When God Created a Powerful Testimony through Pain and Faith

“Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you.” –Luke 8:39 CSB

During one quiet morning with the Lord, I read a passage of Scripture that sent me on a journey of remembering all the ways He had healed me in the past.

As I read Luke 8:26-56, I was captivated by Jesus healing a man possessed by demons, a woman who had bled for 12 years, and a 12-year-old girl who was dying. These accounts filled me with awe and caused me to reflect on the countless times He had healed me too.

I pondered memories of recovering from painful athletic injuries, navigating the fear of mysterious illnesses, and the slow, steady mending of a broken heart. During this time of reflection, I realized God doesn’t just help us through the storm for our own comfort. On the other side of each ailment, He uses our healing as a testimony of His faithfulness.

There was a season when my unused running shoes were a silent reminder of an athletic injury to my knee that threatened to end my long-distance running. The ailment was not only physical—but a mental struggle of potentially losing a part of life I thoroughly enjoyed. ​Years prior, I lost several loved ones in a brief span of time. While the knee injury challenged my body, my personal grief crushed my spirit. 

During both of these seasons, Jesus was the only foundation that never shifted. In one season, He mended my knee so I could run. In another, He mended my broken heart. Today, I not only run with my legs; I run with a story of a Savior who specializes in creating testimonies.

In Luke 8:39, the Bible tells us how Jesus liberated a man from a life of mental torment and spiritual oppression. Jesus instructed him, ​“Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you.” The man followed this command, "proclaiming throughout the town how much Jesus had done for him." He understood that his healing was meant to show others the way to the Savior. I can imagine his joy as he shared the goodness of his newfound freedom.

Take a moment to think of the ways God has helped you through a tremendously difficult season. Perhaps you have suffered deep heartbreak because of a broken relationship. Maybe you have battled mental health struggles that felt like walking through a dark tunnel with no end in sight. It’s easy to want to leave those memories in the past, but there is power in sharing your story to encourage others. Your history of healing is a roadmap of His grace in your life.

Heavenly Father, thank You for being the Great Physician of our souls and bodies. We ask You to quiet our hearts so that we can clearly see the trail of Your goodness in our lives. Help us remember the obstacles we once faced and how You brought us through to the other side. Give us the courage to speak up and tell others about Your healing power, just as Your Son commanded. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

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Scripture is quoted from The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.