Prayer Changes Things

Prayer Changes Things

A few years back, my mom’s doctor gently but firmly told us that she could no longer drive herself to appointments. This was a necessary precaution as my mom had an incident that could have resulted in a disastrous situation. She lost consciousness while driving, waking up just in time to avoid a collision with oncoming traffic by pulling into a church parking lot. Her loss of consciousness was a direct result of the chemo treatment that she received earlier that day as she has been battling cancer since 2014. Until this day in 2022, she had driven herself to treatment. 

On my first visit with her, her oncologist asked if I was aware of my mom’s prognosis. I shared that we knew very little as my mom is a very independent woman. He shared that while cancer research had provided many options for her specific type of cancer, they had, heartbreakingly, exhausted all of them. With the cancer showing signs of returning, our only path forward was trying some less common, alternative treatments.

With that news, I went into prayer and I asked my church family and friends to join me. We prayed earnestly for my mom and her doctor. Just a few weeks later, her physician called us in again for a visit. When we arrived, he shared that a new treatment had just been approved by the FDA and my mom would be the first patient in the area to receive it. After some preliminary lab work and testing, she began treatment the very next week. Thankfully, only a few doses were needed before she was declared cancer-free, a beautiful state she has maintained ever since.

We have been given the beautiful gift of prayer by God Himself. He doesn’t just suggest it; He commands us to “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) He gently reminds us to come to Him about everything, telling us that often “We have not because we ask not” and sometimes “We ask and do not receive because we ask amiss.” (James 4:2-3) The words of a well-known Pastor and teacher really stuck with me: we might be suffering through an ailment or situation because we simply haven’t asked God to take it away. That statement truly revitalized my spirit and my prayer life. It taught me that while some trials are meant for our growth, others might be avoidable if we just ask. I hold onto the comforting truth that God has the power to change any situation.

The famous hymn says it best, 

“What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!”

So friends, soak every decision and situation in prayer. Earnestly lean on Him and trust Him to work it all out for your good. God is truly good. 

I would love to hear your testimony. Reach out via email at [email protected] or simply go to our contact us page. 

For God’s Glory,

Tahnee