Meet Sue

I want to thank my sweet friend Sue Chacko for guest posting for me while I am neck high with boxes! My husband and I are moving to another city in a few days. The thought of taking the time to write my own new post was not realistic so Sue stepped in to help me out. She has my immense gratitude for sharing her gifts with us.

She is a pharmacist with a story to tell of her own struggle with an undiagnosed illness. Even though she was used to the medical community, frustrations and questions still met her in the midst of it all. Let her tell you how she used God’s Word to cope and pray for healing.

Where to turn for help?

This past week a prominent Christian author and speaker, announced he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. When I read his statement on Facebook, I was deeply saddened. I do not know him personally but I was privileged to hear him speak at a public forum, and I also have one of his bestselling books. There are over 6000 comments on his Facebook page (as I write this post) offering hope and comfort from his friends, followers, and other prominent Christian figures.

How many times have I heard my very own friends and family be diagnosed with cancer? It is heart aching to hear they have it, but also even sadder to see them have to go through the chemo, radiations, and surgeries. Some have overcome and survived, and unfortunately, a few of my dearest and nearest were unable to fight further.

When you hear news like this where should we turn to?

What the Bible says

The Bible has many stories of Jesus healing the sick, blind, deaf, mute, crippled, etc. I wanted to focus on my favorite story of healing, and that is of the women having an issue of blood. Her story can be found in three of the four gospels.

Mark 5:24-34

25 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in herbody that she was healed of the affliction. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”

31 But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”

32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

My story

There was a time in my own life where I was afflicted with an illness. I had gone to doctor after doctor, blood test after blood test, and no one had a clear answer to why I was ill. There was a point in my life where I couldn’t even hold a toothbrush to brush my teeth because I was so weak. This is the story I read almost every day during my season of illness because He gave me some strength to hold on to my New Testament.

The women in this story suffered for 12 years. I can’t imagine the annoyance she had in the doctors she had seen, and how distraught she was because she had no money left to seek for more help. But she was at the right place at the right time on that day Jesus came to town. She knew in her heart, only the Lord could heal her. She knew her dependence was not on the doctors.

All this woman wanted to do was touch His garment and she made every efforts to do so. And when she touched him, she was made well. Was she made well just because she touched him? I think not. She had a faith that was unwavering. She was courageous enough to reach out and touch him. Praise God for that HOPE and FAITH she had. What is even better is Jesus directly spoke to her, saying  “Daughter your faith has made you well!” Those words are so comforting to me.

Being a pharmacist I know the extent to how much a medication can help me, but being a daughter of the great physician, I know how much my faith can cure. If only we all had a tad bit more faith in relying on God for healing.

Here are four more scriptures to give you hope as you pray for healing for yourself or a loved one.

Psalms 30:2 O LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.

Jeremiah 17:14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise.

Psalm 41: 3 The LORD sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.

Psalm 103: 1-5

Bless the Lord, O my soul;

And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,

And forget not all His benefits:

3 Who forgives all your iniquities,

Who heals all your diseases,

4 Who redeems your life from destruction,

Who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies,

5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,

So that your youth is renewed like the eagles.

What I learned

I was healed after several months of going through my illness, and now my story has become my testimony to share with you and to others who are going through the same. Do not be discouraged if you do not see immediate healing, the Lord is not finished with His work in you!