Healing; Part 1

Mountain View
By Paula Friedrichsen

Healing; Part 1

In 1998 I contracted Lyme disease from a tick bite while hiking in the mountains near my home. The symptoms were many and varied; Severe arthritis, unbelievable muscle aches, mind-numbing fatigue, tingling in my fingers and toes, occasional loss of peripheral vision, Bell’s palsy symptoms, and trouble writing and spelling (almost like a temporary dyslexia).

When I tested positive for Lyme I was actually relieved to finally know what was wrong with me. But my relief was short-lived when I found out that my chances of getting rid of Lyme disease were not good since it had gone undiagnosed for almost a year. My treatment involved antibiotics administered through an IV for 50 consecutive days, followed by oral antibiotics for another two weeks. When all was said and done, I was only a little better—and the treatment was all over! But I still could not walk to the end of our driveway. I still could not hold my daughter. I still could not make beds, cook, vacuum, or go anywhere. I was still in chronic pain. It was a very discouraging time and I cried more than my share of tears. It seemed unthinkable to me that at 36 years old I could be permanently disabled by a tick bite. But by far my biggest battle wasn’t with this disease, it was with fear. Fear was an ever-present adversary whispering things like, "This is your new life, how do you like it? There is no hope for you! This illness will kill you eventually."

During those frightening months I cried out to God as never before. I spent many days sitting on my deck, Bible open on my lap, journal close by, seeking God’s wisdom and healing for my situation. And eventually the Lord led me to Psalm 29. This Psalm starts off with praise to God and then progresses to tell what the voice of the Lord accomplishes. I especially noticed the seven descriptions in that Psalm telling about the mighty acts of the voice of the Lord:

The voice of the Lord is over the waters
The voice of the Lord is powerful
The voice of the Lord is majestic
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars
The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning
The voice of the Lord shakes the desert
The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, Glory!

A week or so after beginning my study of Psalm 29 our church began a five-day conference to celebrate their 25th anniversary. And it was over the 5 days of that conference that God healed me! Each day I improved dramatically, and on the 4th day of the conference I decided to ask the special speaker to pray for me to be healed. He bowed his head and reached out his hand to place it on my shoulder—when all of sudden he pulled his hand back and looked me in the eye. He said, “Your healing is found in the ‘voice of the Lord.’” With a few polite words he turned and walked away.

“The voice of the Lord?” Yes! That was what Psalm 29 had been speaking to me for over a week! My faith soared as I realized that God was doing something wonderful, amazing, powerful, and completely supernatural! He was healing me ... I could feel it!

By day five of our church conference I was completely healed—and when the morning service was over I decided to walk the half mile home! The sun was shining, the breeze was whistling through the trees, and I couldn’t stop smiling and praising God.

Two days later my friend Janet and I went on a celebratory hike in the mountains near our home (yes, I wore long pants and put on tick repellent) remembering that less than a week earlier I had been unable to walk to the end of my driveway. Yet here I was hiking several miles in perfect health. All Lyme disease symptoms were gone! Oh what glory and joy there is when God moves in our lives!

That healing happened many years ago and I’m still praising God for His goodness. I’ve had the opportunity to share my testimony at churches, and with many individuals in person, over the phone, and by email. I’m still regularly contacted by people who are suffering with Lyme disease and it is my great joy and honor to pray for them.

If you are afflicted with an incurable illness I want to tell you that God is a healer. He did not heal me because I’m His favorite—but simply because He is determinedly good to His children. His Word says that if you seek Him, you will find Him. I encourage you to press into Jesus, press into His Word, and press into worship. Give Him your mustard seed of faith and just watch what He does with it!

Paula Friedrichsen is a member of Church on the Mountain, a vibrant community of believers in Crowley Lake. We meet at 9:30 Sunday mornings. Call for more information: 935-4272 or www.ChurchOnTheMountain.org