…and his stomachache went away.

Last updated on: February 10, 2012 at 3:38 pm by Kaitlin B. Curtice

…and his stomachache went away. 2012-02-10T15:38:12-04:00 Kaitlin B. Curtice

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Martin Tupper once said, “Prayer is the slender nerve that moves the muscle of omnipotence.”

The first time I heard this quote we were sitting at International Justice Mission’s Global Prayer Gathering. When it comes to justice, compassion, mercy, and the like, I have no problem falling to my knees in prayer, pleading on the behalf of the oppressed.

Asking for healing is another matter.

A few days ago, Travis had gotten sick with a horrible stomachache, and I was imagining all the possible ways Eliot could get sick as well: a runny nose leading to a sore throat, ear infections, whooping cough, all of it. So I prayed. I prayed for protection over Eliot’s body. (God, please don’t let him get sick, please.)

I couldn’t shake the fear I had, though. All day long it attached itself to me and wouldn’t let go; I cried as I washed the dishes, I worried as Eliot slept in his swing.

When we were in Uganda in 2009, we prayed for a man in a wheelchair. He was dying, he was old and tired. We prayed. We laid hands. Nothing happened. We got back in the van and I fought with God, tears staining my hardened face. (Why didn’t you heal him? You could heal him in an instant. Why don’t you want to heal him?) Travis quietly reminded me that we would never know if God had healed him, this man that we would never see again. Still, I doubted and I wondered and I questioned.

So we sat in our living room and I asked Travis why. I questioned God with my husband, we talked about the possibilities of Eliot getting sick, what steps we’d take, what role God has in all of it. I admitted my fears, admitted my doubts, and let all my thoughts, good and bad, escape my mouth.
It was hard, but it was needed.

I grew up without questions. I took everything that was handed to me in my Baptist upbringing, and I let myself run with it, even when I didn’t understand. I believe God works with us in our doubts, meets us and holds us and reminds us that He is way bigger.

So before we went to bed that night, Travis asked me to lay my hand on his stomach and pray for healing. I cried. I put my hand on his stomach and prayed hard, prayed like a child would. (God, please heal Travis. Please, please please. You know my doubts, my fears. I know you are good. Papa, please. Please.)

And I prayed for Eliot. (Please let him sleep well tonight, God. Please give him rest. Please. Please.)

We woke the next morning.
Travis tenderly told me that his stomachache went away as soon as I had prayed for him.
Eliot slept far better than he has been lately.
I had to face the wonderful, tender truth that God had heard my cries.
He is not distant, He is not far off.
I will never know if the man in the wheelchair was healed. I will never know his relationship with his creator.

But I do know that despite my doubts, fears, and worries, that slender nerve worked just as it should have the night that Travis was sick. That slender nerve tugged on that muscle, and the Omnipotent one moved on our behalf. Not only to heal Travis, not only to give Eliot rest, but to remind me that He is good, He is Father and Healer, and He works beyond my understanding.

The next time Travis gets sick, God may not heal him, but I pray that my faith still reminds me that He is good. And if I doubt, I pray that my faith still reminds me of the night his stomachache went away.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

February 5, 2012

Baby Dedication

Next Post

February 16, 2012 Find rest, my soul...

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent 2016 Adventure Community & One Another Contemplation Lent 2016 Lessons Motherhood Native American Heritage Month 2017 Native American Spirituality Politics & Social Justice Prayer Remembrance Seven Gratitudes Uncategorized

Select a Month April 2018 March 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 August 2013 March 2013 February 2013 November 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz