Testimony of healing

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TESTIMONY OF HEALING
Kerri Stanley

For the past 3 years I had been dealing with “stomach problems”. In early 2013 I had noticed changes with my body. After some time including major abdominal cramping every day, many doctors appointments, an ultrasound, and tons of blood tests I was diagnosed with Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). This basically meant that my ovaries had many cysts which caused the bodily changes… and of course the cramping! Then in the last year and a half I noticed more changes. So again I started doctoring.

I went to see many doctors; different ones including a specialist in Brandon. I saw the specialist throughout 2015, the last appointment being December 21. This time he told me (like all the other doctors I had seen before) that there was nothing else he could do for me. Dead-end. Yet in the meantime I felt things getting worse and the cramping kept increasing every day. Work was becoming difficult; massaging someone while enduring stabbing pains in my lower abdomen was exhausting. My husband was growing increasingly worried, as well as my parents. The specialist had sent a referral to the fertility clinic in Winnipeg, however the appointment wasn’t until June! I knew I couldn’t wait that long, so in the meantime I made (yet again) an appointment with a new doctor.

Pastor Mike prayed for me on a Sunday where I was both emotionally and physically exhausted. Many other people were praying for me… but God wasn’t answering our prayers. God had healed others around me, but was He forgetting about me? I was starting to get depressed. How long could I continue this way?

However, I never stopped flooding myself with worship music. Music has always been an escape for me; worship music was an even bigger escape. It is what helped bring me through college and lifted me up during countless evenings alone in my Winnipeg apartment. But one song that has gotten me through the last six months is “Holy Spirit” by Francesca Battistelli… it is my song that has brought me out of my pain and into the Lord’s presence. What an amazing feeling! To feel His pure, unconditional love is absolutely overwhelming.

But I was still wondering why my healing hadn’t happened yet. After all, He did say, “Ask and it will be given to you.” I was asking though! Why won’t He give it? Lord, are You really there listening to me? I’m crying out to You and I’m not sure how much longer I can do this… is it that I’m not good enough? Did I do something wrong? Or AM I DOING something wrong?... Okay, fine. It’s all in Your hands; whatever Your will is, please help me cope and live with it.

Sunday, February 7th I was planning on staying home; sleep in, clean the house, and then relax the rest of the day. Instead, I woke up at 8:15 (the time our alarm is usually set for when we go to church). Something was pressing at me to go shower and slowly make my way to Sidney. I was feeling broken; physically (from the cramping and on and off bleeding for the past 6 weeks); emotionally drained (from having to deal with my clients’ aches and pains at my massage clinic, when in the meantime I was dealing with my own aches and pains); and spiritually fragile (wondering just where God was). But, here I was on my way to church.

Worship that morning was awesome! God’s presence was felt so much I had chills (but most Sundays were like that ). That morning while getting ready and during the drive the song “Holy Spirit” was on my heart. At the beginning of church I even told my sister that I was hoping we would sing that song during worship… but once worship was done I looked at my sister disappointedly and said, “I guess I’ll have to listen to it on my way home.”

After a few minutes Pastor Mike asked the worship team to come play the offering song. You probably already know which song it was. Yes, “Holy Spirit”! I nudged my sister and said, “No way!!” Instantly my tears began to flow! I sang and cried. Lord, what does this mean? Even after months of having this song in my life, the words suddenly meant so much more. I felt so overwhelmed at, “Let us become more aware of Your presence. Let us experience the glory of Your goodness.” Lord, what is happening?

Once the song was finished a sweet lady (Leslie) stood up. She said, “Throughout worship the Lord was showing me something. There is someone here with ‘stomach problems’.” I looked at my mom with new tears in my eyes and covered my mouth with my hands in amazement… and shock. Leslie proceeded with describing what she was shown, but without words; with actions and hand gestures. “Someone is here and He wants to heal you… now.”

I raised my hand. There was no doubt I my mind… God was showing her me and my ailments. The Pastor, my mom, my sister, Lindsay, Leslie, and a few others gathered around, laid hands on me, and began to pray. Wow! I was overwhelmed at that moment. My hands were shaking, tears were streaming down my face, but I knew this was it. I don’t remember the words during the prayer but I do remember hearing Leslie praying in tongues, then she placed her hand on my stomach. At that exact second the Lord touched me!! (I have chills even now while writing this! ) My cramping of 3 years was gone!! GONE!! God, You do care!! You haven’t forgotten about me!

By the end of the next day my bleeding had stopped! It was suddenly done!! I HAVE BEEN HEALED!! Lord! I feel Your presence! I’m experiencing the glory of Your goodness! The words in that song have come alive! heart emoticon

Yes, I was questioning God and wondering why healing wasn’t coming my way… but after talking with my husband about the last 3 years and now the healing, he reminded me that it’s not OUR plan; it’s OUR FATHER’S plan. For He will NEVER leave us NOR forsake us. He is our almighty God. Our God is Healer, awesome in power. His love is never-ending. Jesus died on the cross for us; He took on every sin and every illness and felt it all. He shed His blood; the blood that washes away our sin and makes us white as snow. What an amazing and precious gift! The ultimate sacrifice and act of love.

I’ve been singing and a part of a worship team for the past 8 years, singing songs and loving every minute of it. But, now the words suddenly have even more meaning. The words now come alive and He’s showing me so much more each time we sing (even in songs we’ve been singing since the beginning.)

Our God is greater, our God is stronger than anything. He’s greater and stronger than any problem we may have; be it health, financial, relationship, work, addiction, ANYTHING! Jesus died on that cross for His children… for each and every one of us; YOU and me. The cross has made us flawless. He took all of our pain and each hurt onto Himself. We need to give it over to Him because that is the sacrifice He made for us. Once we hand it over into His hands it is not ours anymore; and really, why do we want to keep it and hang on to it? Jesus sets us free. We shouldn’t accept any negative or evil things that are tossed our way because they are never from God; He is the ultimate definition of love. Even when we feel that He is far away, He is right beside us. Step by step He leads us and lights our path. He NEVER leaves us, and honestly, why would He? He created us and loves us unconditionally. UNCONDITIONALLY. Just think about that for a moment. There are no conditions; there is nothing we can do that will make Him unlove us… Wow. He may not love some of the things that we do, but He loves us. Jesus forgives us when we do wrong. He is always there and when we stray He waits with OPEN ARMS to welcome us back into His loving embrace. Our Heavenly Father’s perfect love.

I have thanked God every day since for His healing hand and HIS plan; and all that I can say to Him is, “I love You, I love You, I love You, I love You. My heart with follow wholly after You.”

Kerri Stanley
(February 16, 2016)

“Holy Spirit”
There’s nothing worth more
That could ever come close
No thing can compare
You’re our living hope.
You’re presence, Lord.
I’ve tasted and seen
Of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free
And my shame is undone.
You’re presence, Lord.
(CHORUS)
Holy Spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
You’re glory God is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord.
You’re presence, Lord.
Let us become more aware of Your presence.
Let us experience the glory of Your goodness.