JESUS PHYSICALLY HEALED ME!

Jesus physically healed His daughter. 

The Lord performed an absolute miracle during our debrief in Batumi, Georgia, but before I can get into that we have to backtrack to what led up to that moment. 

We’re going way back to month one in Romania. When I left for the race, I was physically healthy (for the most part). No aches, no pains, however, once we were out of quarantine and we were walking all over the city, my right knee started to become quite painful to walk on. The pain would come and go. When it was there, it really made itself known and when it wasn’t I genuinely would just forget about it. I chalked it up to not being used to the “World Race lifestyle” and ignored it. 

Fast forward to month 6 and my knee feels like it’ll give out any day now. The pain is unbearable… and then my pride and insecurity crept in. 

“Will my team think I’m the weak link?” 

“The race is too hard, I shouldn’t be here.” 

“I can’t ask for help, I’m supposed to figure it out on my own. It’s no one else’s problem”.

Loud lies I was constantly fighting for a month. 

Finally, my team and I were in Turkey, and during team time, I just broke down. The tears just kept coming. (I mean how could they not, they had been suppressed for months?) After a very vulnerable moment, my team met me with comfort, assurance, and love. 

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ”. 

Galatians 6:2

The next month we were in Tbilisi, Georgia and there was an American hospital near our apartment (THANKS GOD). Also, shout out to my team leader, Sav, for fighting hard to make sure her sheep were taken care of. (I‘m one of those sheep).

After three injections, physical therapy, and an MRI scan, not much progress had been made. There was still pain and I was very discouraged. The lies came back just different.

 “You’re supposed to be in pain”.

“Does the Lord actually want to heal you?” 

Let me tell you though, that God’s fervent pursuit of me is astonishing. He spoke through different team members as they got words from the Lord that He did want to heal me. My Father hated to see me in pain. So there was a moment where I had to believe and trust that the healing would come in HIS timing and in HIS way, not mine. I continued the month in pain but left that line of communication open with my Father and invited Him into what I felt. 

We said goodbye to Tbilisi and took a 6-hour train to Batumi for debriefing. During the train ride, I felt a lot of pain in my knee. It had gotten to the point where even sitting in a certain position too long hurt. We settled into our hotel and we went about our normal schedule. On April 3, I had no idea what was about to happen that morning. I got ready for the day, grabbed a cup of coffee, and headed to our session. 

This is me waiting on the elevator to get to the morning session… little did I know what was about to happen !!!

We began with worship and as I sang my heart out to the Lord, I heard His voice. 

“Ask for prayer”.

“But.. everyone is in here” (Coaches, Leadership, the entire squad.. 30 of us in a crowded room). 

I wrestled with the idea for an entire song. I knew He wanted me to ask for prayer for my knee; to ask IN FAITH and trust God that He can do it. The last song ended, and the words rolled right off my tongue “can you guys pray for me?”  

I explained what for and confidently claimed that healing is a part of my inheritance and I knew God could do this for me. (Don’t get me wrong, I was shaking and my hands were sweating, but my confidence wasn’t in myself, it was in Him).

The squad proceeded to lay hands on me and pray while I was on the ground, sitting with warm tears running down my cheeks. After a few minutes, my coach, Darla, told me to get up and walk. 

So I did.

THE PAIN HAD LEFT!!!!!!!!

I WAS HEALED. 

To be completely honest, I was in utter shock. Happy tears started streaming down my face and I was laughing out of pure joy! Gratitude overflowed my heart. The room was crowded so I decided to step out onto the patio outside. I ran up and down that thing with tears of joy, laughing full out!!

Here are some images that I think capture my feelings at that moment…

The Lord is SO sweet and kind!!!!! I was on cloud 9 for a while. As the dust settled, I journaled about my day and kept talking to the Lord about it all. Then it kind of hit me… He heals because He loves. He LOVES His children. Not because they deserve it, not because they’ve been ‘good’, not because God’s trying to prove anything.. but simply because He loves His most precious creation, you. 

Since that day, I’ve walked for miles without pain and even hiked a mountain!

If you’re reading this, I want you to know God loves you so deeply and with such fervency. He sent His son Jesus to die to pay a debt you and I owed but couldn’t pay so that you and I could be in relationship with Him. We were made in the image of love and God wants you and me to know Love; up close and personal. He wants us to know Jesus. 

Thank you so much for reading!! As I write this we are halfway through our time in Armenia. Your prayers are much appreciated and needed as we encounter more people to love. 

Until next time amigos, 

Gina Oyuela-Dickinson:)