A few weeks ago, I burned my hand on the stove. It was a careless mistake on my part. I had just finished boiling some eggs. While they were soaking in ice water, I went to clean the stove top. I had a lot of things on my mind and was not fully focused. I went to “sweep” some crumbs away sending my left hand right over the burner. If you cringed at that thought, I did too. It hurt. Bad.

I immediately ran my entire left palm and fingers under cool water. I kept them there while I tried to think about the proper steps for treating a burn. I could feel it burning quite badly. I cringed at the thought of how difficult work would be in the next few days. I was cringing at the thought of how hard that would make life over the next few days.

I ran it under cool water for about 30 minutes. Then, I put some colloidal silver spray on it. Finally, I lathered it with Aloe Vera. I texted a couple friends for advice on anything else I should do. There were blisters already formed on the underside of my joints on two fingers and part of my palm. “This is not going to make life any easier over the next few weeks….” I thought.

I finally stopped and prayed. I prayed in the name of Jesus over my hand that God would heal it. Over the next two hours, before going to bed, I repeatedly placed my hand in and out of cool water. This helped alleviate the pain. I used a good fourth of a bottle of Aloe Vera trying to help soothe it.

Thankfully I fell asleep despite the pain of the burn and drifted into the land of dreams for the night.

The next morning, I woke up and the first thing I thought about was my hand. I flexed it a few times and realized it didn’t hurt. As I got up and went into the bathroom, I was floored to see there were no blisters. My hand was a bit “rough.” It felt dry. It was also a tiny bit sensitive to touch. Other than those issues…it was healed.

I was shocked.

I immediately praised Jesus and thanked Him and then apologized for being amazed. (Oh ye of little faith, Susan.) I have prayed healing over various parts of me and other people over the years and I haven’t always seen the healing I thought I would see. I’m guessing you have too.

I won’t know the reason He healed me either supernaturally or with the natural remedies He led me to put on it. However, I do know He was letting me know He’s in control.

He’s got me.

He’s the one I can talk to.

He’s the one I can depend on.

He’s the one who provides for me.

And at that moment I had a peace. He brought me back to this peace over the next few weeks. A few things changed in my business and life. I began to wonder again how things will work out.

I was reminded it’s not all up to me.

I can put in appropriate work as He’s called me too, but the business is His not mine.

My life is His not mine.

My life, calling, and purpose are for His glory and not mine.

The other reminder from this lesson is that I don’t always pray over things I think are a sure thing. The burn was there so what would praying do for it? In my mind I knew I’d prayed over other injuries and illnesses before and was not healed. (At least not to my knowledge, but we can’t see all things.)

It reminded me that there is a spiritual realm all around us each day. When we talk to God about every little thing, we are reminded He is in control. He is not surprised, and He loves us.

The answer to the prayers we pray isn’t always what we want. We can’t see the unseen spiritual realm. Maybe our prayers are heard but the the angels are fighting the demons for us. The “healing” may not happen, but they are keeping things from being worse.

In Daniel 10:12-13, an angel tells Daniel that his prayer was heard from the first day. However, the answer was delayed for 21 days. A powerful spiritual being, “the prince of the kingdom of Persia,” was resisting the angel. This spiritual resistance is described as a battle. Another angel, Michael, had to come and help the first angel so he could deliver Daniel’s answer. 

The prayer Daniel prayed was answered, but they were literally fighting in the spiritual realm.

Recently, Christian singer Forest Frank broke his back in a skateboarding accident. Right after he got back from an amazing tour sharing God through music. Coincidence?

No. Spiritual warfare.

The cool thing is 2 weeks later, after many of God’s people prayed for healing, Forest was healed. No fracture can be seen in his back anymore.

Coincidence? No. ALL GOD.

The lesson….keep the prayers coming.

Talk to God about everything.

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Ask Him with belief, and when the belief is not there ask Him to help your unbelief.

He will.

The next time your prayer is not answered, remember that there is an entire unseen world happening. Thank God for what He is sparing you from that you cannot see.

Ultimately this world is not our home and that is where our hope lies. There will be pain and suffering, but we do not grieve or suffer as if we are without hope.

What has God answered for you lately? Have you forgotten about it? Was it not the answer you wanted? Ask Him about it and remember He is for you.

Father God,
Thank you for all You have done and all You will do. Thank you for answering my prayers even when I don’t see the answer I was looking for on earth. Thank you that through Jesus this world and all the evil, suffering, and grief is not where my hope lies. Continue to help me remember you are in control and help my unbelief.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen

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