Thirty days.
That’s how long I made it in Africa – Malaria free.
On May 10th I tested positive for the dreaded disease.
I can honestly say it was the worst that I have ever felt physically in my life. It is a whole different level of sick. It knocks you to the ground, steals the breath from your lungs, serves a side of sweat baths with your chills, lights a furnace in your body, puts a wrench on your head, and then asks you to run to the bathroom with urgency (even though you don’t have the strength to). They say that the second 24 hours is the worst, and I would agree.
But through it all I felt like God’s favor fell on me.
I was diagnosed with malaria just 2 hours before getting on an overnight bus, and I can think of a lot more enjoyable things than taking a 9-hour bus ride in Africa while having Malaria. But God can’t save you if you don’t need saving, and that is just what He did for me. At first my only symptoms were a sore throat, headache and some fatigue. Eventually, I spiked a fever of 104 just hours before getting on the overnight bus ride and thankfully God gave me some pretty rad friends. They convinced me to go to the doctor ASAP, and packed my bags while I went to the hospital.
So what exactly did God save me from?
Well, Google’s list of symptoms for malaria is: chills, fatigue, fever, night sweats, shivering, sweating, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting, fast heart rate, headache, mental confusion, and pallor.
My symptoms didn’t get any worse, I didn’t spike a fever the whole ride, and I even cat napped occasionally.
However, after arriving in our new city I experienced Malaria to the fullest degree. Within an hour of stepping off the bus however, my symptoms worsened dramatically.
I have definitely sent up a few “thank you” prayers because I can see God’s hand in all of the timing in everything. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME.
During the following days I spent a lot of time in the presence of God. He was my only comfort and taught me a lot during the quiet moments. I don’t think my revelations came in vain, and I hope that sharing these lessons with you will save you the pain of learning it firsthand. Here are three of them..
Lesson One
I would encourage you to look at your challenges as an opportunity to listen to God, worship, and seek refuge in Him. When I started rejoicing in the suffering is when I found a deeper joy, hope, and peace.
“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5
I know that God is always in control and protecting us, sometimes from battles we will never know He fought and won for us, so the thought crossed my mind… if this is as bad as it gets, then I should rejoice, because whatever Gods hand is protecting me from must be A LOT worse. If we are in a time of trials we should really be celebrating, because He could be withholding greater harm from us. He is always working things in our favor, even if we cannot see it.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
We should also take peace in knowing that He won’t give us more than we can bear.
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 1 Cor 10:13
Lesson Two
True and complete faith is one that believes God is still good and powerful in every circumstance, regardless of the outcome.
“He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”” Mark 5:34
I have always believed that He has the power to heal through our faith, and because of our faith. I know that we serve a God of miracles, and I have even witnessed Him heal people firsthand. But something He showed me was that I have lacked complete Faith. Although I believed in His power to heal.. I haven’t have full faith that He is still as powerful, mighty, and good when He chooses not to heal. My faith is not complete until it is one that celebrates when He chooses NOT to heal just as much as I celebrate the miracles.
Lesson Three
Every moment of weakness is an opportunity for God to give us strength. We just have to choose Him.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Cor 12:9
I felt so weak and helpless that the thought of having to spend another month in West Africa scared me. I didn’t think I could do it. I was too afraid of Malaria and too frightened at the thought of getting it again.
But
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18
I realized pretty quickly that this emotion and thought of fear did not come from God. So I quickly took my thoughts captive, spoke Truth over myself, and that’s when my sickness turned into a blessing. From that moment forward I found strength in my weakness.
Satan is pathetic how he attacks us when we are weak, and it really just made me angry. My anger quickly turned into excitement. The place I once feared became a place of opportunity the moment I invited Jesus into it. I rejoiced because Satan likes to prey on weakness, and Africa is full of weak moments. With Jesus on my side, I love the thought of staying in Africa, because I want Satan to get malaria too.
I hope that you can gain something from my struggles, just as I did, and turn your burdens into blessings. God has already claimed victory in your battles, all you have to do is accept and celebrate!
