At that moment, nothing on this earth mattered to us but the life of our son. We prayed with all of our hearts and stood firmly on God’s Word as we believed for Craig’s healing. Our families and friends prayed with us, but there was no immediate change in his condition. Then my father-in-law said something very powerful to us. He said, “An army never goes to battle without a second line of defense.”
Since we were dealing with a life-and-death situation and Craig’s healing hadn’t instantly manifested, we believed God was leading us to adopt “a second line of defense.” We decided to let the doctors perform surgery to remove the tumor.
When we pass through a fiery trial, it's so important that we have faith. The three Hebrew children had to go through the fire, but Jesus met them in the middle of it.
As we prepared for the surgery, I was at home packing so I could stay with Craig while he was in the hospital. As I stood there in the middle of my closet, I began to cry out to the Lord, “God, I need to feel You right now! I know we walk by faith, but I need to feel Your presence. I need to hear Your voice. I need You to speak to me!”
I needed to feel the comfort of the Holy Spirit reassuring me that everything was going to be OK. I knew it in my heart, but I needed to feel God’s presence at that moment because I felt so alone.
I had barely gotten those words out of my mouth when something dropped from the closet shelf and landed on the floor in front of me. I picked it up and discovered it was a small lapel pin that someone had given us a few months earlier. It had a little saying written on it—“You can make it!” God was saying, “Lynette, you can make it!”
It was amazing how God confirmed what He had spoken to us through that little pin. No matter how long we sat in the waiting room, I had confidence in the Lord that Craig was going to make it.
The surgery went perfectly. In fact, the power of God was so strong in the operating room that one of the nurses, a ministry partner of ours, was completely healed of a chronic back condition!
It’s been 40 years since that surgery, and Craig has had no negative effects from the tumor or operation.
DON’T BE SHOCKED WHEN THE FIRE GETS HOT
The Apostle Peter said something about the fiery trials of life that really grabbed my attention. He said, “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12 NLT).
God wants us to know that we’ll all be tested by fire. But He also said, “When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you” (Isa. 43:2 NKJV). We can stand on that promise when we’re going through the fiery trials of life.
When we pass through a fiery trial, it’s so important that we have faith. But we also must be committed to the Lord as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were. (See Daniel chapter 3.)
Before being cast into the fiery furnace, they declared, “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us . . . and He will deliver us” (Dan. 3:17 NKJV). That was their faith talking. But they added a statement of their commitment to the Lord. They said, “But even if God doesn’t deliver us, we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image you have set up”(v. 18).
The three Hebrew children had to go through the fire, but Jesus met them in the middle of it. When they came out, there were no signs they had ever been in the fire.
I don’t know what crisis has come your way or what fiery trial you may be experiencing. But I know that the same God who met me in the middle of my fiery trial will meet you in the middle of yours. And He will cause you to triumph over it, just as He promised in His Word.
Author
Lynette Hagin
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2 Comments on “The Test of Faith”
Amen I am healed of this
Dear Lynette, Thank you for your inspiring post! I’ve been a follower of Rhema teachings ever since there’s been an RBTC, and I don’t think there’s a better place to learn faith anywhere. God bless you!