Saturday evening, we were at the crusade service in the middle of a soccer field. The sun had just set – and twilight was settling in all around us. People were coming forward to receive prayer. My role in this moment was to be an usher – guiding people forward to specific people for prayer. I was backing Kayla up, tag-teaming in prayer, when all of a sudden I felt someone gently grab my right wrist. Not sure who it was I paused for a moment before looking and heard a faint, gentle voice. “M’am. Please M’am. I need your help. I need you to pray for me. My sister, I have come for my sister. She is very ill. She is in the hospital just over there – and I believe with your prayers, and me standing in her place, that God will heal her. M’am please, it would help me very much for you to pray.”
Caught up in my “ushering” mindset, I told her I would get a friend to pray for her in just a moment, but for whatever reason I continued standing by her and inquired of her name.
“I am Veronica” she said.
“And your sister’s name?” The next words she spoke made my heart jump…
“Rose”.
“Wait! Rose!? Rose…Nicas!?!” I studdered.
“Yes! That is her.”
“I prayed for her today. My friend and I, we saw her today!!”
Veronica smiled – as I became shaky and overwhelmed with what was happening.
I yelled for Stacey and she came immediately. She too was overwhelmed with excitement about what was happening – so we started to pray with Veronica, on behalf of her dear sister Rose.
The faith of this woman blew my mind. She was fiery and strong, gracious and fearless.
There was absolutely no trace of doubt in her voice or countenance.
She came because she believed that the Lord would bring healing to Rose.
She sought us out because she believed the Lord was leading her to specific people to pray for her sister’s healing. The Holy Spirit came heavy and thick – my hands were practically on fire and my Spirit couldn’t stand still. After praying for Rose we began to ask the Lord’s blessings and favor for Veronica’s life – believing the Lord would bless her for her faith that can move mountains…Veronica fell to the ground and an overwhelming peace that gave me goose-bumps came. We all lost it laughing…and many who crowded around us began to share in our joy.
I can still hear the sound of Veronica’s praise as she laid on the dusty earth laughing and smiling, “I thank you, my faithful God. I know that you have received my prayer. I thank you for receiving my prayer. I thank you my faithful God. I thank you for receiving my prayer.” It was a sweet sound that resonated in my heart. Release had come – breakthrough had come – and though we could not tangibly see how or what at that very moment – the JOY of the Lord had come forth as a mark of our STRENGTH…a mark of Rose’s growing strength!
Veronica hugged us and disappeared into the night. All I could think was “Wow Lord! Really? What a brilliant birthday present! What a crazy maze of circumstances…all woven perfectly together.” I could hardly believe that the same wrist which had once held the bracelet given, was the once embraced by Veronica – and that she’d come to specifically seek us out to pray. God works in mysterious ways – and I’m so thankful to be part of His Kingdom work here in Malawi.
