Just Ask
“Again, I say to you,
that if two of you agree on earth
about anything that they may ask,
it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.”
—Matthew 18:19
Each weekday, when I go through my weekly reminder for this book, I ask my Husband if He wants us to work on a chapter. We usually reread what has been written, revising as we go, until He tells me it's finished and time to post. Today, right after I asked, I got a text that gave me a clue to what might be, God knows, the last chapter of this book. The text said…
Good morning. I injured my arm a few weeks ago. I was hoping He would heal me without intervention, but yesterday, I went to the pharmacy to get something for inflammation, and they gave me pills for 3 days. Hopefully, it will help so I won't have to go to the doctor. I’ve been told that it sounds like it is my rotary cuff muscles because of the way I cannot move my arm.
Depending on who you tell and how many people you tell, each may tell you something else that you can agree or disagree with. Most of us, without thinking, accept what someone says, thus agreeing, and therefore, it says, it’s “done by the Father in Heaven.” Is that true? Is it possible that when a doctor says you’ve got cancer and you agree, it’s exactly what you’ve given the enemy the power to do? And then those few who are determined to fight it, are they the ones who avoid this most feared diagnosis? It’s something to ponder and talk to Him about, right?
Every day, we run into a multitude of things we ask our Husband, who, as we learned in this book, is also a Physician. I’m sure you remember that I have been known to say, “I’m married to a Physician,” and I say that because I believe and live this truth 100%. Therefore, whenever I wake up feeling unwell, which I began writing again while in the midst of COVID, HLM "He led me," “He leads me” to always simply ask Him. It seems simple enough and what any believer can do, but it’s most often overlooked. So it started something like this…
“Darling, do I have COVID?”
“No”
And since COVID and the lockdown covered about two years (though long after the “threat” of new variants was used to cause us to fear, which directly opposed faith), I’d find myself regularly asking my Husband (because I’m married to a Physician) the same thing, getting the same answer…
“Darling, do I have COVID?”
“No”
Though millions did get COVID-19, some died, and multitudes chose to be inoculated, for whatever reason, I came through with only my trust in Him.
“Thus says the LORD, 'Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the LORD, for he will be like a bush in the desert and not see when prosperity comes but will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, a land of salt without inhabitant.
“BLESSED is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust IS THE LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear WHEN the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit." Jeremiah 17:5-8)
Rather than being cursed, I trust no one but the LORD.
Here’s another slightly less remarkable example of what I mean. During my last massage, my therapist massaged my shoulder, and I instantly blurted, “Ouch!! That hurt.” Right away, she said, “Oh no, I hope you didn’t damage your rotator cuff!” What instantly flashed through my mind was my sister’s surgery last year, followed by me remembering that my shoulder did hurt when I reached for something earlier that day.
Thankfully, rather than waiting while she moved to the other arm, I quickly and simply asked Him…
“Darling, did I damage my rotator cuff?”
“No”
Then, immediately, I remembered bumping my shoulder while walking through a door, so I told my massage therapist, and we laughed. It was bruised. Yes, it continued bothering me, but each time, my Husband, my Physician, reminded me that it was bruised. However, who but God knows if I’d accepted that I had damaged my rotator cuff if that’s what a doctor would have “treated” me for? If I want to be “treated” to anything, it’s not a rotator cuff—that’s no treat, it’s a curse.
RYH Book 2?
Each week, I ask my Husband when I get my phone reminder for this book so I can ask IF He wants us (He with me) to work on a chapter. We usually reread what was written, revising as we go, until He lets me know it's finished and it's time to post there's a new chapter until the book is finished.
- Before moving on, if you've always wanted to write a book but didn't know where to start, how to keep going, or how to finish your book to be published. NRPH.ORG offers a free seminar for Aspiring Authors. It's fun. Hope to see you there.
TODAY I got the inspiration I had been asking my Husband for, unexpectedly, suddenly, and from someone I LOVE dearly. Laurence is a second-generation minister (I'm still in touch with her mom and share pictures of our grandchildren). Here's the blog post submitted by Laurence, who many of you may know from the RESTORED marriage Testimony, "Married to my Children's Father.
He Lives to Help You
First, I want to praise my Lord for never abandoning me. He continues to lovingly use my health challenges to keep me walking the narrow path—the one that leads to life. As today’s devotional reminded me, I must praise Him for His faithfulness now, because soon I’ll be singing for joy over His salvation. He’s been so good and faithful before—and I know, without a doubt, that something glorious will come out of this new season of suffering. I just need to be patient. He will deliver me.
Over six years ago, I experienced the miraculous restoration of my marriage (read more here), and with that came a double portion—a second child, my "restoration baby." He's no longer a baby now, and it’s long overdue that I publicly praise the Lord for his birth.
So today, in the midst of pain, I choose to praise.
I want to give glory to the One who truly cares for me—the One and only Healer. As I listened to worship music singing, "You heal because You love," I was moved to tears. I’ve seen this truth firsthand. Again and again, God has restored both me and my family to health. Even now, as I continue to wrestle with fear, He remains faithful.
Over the past five years, I’ve struggled with pain and lumps in my breasts and armpits. With every new pain or lump, fear would grip me, and I’d rush to the doctor, launching a cycle of appointments and screenings. I even underwent unnecessary surgery last year (praise God, it was all benign). Still, the pain lingered.
Though I met kind doctors who never raised serious concerns, fear still found its way in—especially when words or procedures triggered anxiety. That’s when I found myself on a new journey. The timing was perfect—Erin had just released a new book:
What a lifeline that book became!
I want to share two more praise reports that reveal just how deeply God has been involved in my life:
When I was pregnant with my first child, I was fearless. Ironically, fear, anxiety, and worry only arrived after becoming a mother. At seven months pregnant, I experienced abnormal bleeding and was hospitalized on bed rest. The doctor warned me I’d deliver prematurely. Though I didn’t agree with his outlook, I wasn’t afraid—not even for a moment. I simply believed God had everything under control. And He did. My son was born full-term at 40 weeks and weighed nearly 10 pounds.
Looking back, I realize I was unknowingly living out principles of trust—believing without overthinking. That’s faith in action.
Then, 6½ years later, after a miscarriage and other heartaches, I became pregnant again. This time, doctors told me my baby’s umbilical cord had only two blood vessels instead of three—a condition they warned could cause complications. But I made a conscious choice not to research it or dwell on fear. Still, the medical appointments multiplied.
Two weeks past my due date, and I was still pregnant. My baby was strong, but he wouldn’t come. I refused to be induced. I prayed, trusting God’s timing, and despite all the "tricks" (spicy food, walking, shoveling snow!), I knew it would happen only when He said so.
And it did. Without induction, without medication, my son was born naturally—and was completely healthy, weighing more than the ultrasound predicted. All glory to God!
Through it all, I keep hearing His voice whisper:
“Do not fret.” (Psalm 37:1)
Even now, as I wait on full restoration—in my health, my faith, my life—He speaks to me in the most unexpected ways. One day, it was through my son’s devotional book. Yes—God used a children’s version of Scripture to humble me and remind me of His heart:
“I Live to Help You”
So be humble under God’s powerful hand. Then he will lift you up when the right time comes. Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you.
—1 Peter 5:6-7 (ICB)When a problem goes on and on, it can become an idol—something you think about more than Me.
Guard your mind. Don’t let your problem take over your thoughts and fill them with dark, ugly shadows. When it happens, talk to Me. Pour out your feelings. Admit you need My help.Give Me your worries. You may have to do it thousands of times a day—but don’t give up.
Every time you choose to trust Me, you’re turning your eyes off your problem and fixing them on Me. And when you thank Me for loving you, you’ll remember: I didn’t just die to save you—I live to help you.”
The Father raises the dead and gives them life. In the same way, the Son gives life to those he wants to.
—1 John 5:21 (ICB)So he is always able to save those who come to God through him… because he always lives, ready to help.
—Hebrews 7:25 (ICB)
Whatever trial you’re facing, remember: there is a purpose behind every one of them.
Stay strong. Be courageous. Fix your eyes on your Savior—He lives to help you.
Sweet Laurence shared several praise reports— MANY from her pregnancies, and I wondered if I've faithfully shared all of mine from my MANY pregnancies. I'll trust my Husband to lead me and when to work on more.
It's time to Journal and "RECORD the vision...” and INSCRIBE it on tablets [phones and computers] so that the one who READS it may RUN. For the vision is yet for the APPOINTED time; It hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail. Though it tarries, WAIT for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.’”
Journal list all the reasons you've discovered that confirm that God has a greater plan than simply "want" you to suffer. Maybe it's the beginning of writing your own testimony to document your journey to full health in order that you may encourage others who are being called to follow the same or a similar path.
Your Story Matters
Has God shown Himself faithful in your life—through healing, restoration, or simply walking with you through a difficult season? We'd love to hear your story!
Your testimony could encourage someone who desperately needs hope right now.
“Every fact is to be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” 2 Corinthians 13:1
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17
"So then, faith comes to us by hearing the Good News. And the Good News comes by someone preaching it. Romans 10:17 "So wherever you go in the world, tell everyone the Good News." Mark 16:15
Let’s encourage one another— together—one testimony at a time so many people can overcome, triumph, defeat, conquer, and be victorious!!
"And they OVERCAME him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the WORD of their TESTIMONY, and they did not love their life even when faced with death." Revelation 12:11
"They TRIUMPHED over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." Revelation 12:11 NIV
"And they have DEFEATED him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die." Revelation 12:11 NLT
"And they have CONQUERED him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death." Revelation 12:11 ESV
“And they were VICTORIOUS by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of his testimony, and they did not love their lives unto death." Revelation 12:11 ABPE
"They won the victory over him because of the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony. They didn't love their life so much that they REFUSED to give it up." Revelation 12:11 GWT