My personal healing journey began back in early October, 2006, when God was speaking to my heart about trust. God gave my son a vision of a scripture verse that he was to give to me for my birthday. This is a tradition in our family, where we often taken the time to hear from God for one another on our birthdays. I recall the vision my son was given by God, as we waited upon the Lord. My son said that he saw the words from John 14:1 etched on a stone.
“Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me.”
These were the same comforting words Jesus gave to His disciples before he was crucified. Little did I know, that just two weeks after my birthday, that I would require those very comforting words found in John 14:1.
My personal journey began upon the bedroom floor, while in prayer for my slumbering son. As I lay prostrate on that bedroom floor, I began to feel something like a hard lump in my abdomen. Unsure of what it might be, I for some peculiar reason, decided to put a little pressure on it! That’s when I suddenly felt as if something inside of me ruptured. I thought to myself this can’t be good. I felt immediately to relieve myself, but on my way to the washroom, the pain intensified and all I could think of at that moment was I was in need of desperate prayer and intervention. With what strength I had left, I called my brother and was able to reach him for prayer. Grateful for my brother’s prayer, I knew I needed to take further immediate action. So, I decided to call 911.
My husband had just arrived back home after dropping the babysitter off. Unbeknown to him, that I had called the paramedics, the doorbell rang. Upon answering the door, my husband was shocked to find two paramedics standing there asking if someone had called for help. Bewildered he said no I don’t think so, but then realized I was still upstairs and he hadn’t been aware of my condition at that point. As he went to investigate my whereabouts he found me doubled over in pain unable to speak. He indicated to the emergency crew to come. They immediately gave me something for the pain and prepared me as I needed to go to the hospital. As I was being transported in the ambulance, my parents were just returning from the same prayer meeting.
My mom asked my dad to stop my house, so that she could find out what was wrong. After being given the news, she asked to accompany me in the ambulance to the hospital. The request was granted, and I was at peace knowing my mother would be with me. My mom is a woman of faith and prayer. I was then rushed to the hospital and given the help I was seeking. Thank the Lord for first responders! They took charge of the situation and provided the necessary relief I was seeking. Although I had no answers about my condition at that point in time, I felt I was in good hands and remember feeling at peace lying in a bed in the emergency ward.
I was told later on, that many where lifting me up in prayer. I spent the night in the hospital and the next morning I was sent home. However, later that day I was called to come back to the hospital for more tests, as they had found something of concern. After a series of tests, I was then referred to a specialist and given more tests. After discussing the results with the specialist, he announced that the report did not look good and there was high suspicion that I may have ovarian cancer. Upon hearing this devastating news, a sense of disbelief and shock hit me. My mind immediately went to the time when I walked with a friend through her painful journey of cancer. She later died and graduated on to heaven. Was this my lot in life as well?
Suddenly, my mind switched to my family, and the thought came to me that I needed to start loving my husband and children more. I thanked the doctor and told him that he was the right person to tell me this news. It was quite unusual that I was feeling so calm, perhaps I was still trying to process the news I had just received.
Upon leaving the appointment, I found myself talking to a woman in the lobby who was bound to a wheelchair. She began to speak into my life words of comfort and encouragement that I very much needed at that moment. I recall her words about how we can trust God no matter what we are going through! It brought me back to my son’s vision of the stone, with the words Trust God etched in it. She was not aware of the news I had just been given, but that wasn’t necessary, she was able to give me a greater sense of hope. Even in her own unfortunate circumstances, she took the time to encourage me. God, in His loving way, allowed our paths to cross at just the right time.
As I got back into my car to head home again, I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to turn on the radio. CHRI 99.1 fm radio, was playing a song that spoke once again to my heart, words of hope and life. Below, are the words from the song I heard that day, called, “Everyday” by Hillsong United.
“Everyday”
What to say, Lord? It’s
You who gave me life and I
Can’t explain just how
Much You mean to me now
That You have saved me, Lord
I give all that I am to You
That everyday I could
Be a light that shines Your name
Everyday, Lord, I’ll
Learn to stand upon Your word
And I pray that I
I might come to know You more
That You would guide me in every single step I take, that
Everyday I can
Be Your light unto the world
Everyday, it’s You I live for
Everyday, I’ll follow after You
Everyday, I’ll walk with You, my Lord
Everyday, Lord, I’ll
Learn to stand upon Your word
And I pray that I
I might come to know You more
That You would guide me in every single step I take, that
Everyday I can
Be Your light unto the world
Everyday, it’s You I live for
Everyday, I’ll follow after You
Everyday, I’ll walk with You, my Lord
It’s You I live for, everyday
It’s You I live for, everyday
It’s You I live for, everyday
It’s You I live for, everyday
Everyday, it’s You I live for
Everyday, I’ll follow after You
Everyday, I’ll walk with You, my Lord
Everyday, it’s You I live for
Everyday, I’ll follow after You
Everyday, I’ll walk with You, my Lord
God spoke to my heart at that moment through this song. The words penetrated my mind and heart. Yes, Lord it’s you that has given me life. You are asking me to give you all that I am right now. Yes, Lord I want to be a light that shines for you. It’s amazing how a song can mean so much to us at just the right moment in our lives. I felt that this song became my declaration. Not the words from the prognosis that the doctor had just given to me, but instead life giving words, that every day I will follow after Him and walk with Him.
I knew that there were two things that I needed to do when I returned home and that was to gather the praying saints, and to seek God as to what I should do next. I spoke with my father on the phone. As he waited on the Lord to hear from heaven for my situation, he said. “Jill, I feel God is saying everything is going to be ok!” Wow, in other words I didn’t need to worry needlessly. Ok. There seemed to be a reoccurring theme. Trust, don’t worry. God has everything under control!
The next day, it seemed as if the words of comfort from the day before, faded into despairing thoughts of death and pain. I couldn’t seem to shake these dark thoughts, and they were overwhelming me. I reached out to a friend, and she reminded me to not listen to the lies of the enemy. She prayed with me and my peace returned. I thanked her. I thought to myself, ‘was everything really going to be ok?’ I felt I needed something more to anchor my faith in these words.
However, it wasn’t until my father called me again and said, “Jill you need to listen to Andrew Wommack’s teaching on healing. I think it will encourage you.” My dad loaned me Andrew Wommack’s teaching CD and I listened with my heart wide open to the powerful teaching of what Jesus had done for me on the cross. Jesus not only died for my sins, but he healed my diseases as well. I was just to receive this healing as freely as I had received my salvation. Healing is not something we work hard to receive, it is a gift just like my salvation was a gift.
I received the healing message by faith. I learned that day, that I do not earn healing nor do I deserve it. Ok I said to myself, “Jesus you have the final say and so I will declare everywhere I go that, “by your stripes I am healed”.” This became my new confession. I was oh so careful not to let go of this word, even to the point of refusing to research the ins and outs of ovarian cancer. That was not to be my confession.
God often uses visuals in my life to stress an important point. I could see myself handing God the doctor’s report that said, “Ovarian Cancer” and in my mind’s eye, God took the report and said It’s a done deal, you are healed!! I’ve signed and sealed it with my blood. My blood covers it all!
Psalms 103: I-3 (NKJV) says:
“Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases, ”
Once God had put His seal of approval on the doctor’s report, I decided to believe God’s report.
If you have ever had this type of an encounter with God, you will know, like I know, that they become forever etched in your mind. So, when it came time for me to visit the surgeon, I didn’t want my faith to waiver. When I was asked to sign the forms to prepare for surgery I wondered if that was part of my healing? The nurse seemed rather inspired by my bold stand and my unshakable confidence in My God and said that I was an inspiration to many. But she also reminded me that surgery was necessary and that my two young boys needed their mom. I quietly asked the Lord what He would have me do. In His gentle and reassuring way He encouraged me that signing my name to proceed with surgery was not going to nullify my faith. I was at peace and thus proceeded with the doctor’s orders. Little did I know that God prepared the very best for me! My surgeon was a gift sent from heaven. She was a quiet and gentle natured women, who paid attention to detail. A highly caring and gifted lady that I really respected and was blessed to have met.
I knew that I just had to sit still and to continue to trust God for the outcome. The scheduled surgery a month and a half away. God knows all of us intimately. He understands us best. Although God had given me many signs to show that He was with me and I that had nothing to worry about, He knew that I would appreciate further reassurance and comfort. During those several weeks of waiting, God had a friend call me up and tell me that while she was at work, she heard God say, “Tell Jill that everything is going to be ok!” If that wasn’t enough to encourage me, God sent another person to tell me that each time she passed by a wreath I had made for her, which was hanging on her wall, she would lift me up in prayer. She told me she heard God say, “Tell Jill that everything is going to be ok!” How comforting to hear these same words not once but three times.
I could feel God holding my hand and I felt more and more secure and safe. The bible says in 2 Corinthians 13:1 (Berean Literal Translation) that, “This is the third time I am coming to you.” “In the mouth of two or three witnesses every matter will be established.”
So, I continued to hold onto the promises of God. I was so careful not to come into agreement with anything other than His words. My God was so faithful to fill me with such peace during this waiting period. I was surrounded by praying saints and continued to lift my eyes to Jesus each time I looked at myself in the mirror. I had lost some weight and knew that I wasn’t looking my best, but God wanted me to keep my focus on Him. On a very practical level, I thought it was necessary for me to continue to eat a healthy diet rich with nutrients and take extra supplements to boost my immune system. All this was to prepare me for the days ahead.
My husband and I were given instructions by the team of medical professionals to prepare for chemotherapy treatments. This meant that I would require a tube to be inserted into my belly during surgery so that post surgery they could administer the chemo drugs. Upon inquiring of the Lord both my husband and I felt that wasn’t the path we were to follow for my healing. We both felt at peace with this decision.
I will forever recall the day of the surgery, January 4th 2007. I was filled with the peace of God that is unexplainable. Upon being ushered into the operating room, I could sense that God had prepared everything ahead of time. I could see once again in a vision, God holding a clip board and overseeing every last detail of the day. God was checking things off as they were done. He was in charge, looking over every detail and making sure that everything would run smoothly. Just before being put under the anesthetic, I felt a strong urge to ask the surgeon if I could say a prayer. She agreed and said that would be lovely. I was grateful for her willingness, and after praying, could feel myself slipping into a deep sleep. My next waking moment, I found myself in the recovery room having my vital signs monitored and the nurse asked me how I was feeling.
My recovery in the hospital was progressing well. It was great to see so many people drop by to send their comfort and encouragement, however, my body was requiring much rest. Eventually, the surgeon came in to share with me the results of my surgery. She said that she along with everyone else on the team were rather surprised that it was not ovarian cancer, but rather a large JIST tumor attached to my ovary. The tumor which was growing from the small intestine was successfully removed along with my reproductive organs. She reassured me that she did not remove my left ovary. Therefore, my body would be able to produce the right amount of hormones that it would need, thus eliminating the need for hormone replacement.
I was relieved and happy to hear this report. The tissues would be sent to the lab to be tested for any metastasis. However, the surgeon reassured me once again, that the tumor was fully contained and that it looked benign in nature. She told me that my prayer would set the course for her practice as she began the New Year. The impact of my faithful and thankful prayer on my surgeon, I knew, was profound. As she could not medically explain the very positive outcome of the surgery. To God be the glory, great things He has done.
I was so grateful but I was still not out of the woods!
Two days after surgery, I was feeling more and more uneasy as the nurse continued to take my blood pressure and pulse. She was not seeing a change, as it continued to drop below normal. Concern was all over her face, as she came in frequently to retake it. Before long the doctors where now concerned that I might be bleeding internally. They decided to give me a pint of blood to see if there would be any change, before considering to re-open me once again.
The idea of going back to the operating table was undeniably disturbing. My mom sent out the word, to as many as possible to pray and intercede for the situation. As the nurse came to administer the blood, I thought I would ask if I could bless the bag. I laid my hands over it and prayed silently. I knew that God would protect me once again. It was during this time that I discovered God had sent four angels to be with me during this recovery phase. I could sense their presence and they made themselves aware of their company with me. My blood pressure and pulse began to return to normal. Slowly, I started to regain my strength and was ready to be discharged. God answers prayer.
Upon returning home. I was ever so blessed by the generous help my church family were offering me. Meals came in and others offered their help in whatever way I needed it. My husband took the time to attend to my needs each day for two weeks. I gradually regained strength and was progressing well.
Upon returning to the hospital for follow up and reviewing my progress, I was given the good news that no sign of cancer was detected from the biopsy. How grateful I felt by this women’s expertise and all the hospital staff that made my stay so smooth.
My God was still not finished with His surprises. The first visit with the oncologist was rather a unique experience, in the fact that as he was describing the type of tumor I had removed. I found myself humored and a deep belly laugh came bellowing out of me. Again, as he examined the incision site, this unexplainable laughter erupted. This laughter would come and go for the next year. I had never experienced such joy before this experience. God was sending me laughter from heaven. I recalled a friend who is a strong intercessor tell me that she had a dream where she saw me soak up God’s presence and his angels came down from heaven delivering laughter. This dream was now becoming my reality.
The bible says in Proverbs that “laughter is like good medicine.” I was given a medicine that only God could give me. It hasn’t left me to this day. Not quite as frequent, but at times in the Presence of the Lord, this deep belly laughter will erupt. Oh how good it feels to my whole being.
It’s been over 10 years now, and I rejoice in this healing. My God is faithful and unique in the many wonderful ways that He healed me.
It is my prayer that many will be blessed and encouraged by this testimony. That you will find hope and strength from what God has done for me. For what He has done for me, He will surely do for you for. He is no respecter of persons, nor does He show partiality. We are all God’s children and He loves to show Himself strong in our lives. May God bless you as you believe for your own healing journey, walking with God hand in hand. Walking by faith with God is the greatest gift you could ever have.
