Two weeks ago Chip, a friend of ours from college, was found unconscious in his car, two hours after he’d suffered a heat stroke. His body temperature was over 107°. It was absolutely horrific and I didn’t think he was going to make it.
Oh me of little faith.
For several long days, it seemed that he might not wake up, and I was terrified for his family.
Oh me of little faith.
Even if he did wake up, I feared that he may not have brain function.
Oh me of little faith.
Even if he did have brain function, I feared that he might never be able to breathe on his own again.
Oh me of little faith.
Even if he could breathe on his own again, I feared that he may not be able to communicate.
Oh me of little faith.
Even if he could communicate again, I feared that he may not have his memory or even recognize his wife and little girl.
Oh me of little faith.
We don’t know what Chip’s future holds, but one thing is for sure: God can work miracles and I absolutely believe He worked a miracle in our friend Chip. Every day he makes wonderful progress. It truly is amazing (and I don’t use that word lightly). GOD is amazing.
Chip’s wife Lisa has been an absolute ROCK through this trial, completely relying on her Savior for comfort and hope. I have learned so much from Lisa during the past two weeks. I believe all of us who are blessed to be able to call Lisa our friend have learned something about strength through Jesus as we watch her cry out to Him and place her trust in Him.
I have cried and prayed over her facebook page every night as I check in to see how their day has gone. I have been so absolutely grateful to her local church family and friends who live close by and are feeding her, taking care of their little girl, holding her, praying with her, worshipping with her – doing what I can’t do physically because we live too far away.
I continue to cry each time I check Lisa’s facebook page. But this time, the tears are tears of joy. My prayers are prayers of thanks and praise. God truly has worked a miracle in the lives of our friends.
I have once again been reminded that no matter what I might fear, God is bigger. I have seen once again that even if a situation looks impossible, with God all things are possible. My faith has been shaken. Shaken and stretched. Shaken and stretched and made stronger.
Today, I’m not sure what I’m more grateful for: the fact that Chip is on his way to healing…or the fact that I now understand more about having faith that moves mountains.
Or how about I’m just extremely and humbly grateful for both?
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rachaek says
How wonderful that God has worked a miracle for Chip and his family!
Katherine says
Wow! That’s a beautiful testimony! Right now, I JUST got home from the Children’s Hospital with my daughter who is 16 months old. We have been on a “roller coaster ride” of uncertainty since she was born regarding her eye sight in one eye. She was born with a corneal tumor on one eye, and it obstructs her vision. All of the specialists we had seen have not given a good report. But back when she was 3 days old and I was in the bathroom at her first eye doctor appointment, I cried out in tears to the Lord, asking Him to give her perfect eye sight, that I wasn’t interested in changing the way the tumor looked cosmetically, but just that this tumor would not be cancer, and that she would not be hindered by this in her life. Well, here we are today 16 months later, and I just found out (2 days before they were set to operate) that she now has normal eye sight! The doctor called off the surgery and she doesn’t even need glasses! His exact words were, “This is AMAZING! I don’t believe this!”. Well, as soon as he said amazing, I knew God had done a miracle for us! I hope this inspires someone reading to believe God for the impossible! He still is in the miracles business.
Laura says
PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a wonderful miracle. Thank you so much for sharing this. God is so faithful!
Susan says
GOD IS GOOD!!! ALL THE TIME!!!!
melanie f says
What a sweet testimony of God’s goodness and power!
It Feels Like Chaos says
Praise God for that miraculous healing and for the example that nothing is impossible for Him, and the renewed sense of hope that can be for us all!
Katie @ Riddlelove says
Wow, what a story! I can relate to your reaction and am also learning to trust and partner with the spirit of faith and not fear. God IS good all the time, and that I will cling to. Agreeing for healing for your friend.
Jiller says
What a wonderful story. May God be glorified in all things. Prayers going up for their family.
Lori says
Wonderful story of God working in Chip’s life. Thank you for sharing! My post is about adoption – physcial and spiritual adoption.
Kristin says
After two and a half years of watching what God can do as my son fought cancer you’d think I’d have more faith, but sometimes my fearful nature overtakes me again. I guess there is always room for faith to grow!
Martianne says
Such a powerful story. Thank you for sharing it. I, too, have seen wonderful miracles and the work of God so many times in my life. He always is there – strong, guiding and offering grace. It is awesome.
My post this week is not about one of those things, through – just about how grateful I am to share prayer and prayerful play in our days on a regular basis. Like a healthy diet, I think that keeping God in our minds and conversations daily, strengthens us for moments when we need miracles!
Gail Golden says
Halelujah! Thanks for sharing your story…it just gave me chills.
My post today is about my gratitude for Yeshua’s (Jesus Christ) blood as I celebrated Yom Kippur last month.
Kimberlee says
Glad to know I am not the only one crying over those events. My family, including my children, have been praying for him from the beginning. I love the sound of little voices saying, “Dear God, please heal Mr. Chip.” I don’t know if God healed him by medicine or by miracle, but I will praise HIM either way.
Teresa from NanaHood says
So happy your friend is better! Praise God!
Jessica Bish says
beautiful, absolutely beautiful. praying for all involved.
Lora says
Thank you so much for putting into words exactly how I feel. So often we think that we have faith that God can and will move those mountains, but truly we wish for it but don’t truly believe it. I praise God that He has and will continue to move mountains not only in Chip and Lisa’s life but in my life also!
Linds says
I was praying for Chip. A friend in our Bible study knows him and we praise God that he is on his way to healing!
ImaFrugalGirl.com says
Wow, that is an amazing story! 107 degrees? Only God could bring him back from that. God is SO amazing!
melanie f says
And the story of Chip, Laura ~ Amazing! God is so incredibly good ~ How can people not love Him?!
Audra says
What an amazing testimony! We will be praying for a complete healing! God is so good.
Chelsea says
Laura,
You speak directly to my heart with this post. We are walking a very similar road right now with a friend who was very seriously injured in a hit and run accident last week. All we’ve been able to do is lean on our faith and learn from his faith and his wife’s faith as we all work through this together. When I think of them, I will think of you and Chip as well.
Kim McDonald says
Thanks so much for sharing. You are so right…God truly is bigger than any situation! He is an awesome God!!!
Amy says
What a small world! I have been praying for Chip also. I don’t know him, but Lisa has led worship for our last two ladies’ retreats. She is an amazing woman. My friend Jevanna is a good friend of theirs and has been keeping us updated. It has been so encouraging to check my email each day for the updates. God has given them an amazing story!
Lisa Bloecher says
Laura! Thank you for sharing our story! I loved reading your words. I just kept hearing Him saying…refuse to think like everyone else…refuse to live in dread…take heart, I am doing a new thing…do not be afraid…I am strengthening and upholding you with my victorious right hand. I love you Lord.