A Prayer for a Miracle
By Victoria Riollano
"I took my troubles to the LORD; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer." - Psalm 120:1
I fell down a flight of stairs.
After visiting a church only twice, I found myself face-first and legs contorted down seven thick concrete stairs. My scream was so loud people came running from every corner of the church to pray for my swift healing. Yet, no matter how loud or passionately they prayed, my leg continued to throb. Moments later, I would have to be carried out to the car and driven home by the pastor’s wife. My embarrassment would be the least of my worries this evening. The night ended with incessant pain and sobbing tears, which landed me in the ER and to a specialist. A quick look at my x-ray made it clear that I had broken several things my tibia, fibula, and ankle. The breaks were so severe that I was told I would need metal rods inserted into my leg to be able to walk and heal. The prognosis came with a year of being unable to walk properly and a life of discomfort. At only twenty-three years old, with a small infant at home, I was devastated. How would I take care of my child? How much pain would I experience? Why wasn’t I healed when the church members gathered in prayer?
Yet, in a moment of despair, I felt an insatiable urge to pray to the Lord for answers. In a gentle small voice, I heard the Lord say, “Get a second opinion.”
I couldn’t shake it, and I felt like the Lord had healed me somehow. Days later, I got a second opinion. The new doctor wanted to be thorough and made a last-minute call to give me a second x-ray. I will never forget when he entered the room and his shock. There was a major difference between my previous x-ray and my current one. Many of the injuries from days before were no longer present. I had been healed. No surgery would be needed, only a few months of physical therapy and a walking boot! Needless to say, the church, my family, and I were ecstatic. I was a walking miracle.
At this moment, I was reminded of the miracles of the Bible. I had heard the stories of the blind men seeing and the lame men walking. However, many of these stories seemed a distant reality. I had never experienced them for myself. Yet, the Lord had healed me. He had astonished the doctors and proven that he has the final say.
The verse found in Numbers 23:19 rung clearly in my heart.
“God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?”
The Lord delivers on every promise. He is not fickle; he doesn't change his mind toward his creation. Yes, the same God who healed the woman with the issue of blood and healed the emotional wounds of Peter after his denial still heals! He is a God who is present in our suffering and available to us when we call out in our time of need. Our response to this marvelous God is to seek him in our time of need and believe. Though the healing may not come as quickly as we desire, we can believe he has our best interest at heart. In due season, the Lord will deliver on His promise. And the beauty of it all is the victory of every believer is that even if we aren’t healed on Earth, we have an eternal security of heaven where every tear will be wiped away!
Let’s pray.
Lord, I thank you for your healing power. There are areas of my physical and emotional health that need you more than ever. Father, I pray for a miracle. I pray that you would bring the peace, comfort, and faith as I await your glorious unfolding of my story. I believe in you. I trust in your word and believe that you can radically change things in my life. Thank you, God, for all that you have done and continued to do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Photo credit: ©SalemDesign/BethanyPyle
Victoria Riollano is a mother of eight, veteran spouse, Psychology professor, and doctoral student, Victoria has learned the art of balancing family and accomplishing God’s ultimate purpose for her life. Victoria holds an MA in Child Psychology and is the author of two books- The Victory Walk: A 21-Day Devotional on Living a Victorious Life and Warrior Mother: Equipping Your Heart to Fight for Your Family’s Faith. When she is not writing, you can find her serving in her local church as the pastor’s wife, worship leader, and youth pastor. Ultimately, she desires to empower women to live a life of victory, hope, and love. You can connect with Victoria at www.victoryspeaks.org and on social media at Victory Speaks by Victoria Riollano on Facebook and @myvictoryspeaks on Instagram.
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