When I decided to go on the Race, I began to pray for God to show me more of who He really is and that He would break down the walls of the religious box I’ve stuffed Him in and rid me of having Pharisaical presuppositions.
My mom has always (semi-)jokingly said she’s a non-denominational Baptist, and at some point in my life I kind of adopted that, too. She taught me early on in my life the importance of going by Scripture and being able to discern what’s of The Lord and what’s not – what religion and denomination says vs. what The Lord says. She taught me that denomination, while it gives structure and is extremely valuable, can sometimes put God in a box and struggle to see past its own beliefs, which can lead to hypocrisy and disunity within the body of Christ in its entirety across the world amongst numerous other things. I have always valued that lesson deeply, but never more so than now.
I knew before coming on the Race, I would be confronted with many different views on many different things since, even within my squad alone, each person comes from different backgrounds from all across the US. I knew I may very well be the most conservative and “most Baptist” person on my squad. I knew I could be exposed to very charismatic things. I knew I would encounter views and practices I don’t necessarily always agree with. I knew I would be stretched. I knew I could not have an attitude of a Pharisee, but rather of a disciple, a student, a learner, even a child – growing and changing and being molded each day. I knew a mirror would be held up to me many times over and that I would be forced to look within myself and choose into being called higher even when that was hard. I knew there would be times I would have to be grounded in my convictions and the solid foundation that I’ve been blessed to have been given growing up. I knew there would also be times though to dig and decide for myself in my own heart what I believe – to discern what is biblical and what is from The Lord rather than just going with what I’ve just been told my whole life.
Since I was in the 7th or 8th grade, I’ve had issues with my hips getting out of line. Every few months, I would have to go to the chiropractor to be readjusted because my hips would be pinching a nerve or I would limp when I stood up to walk waiting for my hip to straighten out. I knew before coming on the Race, I was due a readjustment again, but never got around to it amidst all the chaos of leaving. So, for the last 4 months, it’s progressively gotten a little more painful. I’ve always been really active – always able to do whatever I wanted with no issues. Then it started slowing me down. I always tried to get off the songthaew last or to stand behind for a minute hoping my friends wouldn’t notice me limping a little waiting for my hip to straighten out some. I was annoyed and angry.
By the end of Malaysia, I had worse problems. I’m not sure exactly what happened, but I began to have extreme pain in my lower spine. I couldn’t sit or stand without the pain making me gasp. I could hardly walk. I’ve always been able to touch my toes and even touch my nose to my knees, but suddenly I couldn’t even bend over slightly. I was frustrated and humiliated into humility – my friends (I am BEYOND grateful for their love and care through all this) had to help me pack, stand up, walk, almost help me dress (luckily got that figured out), and carry my big pack and my day pack through ALL of the airports on our transition from Asia to Central America (huge shoutout to Landon and Claire – you guys absolutely rock). It was honestly embarrassing – I am young and healthy, but I felt like I was 90yrs old.
Thank The Lord, my family was able to come see me during our layover in New York. The hospital was not the desired way to spend our short amount of time together, but I had to have some relief. The doctor said I had a pinched nerve from something possibly a disc and that as young and healthy as I was I should heal in just a couple weeks given proper rest and exercise. They gave me a shot and sent me on my way with some pain medicine.
My lower back pain began to subside some, but I still had a good bit of tension. My hips were an underlying issue, and upon reaching the village, I became increasingly aware of it. Each morning, I would almost fall trying to get out of my tent, I would have to limp a good minute every time I stood up, and I couldn’t exercise or even stretch comfortably anymore.
Most of my life, I’ve avoided the book of Acts in my personal study. I don’t know why. I was always scared of it. It sounded a little out there. For some reason though, I randomly decided to go through it chapter by chapter once I got to the village. Obviously, if you know anything about Acts, it’s all about signs and miracles and healings.
This became ironic to me because one night during team time, my friend asked if we could pray for healing for her migraine. She’s struggled with severe migraines her whole life, and she had one that day.
Before the Race, I was unsure of healing. I thought it was kind of a Pentecostalish thing… not something we pray for immediately anymore. I have always believed God could heal without a doubt, but honestly I don’t think I believed He would anymore. I guess I assumed it was something Jesus and the Apostles did – I somehow missed the part in John where Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, WHOEVER believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do EVEN GREATER THINGS THAN THESE, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:12-14, emphasis added)
The morning of the day my friend asked us to pray for healing, I had even (ironically, not-so-ironically) just read chapter 8 of Acts, highlighting in part of verse 7 and verse 8 “… many who where paralyzed or lame were healed, so there was much joy in that city,” and writing beside it, “Why do we think that is charismatic now? What makes us different? John 14 says WHOEVER believes and asks!!!”
This was the moment. I had never experienced laying hands on someone and truly praying for immediate healing for them. “Okay, Lord,” I spoke as all of our voices rang up to The Father in prayer at once, “I believe you can, and I’m choosing to believe you will heal right now in the name of Jesus. Your design was not for migraines, and she is worthy because of Your Son to walk in freedom from this. Satan has no place here to hold her captive through migraines. Take them far away from her in the name of Jesus.”
She opened her eyes, and I asked her if it was gone because if not we would pray again. She said it was gone!
Our translator then asked if we could pray for his back. He had also been experiencing extreme back pain to the point he was walking bent over. We gathered around him and prayed again. He stood up straight and rejoiced because he had not been able to do that at all without pain (I can attest – I watched him struggle all day).
Finally, one of my teammates softly said, “Maeci, you’ve had back pain for a while now, and I just realized we haven’t prayed for healing for you. Can we pray over you?”
Of course, I said yes. This was the real test – I would be able to tell in my own body if healing really happened.
They gathered around me and we prayed. It wasn’t anything weird that happened, but after praying, I could feel the tension release. I went to bed knowing that God was at work healing me. I woke up, and for the first time in a long time I didn’t struggle to get out of my tent/bed. I did my morning devotion, and I stood up and took a couple steps and then it hit me – I didn’t limp! My hips were straight! And I can honestly say I have not had an issue out of them or my back since.
We tend to often send up a “God, let your will be done in this situation” prayer for something or someone and call that praying for healing. I am all for praying for God’s will obviously, but I think it’s often prayed shallowly. God is honored by bold prayers people!!! He is mighty and immensely big and capable. Meek prayers that aren’t knocking and asking and seeking out of a bold faith are like lukewarm water. He doesn’t like that! Yes, He’s caring and compassionate, but He is also jealous and just. He desires us to praise Him and pray to Him with crazy faith. We forget He says that faith just the size of a mustard seed can move mountains!
I know people have controversy about healing and what that looks like a lot. Maybe you are like I was and kind of avoid it, don’t really understand it, get freaked out by the term, or maybe don’t even know what you believe about it. I don’t know. I do know though that this Christmas in an indigenous village called Terraba in the middle of who-knows-where Costa Rica, my Father in Heaven answered my prayer. He showed me more of who He was and broke down walls I’ve tried to put Him inside. He so lovingly waited for the perfect time, too. I had prayed for God to show me what healing meant or was or looked like on the Race. Four months went by, and I waited and waited. He could have showed me healing with some stranger on the street (which would have been amazing, but would have left me with questions). He waited though and chose to show me healing in His perfect time with some of my closest friends and even more than that allowed me to experience it within myself. I still have a lot to learn, and my faith is small (though it is growing by the day). However, I can testify that this Christmas, I saw and experienced healing, and I will never forget it.
So, the question is up to you… I know you believe God can, but do you believe He will – so much that your shallow prayers become powerful, persistent pounds at the door of The Throne Room?
Love in Christ,
Maeci
PS: Sorry for the length of that, but I felt it best to tell the whole testimony of what happened – thank you for reading until the end!! Also, we survived the village, and we are back at the AIM base in San José waiting to go to our Mid-Point Debrief (I know right – already almost half way!!!) in just a few days! Thank you for all the love, support, and prayers so far – I am very grateful and couldn’t make it without you! Merry (late) CHRISTmas!
