For Fadre

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: ... they will lay their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Mark 16:17-18 NIV

The year was 1996, and I was at home alone in my Colorado Springs apartment. I moved to the area  with my friend Paul to attend Bible college. The sun filled our living room, and I glanced outside to observe a group of children playing in the springtime sun. I noticed Fadre, who was twelve at the time. She lived in a first floor apartment of our complex. The young girl stood still.  Her knee was encircled with an orthopedic wrap.   

Immediately in my heart, I felt a desire to personally pray for Fadre, while laying hands on her knee. With that impression came an inner knowing that if I did so, she would be healed. For a few moments I thought of dismissing the idea to act on such an impulse. I questioned in my mind, “What if she doesn't receive a miracle? What if I'm not hearing from God?” I finally decided to obey what I believed the Holy Spirit had asked me to do.

I felt a little nervous as I strolled downstairs to the first floor. My heart pounded as one of my neighbors peered intently into my eyes and asked, “What are you doing?” I wasn't sure why she asked me this; the odd inquiry took me off guard. I paused and wondered what to say, then I responded, “I am going to pray for Fadre's knee, and God is going to heal her.” The answer I gave surprised me, since I am normally not so blunt. The woman let me pass.

I walked outside and joined the children and asked them if they would be willing to pray with me for Fadre's knee to be healed. I explained that Jesus Christ still heals the sick, and he still answers our heartfelt prayers. They welcomed the suggestion to pray for her. Fadre said, “I dislocated my knee yesterday, but you can pray for me.”  

With eyes closed and my right hand placed gently on Fadre's orthopedic wrap I bowed my head and prayed, “Lord, we thank you for your amazing grace and we ask you to touch Fadre's knee. We ask you to heal her. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

I looked at Fadre and asked, “How does it feel?”

Fadre responded, “It still hurts.”

I remembered a story in the Bible where Jesus prayed for a blind man. The first time He prayed, the man's vision restored only partially – he saw people as trees. Jesus prayed a second time, and the man's sight came into crystal clear focus (Mark 8:24-25). I shared this story with the children, and then we prayed a second time. Faith and compassion welled up with in me as I asked the Lord to heal her. This time Fadre's eyes beamed. She tested her knee by walking slowly and then began to jump up and down. She declared, “I'm healed!  I'm healed!”

Excitement filled our hearts, and I led the children in a time of thanking and praising the Lord. We gave Jesus all the glory!

I believe that all Christ followers can pray for those that need healing. When we pray, sometimes the individual is miraculously made whole. At other times, the person heals gradually. The Lord often uses doctors to aid in the restoring process. Ultimately, every Christian, who suffers with sickness, will be made whole physically when he or she meets the Lord.  

I am thankful that all of us can obey the Holy Spirit and watch Him work wonders for his glory and for the benefit of others. On a bright Spring day in 1996, a young girl named Fadre received a touch from God. I thank the Lord that I could be a part of that.

Copyright 2015, Tom Toya. Used by permission.