Jesus and Arthritis

About six months ago, my daughter, Belle, was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis. She is six years old. Today, she is pain free, and we just found out today that the LORD has paid off the bills we incurred for her treatment by our income qualifying us for 100% relief!! We are sooo grateful for both miracles!

This journey has been challenging on two fronts. First, on a natural level, it has been really difficult for Bart and I to watch our child experience pain. She had pain in her feet for a long time before we got a diagnosis. Some mornings it was so bad that she had to be carried into Kindergarten crying. So, when the doctor at Vanderbilt told us that it was arthritis, we were a little relieved that we knew what it was, and could start treatment. However, that treatment was also challenging for Belle and for us. She gets weekly injections of medication, and was put to sleep for steroid injections in her joints. Words can't really describe what it feels like to watch your child walk away with strangers for those shots, and know that you can't go with her. I now know why Jesus says, "Believe ON me" instead of "in me." I believed ON Him, because I was leaning on him to even be able to stand. What a comforter He is!

Secondly, this journey has been challenging to me spiritually. For years, I've worked in the healing ministry. Through prayer, I've seen Jesus heal people of countless illnesses in hopeless situations. I personally have been healed of severe asthma (and prayed for many people who've been healed of asthma), and my husband was healed of hemophilia. We believe in God's healing power. So, of course, Satan always attacks your platform...your place of influence.

We prayed with Belle every day, we had our church and friends pray for her, and believed for instant healing. Everytime we went to Vanderbilt we believed that they would tell us that the arthritis was gone, but that's not what happened. I've found that in times like these, Satan likes to question our faith, our beliefs, and our convictions. He asked questions like, "How can you pray for other people to be healed when you can't even get God to heal your own child?" My answer: Because Jesus is a healer, and "by his stripes, we are HEALED."

You might ask, "Why hasn't God just healed Belle?" My answer is: He HAS! Why haven't we seen the full manifestation of that healing yet? I don't know. Religious people tend to have problems with "I don't know." But that's the truth. And instead of focusing on what I don't know, I choose to focus on what I do know.

I do know that God is a healer, and that He is healing Belle as we speak. As I said before...she is pain free, and there are no more signs of arthritis, and we are believing that after the effects of these shots wear off, there will still be no arthritis.

I do know that God did not give Belle arthritis. He isn't punishing her or us. He isn't trying to teach us something. Like, Romans 8:8 says, He uses ALL things to our good, but He didn't give arthritis to her. Satan did that. The bible says that Satan comes to "kill, steal, and destroy," but that Jesus came so that we may "have life, and more abundantly."

Now, have we learned things and drawn closer to God through this experience? Absolutely. Bart and I have learned how important it is for us to be in unity praying for Belle, and for everything we pray for. We've learned to trust in ways we never have before. Belle and Brie have learned how to pray out loud for healing, how to praise God more heartfeltly, and Belle has learned just how much courage she has in Christ. These very fruits of our journey are the reasons that Satan will be so sorry he ever messed with us in the first place! We are coming out better, stronger, and more confident than ever in the goodness of God!

Jesus is good. He is a healer, a provider, and my peace. Thank you to all our family and friends that have supported us in prayer through this experience. We are blessed beyond measure on all fronts!