Alright, this blog is one that has been making my toes tingle for days!! One I cannot wait to share but has been so difficult to find words that do it justice. Summing up exactly how incredible Jesus is through some words on the internet is a crazy concept for me but I am honored we get this opportunity.
Let me take y’all back to night two of worship at training camp. July 11th, 2019. A night that I’ll never forget. We sat through a talk that night from a wise man named Deon, during his talk he told stories of healing. For me, healing has always been a crazy cool concept but something that seemed to only happen in stories that seemed to be unbelievable. I mean yeah it’s in the bible but there’s no way that can still happen right?! Wrong.
If you know me, you know that I was in a car accident in June of 2018 and since then have constantly experienced chronic back & neck pain. An issue that’s affected me a lot this past year in school, sports, and just day to day life. I’ve seen the doctor and chiropractor many times but nothing has seemed to get better. The church that I attend here in Portland often prays for people at the end of each service, many times I have had prayer over my back. More often than not nothing changes. One time I felt relief but that only lasted about two days before it came back which did nothing but discourage me about the power of prayer.
Fast forward back to night two of training camp, after Deons talk he came back up during worship and asked if anyone was experiencing pain. If we were, we were told to raise our hand so our squad mates could come around us and partner in prayer. I remember being so hesitant and discouraged, I was in my own head saying things like “I’ve tried this before. What’s the point? Nothings gonna change. Other people probably have bigger issues than me, I’m not worthy.” All things that are irrelevant in the father’s eyes. Hesitant but hopeful I raised my hand. Before I could even blink at least five of my squadmates were around me ready to be my personal prayer warriors. My friend Nathan asked what I needed healing for, I told them about my back & neck and before I knew it the room was overflowing with the many voices of prayer. Prayer for me but also prayer for everyone else in that room who was struggling with something. A beautiful sound. At first, nothing happened. As I heard all my friends beautiful voices pouring out over me in prayer I realized, if they are so hopeful in the father’s goodness for this healing to happen then I must also be hopeful. I shook my negative mindset and started praying myself. Tears began to pour down my face as the pain in my back started to fade away. A few minutes went by and they all looked at me with curious faces, I told them the pain in my back was starting to leave. So, they kept going. Sobbing I looked up at my brothers and sisters around me and said with joy “it was everywhere but now it’s just one small spot on my neck”. They all smiled and Nathan said “then let’s keep going, He’s not finished”. Nathan was right, Abba wasn’t finished. I don’t think I’ve ever cried tears like I did in those moments. The next time I looked up to my friends, I could barely get any words to leave my mouth. The pain was gone.
Amazed by what the Father had done, my new friends & I fell into each others arms crying and smiling like I’d never seen before. Shortly after, they asked whoever experienced healing to go on stage and share their story. That night I stood beside at least 20 other people who also experienced healing from both physical & mental issues. A night I will never forget. Abba showed up so much and, in community, we wept at his goodness. What makes it even cooler is later that night I learned for the first time that a girl on my squad, Sydney, had been praying for me since Easter. Syd & I go to the same church but didn’t really know each other until being placed on the same squad, Easter service we cried together in prayer for no apparent reason. To hear for the first time that she had been in prayer for my healing for the past four months blew me away and she got to see the fruit of that. Syd had no idea about my car accident but God put me on her heart. Incredible. Makes my heart smile big time.
The next morning I was honestly scared to wake up, I was terrified with the thought that the pain was going to return. Even after such a powerful night I didn’t want to continue to trust His goodness. Silly me. For days and days after I didn’t want to tell anyone from back home. I told my team leader that I was so scared the pain would come back like it had before, she comforted me with the words “and if it does, we will pray again”. She told me how what God did that night is still a testimony of his goodness because even if the pain returns one day God still gave me all these days pain free. A beautiful truth. I found myself nervous in the Georgia airport as I was heading home because the plane ride there made my back hurt so bad I was in tears. I noticed myself in that doubt gave it to God and headed home. I’m happy to say that it is currently July 26th and I haven’t had any pain. If it comes back one day, that’s okay. I feel so blessed and loved to have this be apart of my story. Prayer is so so powerful and God is good, ALWAYS.
Thanks for reading.
Love always,
Cass
