Facing pain and few answers, grasping His garment made a difference

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Ever thought it couldn’t happen for you the way you’ve seen it happen for others? I have. And eventually I decided the only way to know was to put it to the test.

There are some physical things I deal with on a regular basis; aches and discomfort that are more annoying than debilitating, but still present. I praise God for my ability to live life fully, to move, to be active, and to find joy in my days. At the same time, that underlying physical discomfort is real. One particular day, those issues had me feeling low. I was tired of pushing through. I wanted relief, and I wanted it immediately.

I could easily get lost in the weeds of all the preventative measures, therapies, and strategies available to help myself. There’s nothing wrong with those things, but in that moment, I felt led to do something simpler: trust the Lord completely for healing.

Around that time, I was reading Michael Vick: Finally Free, the autobiography of a childhood hero of mine. He details his rise to fame, the many trials and tribulations he faced, and his very public fall from grace. Most people know about the dogfighting conviction and the time he served.

What stood out to me wasn’t the football, but his honesty about returning to his faith during the darkest season of his life. He talked about how his family used to attend church and how, little by little, that faith slipped away as success grew. One detail stopped me cold. He shared how he used to sleep with his Bible under his pillow every night.

That was my lightbulb moment.

Immediately, I thought about the woman with the issue of blood in Matthew 9:20–22. Jesus was on His way to raise a dead girl when He felt power leave Him. A woman had touched His cloak, believing, “If I only touch His garment, I shall be made well.” Jesus said to her, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.”

Inspired by both Scripture and Vick’s testimony, I slept with my Bible under my pillow that night. After months of aches and pains, I woke up feeling better than I had in weeks, maybe months. Like my dad says, those kinds of moments are hard to explain to people who don’t believe. Coincidence would be a tough argument.

I truly believe that night, imperfect faith and all, God met me where I was. It was a reminder of just how faithful and true His Word is. After all, Scripture says faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). Sometimes, it really is that simple.