"ALL IS WELL"

We know that Christian faith is built on the foundation of God’s Word. However, the dichotomy of this truth is believing and practicing the truth of God’s Word when challenged and tested by the fires of adversity. 

A profound shaking of my faith began on Friday evening, the 6th of March, when excruciating pain surged throughout my mouth. Monday morning I prayed and asked God to make available an appointment with my dentist.

Unable to reach the dentist by phone, I drove to the office to explain my situation. The receptionist politely said that the dentist was booked solid. Remember, I had prayed that God would make a way for me to be seen. She must have seen the pain etched on my face, because she excused herself for a few minutes and upon returning, informed me that an x-ray would be taken and the dentist would see me.

The doctor noted that the back molar had several severe cracks, so a temporary protective shield was placed over the tooth until a crown could be made the next morning. 

Tuesday morning the 10th at 8:30 a.m., I was in the dental chair for a two-hour procedure. The crown was done, and prednisone was prescribed for inflammation. Unfortunately, after the numbness from the shots wore off, the pain was even more intolerable than before. What was going on? Why was I still in pain? 

Wednesday night, the pain was so severe that my blood pressure was at stroke level, and I was violently shaking. Thursday morning, I called the dentist and was quickly fit into his morning schedule. After taking more x-rays, he suspected I needed a root canal. He referred me to an endodontist, who did an emergency root canal that same morning.

Thursday afternoon, after the injections had worn off and feeling had returned, I was thrilled that the pain was gone. Unfortunately, my euphoria would not last. Later that evening, an unrelenting pain hit me like a jackhammer. Confused as to why I still had pain when the nerve was dead, I spent a sleepless night in prayer, speaking God’s Word, and pleading for His intervention. 

Neither the dentist nor the endodontist has Friday hours. So, first thing that morning, my husband and I prayed that God would make a way to see the family doctor, and in faith, we headed for the doctor’s office. When we arrived, I told them my problem and the scheduler said, “You are lucky. We just had a cancellation a few minutes ago.” I immediately thought, No, it was not luck! That was answered prayer! I was quickly seen and prescribed an antibiotic and a pain med. Within 24 hours of taking the meds, I noticed a significant reduction in pain. 

During this fiery and very painful trial, I was reminded of 2 Kings 4:26, in which a Shunammite woman’s son had died. She sought the prophet, Elisha, to ask if he would come to her home. He saw her coming from afar off and told his servant Gehazi, “Please run now to meet her, and say to her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’ And she answered, “It is well.” 

What an amazing statement to make, when in truth, her son had just died. However, she believed that God would raise her son from the dead through the Prophet Elisha. Her faith was not moved by the circumstances. Her statement was speaking things that were not as though they were (Romans 4:17). God responded to her statement of faith, and her son was brought back to life. 

God responds to faith and not to fear. Unfortunately, the enemy has a way of re-directing us towards fear, especially when we are caught in circumstances beyond our control, such as the current Coronavirus pandemic. However, God calls us to live by faith, not by sight nor by what we may feel (2 Corinthians 5:7). That walk can be challenging when illness or pain attacks the body with a vengeance. If we are not careful, our focus can be diverted away from God and onto the problem. 

The Word cautions us not to be shocked when there is a testing of our faith, for “You know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:3 NIV). Granted, we cannot ignore pain or difficult circumstances. However, we are called to persevere with a determined and committed persistent faith and trust in God’s Word. For we have this assurance that everything is possible for those who believe (Mark 9:23). 

God calls us to be strong and courageous. “Do not be afraid or terrified because of those things, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). God went before me and made a way for me to see three different doctors without appointments. 

The more years that are added to our lives, the more we encounter challenges that require faith and trust in God. As I post this blog, I am no longer in pain and my blood pressure, although not yet perfect, is far more stable. 

We must never forget that when we encounter the unexpected, God is faithful if we remain strong in Him and His mighty power (Ephesians 6:10). After a few days into my struggle and being reminded of the Shunammite woman, I spoke those powerful words of faith and praise, “All is well.” And when I said those three words to the enemy of my soul, God began to move mightily.

PRAYER: FATHER, the fires of affliction can be scary and unrelenting. Help me to be like the Shunammite woman who spoke what was not as though it were. She was not bound by what she saw, for she knew in her heart that nothing is too difficult for You. Help me to have that same unrelenting, persistent and confident faith. In Jesus’ name, amen.