“You have a tumor the size of a grapefruit. It needs to come out. And to prevent the possibility of uncontrollable bleeding, we must do a hysterectomy as well,” the surgeon said.
I was not happy! As a nurse, I knew the complications that can result from hysterectomies.
For months, in my daily morning worships, I prayed and claimed healing Bible promises. Over and over I read stories of Jesus healing people. I kept praying, “Dear God, You did it then. Please do it now.”
I really wanted to be surrendered to His will. My heart pleaded, “Your will be done, but if possible, please take away the tumor.” I kept searching my heart and asking God to reveal anything I needed to confess and make right. I didn’t want anything between God and me that might keep Him from answering my prayer.
Just days before the surgery, I had a second sonogram to check the tumor’s size again. The doctor advised me to donate some of my blood so they would have it on hand if needed.
Still struggling, I called my friend Juanita Kretschmar and asked her to pray the Encounter Prayer with me. It was a precious time with her.*
Surgery was scheduled in a city two hours away from home. The local pastor and his wife graciously opened their home to Jerry and me. I asked if they would anoint me for healing.
My anointing was a special time. I sensed God was near. I felt I was healed “Please, God, Take Away the Tumor” but didn’t say anything about it. On the way to the hospital the next morning, I told my husband that I thought the tumor was gone.
At the hospital, I told the surgical nurse that I needed to speak with the surgeon. I explained that I was a Christian, that I had been anointed, and that I thought I’d been healed. Calmly, he replied, “Janet, you have a four-inch tumor. You need surgery.”
“If you see that I don’t have a tumor, will you promise not to do a hysterectomy?” I had to ask three times before he agreed.
They started the IV, and I went to sleep. Next thing I knew, a nurse was shaking my shoulder. “Janet! Janet, wake up. There was no tumor!”
The surgeon came in saying, “I can’t believe it! No tumor! No hysterectomy!” Then he paused and asked, “Would you please pray for my medical work?” Jerry and I prayed with him. Jerry called our host couple with the good news. When we walked into their house, the pastor blurted out, “I don’t believe in anointing, I don’t believe!” He went on to share that both of his parents had died of cancer. He had prayed much and anointed them, but neither had been healed.
I don’t know why God sometimes heals instantly, while other times He heals through a lengthy process, or at the Resurrection. But I do know that God can be trusted. For years I’ve suffered difficulties with my neck from a car accident. God has not chosen to remove that pain. But I will keep calling on His name and asking and thanking Him for healing in His time and His way.
Anointing is not only for the bedside of someone dying from a physical illness. It is also for healing from emotional and spiritual pain, damaged relationships, addictions, and bitterness—always as He sees best. Anointing is based on James 5:13-15.
In this issue of The Journal, see the article “Praying for Personal Healing” by Derek Morris for more insights into this very practical need in our lives.
My prayer is that you will each find healing in your own life whether it’s physical, spiritual, or emotional.
*See Juanita’s article “Encounter with God in Prayer” in The Journal (2nd quarter 2015) or go to www.revivalandreformation.org/ prayerresources and click on “Articles.”