter 2:24 says that…He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
I came across my healing testimony that I shared with the Josiah Foundation back in January of 2011 and I got to thinking…WOW that was just over 4 years ago that God healed my neck. I have never had an episode since then, and I’m still sharing this story with all who will listen.
Please share your testimony with us. You never know who God will touch through it, and we just might post it on our site. Go God.
Blessings,
Pastor Sean
