Being Carried By God

I just want to share a little of my life with you. I cannot remember a time that I have felt so carried by God as I do right now. There are many many things going on... some up and some down but in the midst of it all, I can only SHOUT PRAISES TO GOD!!! I want to share a little about a medical situation I have been dealing with for over 10 years that I have been HEALED of. For the past 10 years, I have been dealing with episodes of stroke-like effects, which come in the form of slurred speech, numbing on the right side of my body, being disoriented, and needing to just lay down quickly. I have been diagnosed with complicated migraines. Ten years ago, when it happened once or twice a year, it was not that enabling, but the past few years have been much different. The last two years, they have come on every month and last for several days, or even the whole month, overlapping to the next episode happening. It has really been hard to function as a wife, mother, friend, co worker, and such because I am often needing to lay down and am out of commission. I must admit, I have been quite frustrated and asking God, “Is this the new normal, am I just going to have to learn to live like this?” I was angry about the fact that I wanted to be so much more to my family and others, but my body would not allow me to. I would push through it, often dragging my leg around trying to keep up with what “I” thought needed to get done. My favorite verse ever is Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” I have been clinging to this verse, knowing that I need to have hope in a God who does heal, be patient in HIS time, and pray with confidence that one day I would not be suffering from complicated migraines.

Well... last month a friend of mine told me about a new Neurologist that I should go see. If you know me at all, you know I do not like to go to doctors and have pretty much given up on them. This time, in my heart, I was excited about seeing this doctor, which I truly could not explain. I had the Holy Spirit heart beating fast feeling that this time it was going to be different, and it was. He put me on a Magnesium compound, changed my diet a little, and within 24 hours I WAS HEALED!!!!!! I have not been able to really feel the right side of my cheek for almost 3 years now, and within 24 hours that came back. Hormones, stressful situations, and lack of sleep would bring on an episode quickly, and during the last 6 weeks I have dealt with all three of those and no episode. I want to shout from the mountain top that I have been healed, and I want all to rejoice with me the power of God!!  I did have an MRI and an Echo last week, just for my doctor to have a clean slate for me. The MRI came back great, but the Echo showed a hole in my heart. Normally that would freak me out a little, but because God is carrying me in so many ways right now, I am rejoicing that they found it and excited about it getting fixed. I do see this not as a stumbling block, but as another step in my healing process!! To be honest, this has been an awesome 6 weeks, not just because I feel healed but just because I see God working in me and through me in so many ways. I know that I have walked through this for the past ten years to fully experience this season of truly seeing God’s hand at work in my life. He has given me more strength lately than I ever knew I had. He has allowed me to confront things that I NEVER would have before. My fears have turned to trust, and I just have faith in a way that I have not experienced in a long time.

I thank You God for who You are, and for loving me in ways I will never understand. Thank You for Your hands that continue to carry me, and for Your power that continues to give me strength.

- Ivy White, Preschool Development Coordinator