Miracles still happen

Today, I want to tell you the story of a friend of mine, whom I will call Jim. This story has nothing to do with AML, but it does include a story of healing. As you know, I have a deep faith in God, and He is the true hero here. 

I met Jim online a couple of years ago through another friend. Jim's marriage was foundering and he was trying to find his way out of drug addiction. Because I was in the middle of battling leukemia and the pandemic was still going, I wasn't able to meet Jim face to face much, but we started a relationship online. At first we didn't make contact too often, but gradually I got to hear Jim's story. 

Jim had a background of involvement in church, as did his wife, but somewhere along the line, they both strayed from the faith. Around the time my friend introduced me to him, Jim returned to his faith and to walking with God. He told me that, when he did, he immediately lost interest in drugs and alcohol.

Jim works nights as a mechanic for a big company, and his job is to maintain and repair the machinery. Sometimes, he has long stretches where there is not much for him to do, so he reads his Bible. In a short time, he has become quite familiar with the Scriptures and he relies on them to guide his life. In my own experience, just knowing Scripture does not necessarily mean that a person lives according to Scriptural teachings. But little by little Jim is learning how to keep in touch with God through prayer, which helps the Scriptures come alive for him. I have seen a great change in him over the past couple of years. 

Jim and his wife, whom I'll call Jenny, eventually divorced. Jenny didn't want to give up her lifestyle that included drug use, and she was not too kind to Jim about his getting clean. In an ironic twist, Jenny's father lives next door to the home that she had shared with Jim. Jenny moved in with her father, so she was right next door to Jim. 

Jim still had deep feelings for Jenny, and it was difficult for him to see her frequently when she was not interested in him any more. To make things worse, she got a new boyfriend and kind of flaunted him in Jim's face. Jim has been praying for Jenny since before they split, asking God to bring her back into His fold, but if anything, the relationship between them became more contentious. 

Jim told me a number of times that he felt God intended for them to get back together. Now, I don't doubt that could happen. The Bible says God hates divorce (not divorced people, but the fact of divorce). After a time Jim didn't talk so much about Jenny. I helped him connect with another friend who has a home Bible study. As you may imagine, working graveyard shift and sleeping most of the day, Jim didn't have many opportunities for social contact, so this Bible study group provides him with regular fellowship with other believers and some social opportunity. 

Jim seemed to be encouraged and uplifted by more interactions with people who care about him. After a while, though he told me that his work schedule changed and it made it impossible for him to attend the church men's group he had joined. And then I began to hear how he was sensing that God wanted him to get together with Jenny again, in spite of the fact that nothing had changed in her life that might mitigate the problems they had had when they were married. 

There's a verse in the First Epistle of John, one of the letters that the Apostle wrote to a group of believers who were apparently having some struggles that were, perhaps, similar to Jim's, that is not being sure what was guidance from God and what might be temptation from the devil: 

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already." (1 John 4:1-3)

I was concerned whether Jim, being relatively new to walking regularly with God, was testing the spirits, or maybe he was just pining for Jenny, while the devil was looking for someone to devour. (See 1 Peter 5:8) Let me share the conversation we had via text messaging in the past 24 hours. 

Jim: I am really struggling with missing [Jenny.] I have been praying for her. I'm not sure if it is God's will or not.  We met during chaos, and it was a rebound relationship for both of us. Everything I have been listening to and reading in the Bible [tells me] there is no way we should ever be together again, but God has softened my heart for her. I have been struggling with health: vomiting, diarrhea, not physically doing well. My right shoulder is hurting so bad I can't hardly move it. My upper right molar needs removed; barely hanging in my mouth I just don't understand.

Me: Is [Jenny] still living next door? Is she still with her boyfriend? Why do you think it is that you spend so much time thinking about her? What changes in her attitude toward God have you observed? What progress has she made in getting off and staying off drugs? 

As you intimate, a relationship entered into on the rebound is usually a mistake. What is the likelihood that your missing her is simply because you are on the rebound, so to speak, from your marriage to her? You have mentioned that biblically you are not well matched. 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, " Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?" Think carefully through your motives in pining for her. 

I'm sorry you are ill. That makes everything seem worse. Do you have any kind of medical insurance? Could you go to urgent care? As for the tooth, if I were still in practice, I'd take it out for you, but my dental license expired 15 years ago. I guess my best advice is to change your focus from your problems to worshiping God. "Greater is He Who is in you than he [I.e., Satan] who is in the world." (1 John 4:4) 

I think your physical ailments are real enough and need attention. I think your situation regarding Jenny is temptation from the devil. You keep saying that God has softened your heart for her. Are you certain that is from God? My questions above are meant to help you look at Jenny and your relationship with her objectively. I know you are really struggling in that area. Broken relationships can break hearts, but resuming the same relationship, without each party doing some deep soul searching and repenting and changing can only lead to more heartache. Take it from someone who has been there a few times. I'm praying for you, [Jim]. 

I was just reading Philippians 4, and was reminded of verses 5-8: "The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

Jim: (Later in the day.) Thank you I was speaking with my friend who is walking with God and knows us [Jim and Jenny] well.  This is what he explained to me, and I totally forgot about this. I also thank you for your advice and thank God for you. 

Jim's friend: In all honesty, because [Jenny 's] family has a background in witchcraft, you must be careful about when you pray for certain people. I'm not saying you should not pray for her, but there could be a spiritual occult attack coming against you, emotionally and physically. You would need to do some warfare out loud [rebuking the devil] based on what you've learned. I can help you with that.
 

You're right in that your relationship did not have a good place to start, spiritually speaking. Because [Jenny] has shown [herself] to be very vindictive, a lot of what may be coming against you may be coming from the strongholds in her life.

I would ask the Lord to break all spiritual ties between you and [Jenny] from the time you met till now; also, anything [that] came against you as a result of being with her all of these years. [I]t is demonic, [and is] to also be taken away out of your life, health, finances and emotions. 

Early this morning:

Me: Wow! This confirms my sense that Satan is trying to get you to dance with him. Praying for you, brother.

Jim: I haven't been in contact with her. I know she caused a lot of problems with my friend, and she acts like she did nothing. I have been crying for almost a week because [of it].

Later this morning: 

Jim: After I declared a spiritual breaking from Jenny physically, mentally and emotionally, my shoulder is better I feel better my spirits are up. [A]men God is awesome. 

Me: Hallelujah! 1 John 4:1 "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." Your story is a true testimony of God's power and goodness. May I share it with others, anonymously, of course? 

Jim: Yes, you can tell them about me if you want.

[This conversation has been edited slightly, including punctuation and bracketed material, for clarity and anonymity.]

I am constantly made aware that we are living in the midst of a spiritual war that has been going on for millennia. I know it is not fashionable these days to think that we are surrounded by spiritual beings, the angels of God and the demons of Satan, but I have seen too much evidence, including Jim's story, to dismiss the reality. I'm glad Jim is weathering the battle as part of the winning side, God and His angels.

If you are a praying person, please pray for Jim, and ask the Lord to protect him from the schemes of the devil, so that Jim may heal physically, emotionally and spiritually, while he continues to "Act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with [his] God." (Micah 6:8)