God heals. Yes. I believe that. I have believed it for years. But isn't His healing for big things? You know, like saving a life, curing cancer, etc. Surely not for something as mundane as ... as a broken toe!
It was a Monday afternoon, about 20 years ago. We would be moving to our new home later that same week, and I was scooting around in my young son's room packing up his clothing and toys when it happened: I slammed my foot into the open door so hard that the corner of that wooden door rammed up between my baby toe and the one next to it. Pain instantly overtook me, and I yelped and collapsed to the bed behind me. I knew I had a broken baby toe before I even looked at it, but when I did the visual inspection, it was far worse than I thought: My toe was sticking out perpendicular to the rest of my toes!
I was home alone at the time, stranded without a car. How would I get to ER? Hey, how would I even be able to hobble down the stairs? And with the condition of my toe, there was no way in the world I would be able to participate in the move later that week, let alone finish the packing, clean the new house and the old, and all the other myriads of things that are required in a move.
I looked up toward Heaven. "Dear Jesus," I prayed, "You know we are moving! You know I don't have the time for a broken toe right now! Sweet Jesus, I pray Your healing power into my toe!"
Right before my eyes, I watched as my baby toe moved 90 degrees to realign itself with the rest of my toes. The pain subsided at the same time. Jesus had answered my prayer. He had healed my toe. I didn't even limp from that moment on.
Why did God choose to heal my broken toe?
There is only one explanation: He loves me! He knew the problems a broken toe would cause and He understood that this wasn't the right time. Sure, it was perhaps only a little healing in the grand scheme of things, for no, my life wasn't in danger, and yes, the move could have gone on without me; but God is not just a God of big miracles. He cares about our everyday needs as well.
I believe, however, that there is also another reason God healed my toe.... Perhaps even two....
When witnessing to the unsaved, I have been able to cite this miracle as an example of an all-powerful, loving God who cares about us.
And the second reason God healed my toe? It is something I have never forgotten. When my faith is weak (and yes, I have to admit, it sometimes is...), God reminds me of this story. Hasn't He admonished us in His Word to remember His miracles of the past? "Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me." (Is. 46:9 NLT).
When Psalm writer Asaph was going through difficult times, he penned the following words: "And I said, 'This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me.' But then I recall all you have done, O LORD; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works. O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you?" (Ps. 77:10-13 NLT)
Note that it was WHEN Asaph recalled God's miracles of the past that suddenly he began to see God's ways as holy!
God loves you. He cares. No matter what you are going through, there is ALWAYS hope!
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart, Retired Speech-Language Pathologist, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, with Answers2Prayer Ministries.
