I couldn’t tell you how long ago I started praying this prayer, “Lord, help my unbelief.” Being raised in a generation of skeptics, I never quite grasped why I couldn’t believe God.
I couldn’t believe that God would heal people if I prayed for Him to.
Anyone else, yes. Me? No way.
At the beginning of January, I began asking the Lord to get me vision for this year. Last year, our pastor challenged us to ask the Lord for a word for the year. My word for last year was, “thankfulness.” The Scripture that the Lord brought to mind to go along with that was 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
This year, the Lord keeps bringing this phrase to mind, “Believe for greater things.”
John 14:12
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.”
I shared this vision with my team, and shortly after, we entered a barrio known by the name of Juan Bosch. Juan Bosch is one of the poorest villages within the city of La Vega.Most of the community share one sole water spigot, which is at the foot of the hill that leads to all of the homes.
We were doing follow up visits to homes of people who had received water filters from their local church in the past. We were under the impression that everyone had water filters there.
We split into two groups and started walking through.
We quickly realize there are several people who are new to the area and need filters. That’s when we saw Zenaida, a deaf and mute woman.
Zenaida, could only make sounds and gestures. She could hear very little if anything at all, and had been this way for most of her life.
This is where my story begins. When we first saw her, we asked if she had a filter and we realized she was deaf and mute, so we left. We thought, “oh we can come back later.”
That’s when I felt the Holy Spirit prompt me to pray for her to be healed.
What if I prayed and she was healed?
My bigger fear?
What if I prayed and she wasn’t.
I disobeyed the Lord that day. And kept going.
Later that evening, we were talking at dinner. We were asked what stood out to us the most.
I initially said, it was how this woman’s husband had to beg as their main source of income because of an accident that he was in.
Then, someone else brought up the deaf woman, and how they had ignored the Lord’s voice to pray for her.
As tears began falling from my eyes, I confessed to my team that I had done the same thing.
I was afraid that God wouldn’t answer.
Right after that moment of confession, I knew in my heart, when we went to do a children’s outreach in Juan Bosch the next day, I was going to find that woman and pray for her.
We ate our sandwiches quickly at lunch that Saturday and we went to find her.
That was the day that we met Zenaida.
We prayed for her, and I have never prayed more boldly in my life. As we prayed, the wind picked up and rushed through the house. After we had prayed, twice, she still couldn’t hear or speak, but I had such joy in my heart.
I knew in that moment, that God is who He says He is, He’ll do what He says He will do, and Zenaida will be able to hear and see in His timing.
It may happen in heaven, but it will happen.
My life changed forever the day I met Zenaida.
The Lord used her to teach me so much about having faith, praying bold prayers, believing for greater things, God’s goodness, and His love.
She loves the Lord so much, and it amazes me how much faith she has.
We continued to see her as we worked in Juan Bosch. We installed a water filter so she and her husband could have clean drinking water.
Saying goodbye to Zenaida, brought tears to my eyes. I never knew I would leave a piece of my heart in Juan Bosch, but there it lies.
I leave you for now with this lesson learned.
God will not always give you a second chance to minister to someone.
Risk looking foolish and undignified to be obedient to the Lord, the outcome will be far worth it.
