The Grape Fruit Size Tumor
By Janet Page
“You have a tumor the size of a grapefruit. It needs to come out. And to prevent the possibility of uncontrollable bleeding, we must do a hysterectomy as well,” the surgeon said.
I was not happy! As a nurse, I knew the complications that can result from hysterectomies.
For months in my daily morning worships, I prayed and claimed healing Bible promises. Over and over I read stories of Jesus healing people. I kept praying, “Dear God, You did it then. Please do it now.”
I really wanted to be surrendered to His will. My heart pleaded, “Your will be done, but if possible, please take away the tumor.” I kept searching my heart and asking God to reveal anything I needed to confess and make right.
I didn’t want anything between God and me that might keep Him from answering my prayer.
Just days before the surgery, I had a second sonogram to check the tumor’s size again. The doctor advised me to donate some of my blood so they would have it on hand if needed.
Still struggling, I called my friend Juanita Kretschmar and asked her to pray the Encounter Prayer with me. It was a precious time with her.*
Surgery was scheduled in a city two hours away from home. The local pastor and his wife graciously opened their home to Jerry and me. I asked if they would anoint me for healing.
My anointing was a special time. I sensed God was near. I felt I was healed. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies” (Psalm 103:2-4).
Although I felt like I had been healed, I didn’t say anything about it. But on the way to the hospital the next morning, I told my husband that I thought the tumor was gone. At the hospital, I told the surgical nurse that I needed to speak with the surgeon. I explained that I was a Christian, that I had been anointed, and that I thought I’d been healed. Calmly, he replied, “Janet, you have a four-inch tumor. You need surgery.”
“If you see that I don’t have a tumor, will you promise not to do a hysterectomy?” I had to ask three times before he agreed.
They started the IV, and I went to sleep. Next thing I knew, a nurse was shaking my shoulder. “Janet! Janet, wake up. There was no tumor!” Not long after, the surgeon came in saying, “I can’t believe it! No tumor! No hysterectomy!” Then he paused and asked, “Would you please pray for my medical work?” Jerry and I prayed with him.
Jerry called our host couple with the good news. When we walked into their house, the pastor blurted out, “I don’t believe in anointing, I don’t believe!” He went on to share that both of his parents had died of cancer. He had prayed much and anointed them, but neither had been healed.
I don’t know why God sometimes heals instantly, while other times He heals through a lengthy process, or at the Resurrection. But I do know that God can be trusted. For years I’ve suffered difficulties with my neck from a car accident. God has not chosen to remove that pain. But I will keep calling on His name and asking and thanking Him for healing in His time and His way.
Janet Page serves as associate ministerial secretary for pastoral spouses, families, and prayer. This testimony happened years ago, and was originally published in “The Journal: A Resource for Ministerial Spouses,” Vol. 32, Third Quarter 2015 and is reprinted with permission.
*See Juanita’s article “Encounter with God in Prayer” featured in this week’s Revival and Reformation resource highlight.
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World Church Prayer Requests
July 15-22, 2018
• PRAYER REQUEST: Please pray for the Total Member Involvement events going on across the Philippines this month. Pray for many to be drawn to the meetings.
• PRAYER REQUEST: Please pray for those treated at the large mega health-care clinic prior to the meetings in Palawan, Philippines. Pray that the desire for spiritual healing would lead people to come and learn more about Christ.
• PRAYER REQUEST: Please pray that Adventist young people attending summer camps or working in colporteur summer programs will come to know Christ more deeply thru their summer activities.
• PRAYER REQUEST: Please pray that our Adventist Health Systems around the world will be places of healing and encouragement for the sick and weary. Pray that God will use them as a light for His glory.
• PRAYER REQUEST: Please pray for our Adventist Educational institutions (elementary, high school, college and higher learning) around the world. Over the summer there are many changes that often take place in faculty, in program planning, and preparing for the upcoming school year. Pray for special wisdom for those leading these institutions in your specific region of the world. Pray for the Holy Spirit to lead the decisions being made, for God’s glory.