“I removed his shoulder from the burden; His hands were freed from the baskets. You called in trouble, and I delivered you . . .” Psalm 81:6-7

“Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak. Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.” Psalm 6:2

Bruce T is a beloved and gifted member of our church staff. A while back he was involved in a 3-car accident while driving on Route 8. The driver of another car clipped his car causing him to lose control and flip over 3 times before landing back upright. His car was totaled with much of the glass blown out.

Fortunately, Bruce had his seat belt on. Obviously, he was shaken up and once he oriented himself, he got out of the car and stumbled to the side of the road, while checking for injury. He was sore in a number of places but could not detect any major injury. He then sat at the side of the road and waited for the police.

When the police arrived, they rushed to the car anticipating finding the car littered with seriously injured bodies. They looked over at Bruce just sitting there and assumed he was merely an onlooker. When they asked him if he knew where the passengers from the car were, he revealed that it was his car. They were a shocked to realize that he had survived an accident causing this kind of car damage, virtually unscathed.

Bruce eventually went to the hospital to get checked out but the emergency staff found no identifiable injuries. He did realize that his right shoulder was growing increasingly sore but they told him to go home and just take some Tylenol for the pain.

If the story were to end here, Bruce was already testifying to an amazing miracle of God’s divine protection over him. Look what was left of his car.

But, the story doesn’t end here.

Moving from the Natural to the Super-Natural

As days passed Bruce’s right shoulder became worse to the point that its mobility was restricted to about 50% of normal. Bruce went to the doctor who told him to continue to “flex it out” and after 3 months or so he will know the limits of how his shoulder would heal “naturally”. So, Bruce kept trying to stretch and flex it, but he could not move the elbow of his right arm to above the level of his shoulder. There was a lot of pain and it was restricting him in his work and sleep and regular life activities.

I Whiffed on the Softball

On a Sunday about a month after Bruce’s accident I was in a hurry to leave after the church service, being late for an appointment. Just as I was about to exit the front doors, I ran into Bruce. I had heard that he was in an accident but had not learned any details. Ready to bolt out the door, I asked how he was doing hoping for a quick, “Fine. I’m okay.” But, Bruce shared his story in detail. I was glad to hear it though I kept anxiously looking at my watch. When He finished, he told me of the pain and difficulty in his shoulder. I ‘generously’ shared with him how God had miraculously healed both of my damaged shoulders but I had to get going. Pushing through the door I gave him the obligatory, “I’ll pray for you.”

Jumping in my car and driving away I could feel the guilt and embarrassment well up in me. How could I just walk away from this “softball” of a healing moment to pray with a brother in pain and in need? I lifted up a brief prayer for Bruce but shook my head. I’m such a jerk!

The Rest of the Story

After I raced out of church, Bruce wandered a little too close to the Prayer Room. The church’s Prayer Room is situated right near the church entrance. My buddy, Mike has a spiritual “gift” of identifying people who need prayer. He’s what I call our Prayer Troll. Mike puts up his Holy Spirit Antenna and scans the church foyer for people to gently encourage them to come into the Prayer Room for prayer.

Now, Mike saw Bruce and God said to Mike, “There’s your guy.” So, without knowing anything about Bruce’s accident or condition Mike and fellow prayer team leader, Jim gathered around Bruce in the Prayer Room and started praying.

Bruce attests to the fact that their prayers were great – encouraging, uplifting and spiritual edifying. But, Bruce did not share anything about his injury ‘hoping’ that the Holy Spirit would guide them to pray for his shoulder. As they prayed for everything but his shoulder, Bruce realized that for the last 30 days he had never asked anyone to pray for his shoulder. Maybe it was time to ask for help? When they concluded without praying for his shoulder, Bruce finally asked, “Hey guys I damaged my shoulder in an accident, would you pray for it?”

The guys didn’t hesitate, praying for the need and for complete healing. Jim said that where he laid his hand on Bruce’s shoulder he could feel a tightness release but Bruce did not notice any change while they prayed. When they finished, Jim asked him to test it out. After straining for a month to stretch his arm up and not see any improvement and only increasing pain, Bruce now shot his arm strait up, fully extended with no hindrance, no pain!

Now in shock, Bruce freely whirled his arm around. The result was so sudden and complete that his emotions spilled out and he began to weep at the reality of God’s supernatural goodness.

Mike went out of the Prayer Room exuberantly declaring, “Healings are happening in the Prayer Room!” Most of the people in the foyer only stared back at him with quizzical looks. Miraculous, instantaneous healings going on at our church? Who would have thunk it?

Bruce called the Physical Therapist the next day to cancel his appointment and the therapist kept asking what he was going to do as an alternative – reschedule? Go to another PT? Surgery? Alternative therapy? He finally said “I have no need. Someone prayed and I’m healed” leaving an extended silence on the other end of the phone.

Later that week, Bruce went on vacation with his family to the seashore and enjoyed all the swimming, body surfing and boogey-boarding as if nothing had ever happened.

Bruce reports that this was actually the 2^nd time he had been miraculously healed of a serious injury. Realizing that on both occasions he had never thought to ask for someone to pray for him. Each time when he finally, humbly asked, Jesus arrived with a generous gift.

His encouragement to anyone who is struggling – Don’t consider prayer a last resort. This is how the Body of Christ is intended to work. Ask for prayer!

Bruce now muses about what the doctor had told him – “After 3 months or so you will know the limits of how your shoulder will heal naturally.” He thanks God that He operates beyond the natural and can heal completely super-naturally!