Each week we feature a devotional, book review or testimony ~ a “Devotional Spotlight”, written by a woman in our ministry. May you be blessed reading a devotional by Catherine Johnson…
“God of Miracles”
Do you believe in miracles? “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 This is a miracle!
God performs miracles constantly.
Unfortunately, as sinners, we are just like Israelites after the Exodus; we tend to forget the past and worry about the future. “’You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.’” Exodus 19:4
In December of 2006, my husbands’ kidneys started to fail. He began his evaluation process and was approved to receive a kidney. I started my evaluation in January of 2007. I believed God wanted me to give him my kidney, but my husband was not convinced. I was leading a women’s Bible study at JFBC and surrounded by the overwhelming support of the women’s and prayer ministries, but I was worried about our future. A dear friend in Bible study gave me Jeremiah 29:11, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.’” In February, we found out that our blood types were compatible and that his antibodies didn’t fight mine. We were a match! During further testing, I was denied when my kidney function came back at 84%. 90% or better was required to donate. This call came on March 13, our 14th wedding anniversary. I knew the test had to be wrong. We pleaded with the doctors to let me take the test again. The head of the department agreed to let me take a more precise test. Two days later, the results came back at 97% kidney function, more than good enough to share! We also struggled with a blood disorder that I was diagnosed with during the pregnancy of our second son. After more tests, the doctors told me that I must have been misdiagnosed. I showed no signs of the disease that had caused me so many complications 10 years ago. We knew the truth;
God had healed me to show us that we were following His will.
Our final testing hurdle came when the doctors tested my husband’s heart and thought they saw a tear. After repeated tests and hours of prayer, the results came back as a shadow. His aorta was fine! Not only did we have all these miracles and the miracle of a non-related match, but also of my husband being convinced that we were in God’s will. He had really struggled with the dangers of the surgery for me and having both parents in surgery at the same time. God gave us His peace, the peace of God that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7), but our boys did not understand. With the guidance of our church family, our sons began to see that they didn’t need to worry. They were told that worry is like a pink elephant. If someone tells you not to think about a pink elephant, then that is all you will think about.
Instead of asking God to help you not worry, ask God to help you trust Him.
On May 17, 2007, the day before our shared birthdays, God blessed me with the opportunity to give flesh of my flesh to the love of my life. On May 18th, I woke to see my husband walking into my hospital room, pushing his IV, smiling, and saying “Happy Birthday!” I can’t explain the power of that moment. He looked so healthy and strong, and he had just been through a major operation! God’s miraculous grace and peace were always with me.
Not only did God heal him, but He also healed me and my family of our lack of trust.
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It’s now been six years since our transplant. My husband’s kidney is doing well. I want everyone to know how grateful and thankful I am to God for this miracle of life. “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” Deuteronomy 4:9 Our sons are now 18 and 16. I don’t want them ever to forget what happened when they were 12 and 10. I look forward to telling future generations about God’s loving provisions. I want everyone to know this about me. Believing in a God of miracles means believing in a God you can put your hope and trust in. “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” Ephesians 3:20
