Clinging to Faith While Recovering from Sepsis
In Becoming Natural’s latest podcast episode, “How a Devoted Faith Lead to Miraculous Healing from Sepsis,” I delve into the extraordinary story of my miraculous healing where deep faith and spiritual commitment were instrumental in my recovery from severe sepsis. This is a continuation of Episode 25 How Beating Sepsis Changed My Life where my mom told me to simply “Read your Blogs, Penny!” This episode sheds light on the powerful connection between my faith and my physical healing, offering a source of inspiration and hope. Through personal narratives and reflective discussions, I share how unwavering belief and devotion can influence healing processes. Whether you’re facing health challenges or seeking stories of resilience, this episode provides valuable insights into the role of faith in overcoming adversity.
I Prayed for This!
Tying in my passion for sharing the faith piece to my ultimate healing while also sharing how I coped with a debilitating disease for so many years and how I have learned to treat my body in a whole new way, I have to regularly remind myself and think it’s important to remind you that I prayed for every bit of this. I didn’t pray to be miserable, in pain, near death, away from my family, or to disrupt the lives of everyone who loved me. But if you listened to my first episodes you know I panicked when I was asked to share my testimony. I didn’t have anything to share. I was also really consumed by a thought in my Bible Study that challenged me to find my life’s purpose. I don’t know about you, but I didn’t sit around and ponder what my life’s purpose was going to be. I was just getting through a day at a time as a young mom raising 3 adorable rug rats and trying to live without pain with a brutal disease. I was on a mission to just be normal and have as much fun as possible with my fun and funny little boys. And the final piece, as a reminder, after hearing a sermon to pray for challenges, John and I united to do just that. I had been battling Crohn’s Disease since I was roughly 16, but nothing came close to the door we opened when we began to pray for challenges. My health was only one piece of the larger story. I referred back to the book of Job a lot and how God and Satan discussed the testing of Job. God was so confident that Job would endure whatever Satan threw at him because Job loved God deeply. I did too. I would NOT lose this battle. Because if I gave up, that meant Satan won. No way was I going to allow myself to be defeated. With sheer determination, I knew God would win. I didn’t know what “winning” looked like, but I was resolved that God would win in my life’s story. I still marvel that Job was so firm in his belief with no Bible. No scripture to encourage him. Nothing to lean on. But I had Job’s story. And those pages in my Bible are wrinkled and highlighted more than most. Almost immediately after John and I united in prayer for challenges and fixed our feet firmly on the ground did everything in our life hit the fan, including his choice to leave his very comfortable job. A job that provided financial security and certainly comfort in a time when hospital bills were abundant. But we trusted blindly. We both knew God was in control. God being in control didn’t mean it was going to be easy or pain-free. As Christians, we have never been promised smooth sailing, but we have been promised in
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11″
When Times are Hard are When You Get to Practice Your Faith
John and I often came back to the fact that we prayed to challenge our faith at the same time, ironically, that I was praying personally for a testimony and to uncover what my life’s purpose was beyond being a mom. Don’t get me wrong, I think my role as a mom and raising 3 little ones to know and love the Lord and be mighty men and leaders was the single most important job I had. But I was thinking long-term. How would I make a mark on this earth with my faith? What value did my life bring to this world for the greater good of my faith? I’m not sure I put those 3 (testimony, purpose, and trials) together for many years. What did matter and we needed many reminders is that John and I were united in the challenges that were about to come at us from every direction. If I prayed for challenges, I had to be equipped to handle them. I survived on the prayers of family, friends, and strangers, amazing doctors who truly cared about me, my praise and worship music that I cried to sleep with every night, and a strong faith that coupled with being completely stubborn and determined. If we prayed for this, we wholeheartedly wanted God to be glorified in the process. All of this is why I am here. Why I wrote a chapter in a book, why I have a website, and this podcast. Nothing brings me greater joy than to encourage people to NEVER stop praying….I was sick for 25 years. There were days I thought Crohn’s would be my demise. There were days I begged for relief from the pain or pleaded to be a healthy mom. But gratefully, I always depended more and more on my faith and prayer. Lean IN to your faith when things get hard, don’t run away or think for a second that God has abandoned you. The hard times are simply the times you get to PRACTICE the faith you profess to have. It’s not easy.