As I look around the room there are varying degrees of disbelief and shock on the faces of my squad mates, coupled with tears streaming down many of their cheeks.
The time has finally arrived, and each individual was responding differently to the healing taking place right before our eyes.
At both training camp and launch it was spoken over our squad that we would be a squad to see healing and our prayers would bring varying signs and wonders to the nations. These statements were confirmed by multiple interactions with other believers, and continued throughout many months of the race by some who did not even really understand what The World Race was all about.
In the beginning, our squad walked in this boldly, awaiting the slums of Asia and Africa where we were certain that it would be seen. After all, that is what most people expect from the various images plastered on National Geographic and countless documentaries about the Unreached. Prayers had been prayed. Asia came and went, Africa came and went — No healing.
I am certain that the Lord’s power dwells within my squad-mates and I, and that prayer is a powerful tool that impacts our lives and the lives of those we encounter on the field. Prayer is a precious gift that God has given us, to stay in constant communion with him. This power, this authority, is something that takes time to fully understand and invest in.
We’ve wept with the lost, prayed prayers of joyous celebration and victory, and knelt down before God in adoration and reverence praying straight from the very depths of our spirits.
If you would have asked PreRace Jenny what she thought of prayer, I would have told you that I thought it was great but that I didn’t pray as often as I should. I blessed my meal, and I thanked Him for the good things that have happened to me, but most often the prayers I prayed were ( and often still are) rooted in requests and the need for voids to be filled in my life.
Here we were, a squad that had seen God move in our personal spiritual lives and confirm many things about our purpose and value. We were and are still hungry for more, but also tired and weary from 8 months of travel. Our identity as “the squad to bring healing” was simply an afterthought but we were still soaking in the words of Mark Marx, hoping for the best. Looking around the room as he spoke some were confused, some excited, and some skeptical. Regardless of where we were at, each person was listening intently.
After allowing Mark to pour into us for about an hour, his wealth of knowledge and experience in praying healing in the streets, we were provided the opportunity to stand in the authority that we receive from the power of the Cross and pray healing for each other.
A few of my squad-mates, willing to volunteer themselves as tribute, sat in a chair with legs stretched out in front of them as Mark pointed out the difference in their length. As he prayed over them, we saw their shorter leg slowly lengthen until it was in line with the ankle of the other. One after the other, my squad-mates sat in quiet expectation, and one after the other their legs began to Even out. A previous teammate of mine had been suffering through plantar fascitis, a painful tendon issue in the arches of her feet, sat down in hopeful anticipation as well. She had trekked through small villages and cities in ceaseless pain, and was able to feel the relief of standing/running/jumping for joy without pain for the first time in over 8 long months.
After Mark prayed for a handful of us, we were encouraged to pray ourselves. We saw a knee healed, other’s legs lengthen, and jaw pain cease. Now here is the kicker — we also saw a plethora of nothingness. We saw prayers for healed vision seemingly land on deaf ears. We felt no response to commandments for back aches and spinal curvature issues.
So here we all were, looks of combined joy and frustrated disbelief as the miraculous was happening (and not happening) right in front of our eyes…in Ireland. A wee town of Europe, where WiFi was on every corner and coffee was served with a warm smile.
We have the luxury of showering everyday, and buying familiar food at the grocery shop down the street. The surroundings are where we would least expect the Lord to show up, and he did in powerful ways — both in healing and responding with stillness.
For some of us, this afternoon was a lesson in learning to believe that God is still good despite our ailments not being removed and our requests not being granted. For others, it was a lesson in believing that we are worthy of good gifts and standing in the authority of the Cross.
Overall, I believe that I have learned that God knows our hearts better than we do, and he diversifies the way he approaches each of us because he knows what we need— when we need it. His timing is everything, and I am simply a vessel. I may pray 5,000 prayers for 5,000 people and never see someone healed, but I know that His hand is in everything.
I have experienced Healing and Heartache. The healing in my neck for a short moment of time after the prayers from teammates. I’ve felt healing of my pained spirit, and have seen God’s healing in relationships that I thought were un-mendable. In the same respect Heartache is an old friend that comes to visit often. Heartache comes in the form of disappointment in not hearing God’s response to my prayers, parts of my story I still don’t understand, and the areas that I still don’t trust Him to take control of yet.
Not seeing healing result from my prayers on that afternoon may have caused heartache for me and some others, but that is okay. I’ve learned that all God asks for is our obedience and to have faith that He can do immeasurably more than all that we ask or imagine.
Whether you are experiencing Healing or Heartache, know that God will use this time for good. He sees beyond the state that we are currently in, and will show us the purpose and reason when we are ready.
