Endometriosis

How to Respond to the Prayer You Never Asked for

My husband was talking to a well-known preacher and he graciously offered to pray for us. We didn’t have any specific prayer requests but invited him to listen to the Lord for us and pray into our lives. He started out praying for my husband, and then he turned to me. He was quiet for a few seconds before he turned to one of our bible school students, asking her to pitch in and lay her hand on my stomach. Then he started praying, loud and clear: “Lord, we pray for this woman’s female parts.”

I’m not particularly shy, but nevertheless, I almost fainted. I was taken by surprise, and all I could think was “My female parts? What’s wrong with my female parts?”

Apparently quite a bit, because he kept on praying for my female parts. (I know, the term ‘female parts’ is getting to you, isn’t it? Well, it got to me, too.) He kept on praying about my bits and pieces, and I kept on thinking that I would have to do some serious counseling on that rosy-cheeked bible school student who kept her eyes closely shut and whose hand trembled slightly on my stomach.

Surrender

After a while I gave in. I could have told him off. I could have removed myself from that situation. My husband could easily have helped me if I had asked him to. But I didn’t. I surrendered.

I decided to surrender whatever cell that might not be acting according to God’s purpose for my body. I gave God permission to do whatever he wanted, whether that was what the preacher prayed for or anything else.  Once again, I abandoned my self-appointed right to remain in control. (I have to do that regularly. I’m such a slow learner.) I didn’t become scared of being sick, I reckoned that my life was in God’s hands anyway. I had given it all to him. Any problem that I might have had was now rightfully his. He didn’t mind.

After they were done praying I thanked them and made my way out. In that moment I made a decision not to be offended. Of course I would have preferred that this preacher had approached my differently, and it sure would be nice if that poor student would ever make eye contact with me again, but it didn’t really matter. At the end of the day, all that mattered was that Jesus would be glorified, and I was determined to leave any possible offense at his feet.

Facing a challenge

The next day I was praying for sick people at a conference. A woman approached me and asked me to translate for her. She wanted someone to pray for her, she said. She had endometriosis.

It dawned on me instantly. Endometriosis is a particularly painful disorder that affects the uterus, ovaries and surrounding tissues. Now, who should I ask to pray for her female parts? Yep, you got it!

The preacher invited me to join him as we prayed for her. She was quiet and didn’t really know what to expect. She didn’t know the Lord, but she was desperate for someone to relieve the pain and the crippling consequences of her disorder.

All of a sudden I had a “hem of his garment”-moment. Remember the woman with the issue of blood? The one who had been sick for 12 years and who, driven by desperation, secretly touched Jesus’ clothes as he passed her by? The very same woman who got healed when she touched him?

Jesus noticed that the power went out from him and enquired who had touched him. I always wondered how he knew. Well, now I know. As we prayed for this woman, I felt a power leaving my hand as I touched her.

Don’t get me wrong. I do not have warm hands. There’s nothing special about my hands. I do not have a particularly healing touch. I think touch is healing by nature, but there’s hardly anything miraculous about that. I don’t have a special gift of healing that I know of, but I worship a God who loves to heal. And that’s what he did.

Life-changing miracle

When she spoke of it afterward, she said: “I felt very warm when they prayed for me. Then it felt like an earthquake inside. All of a sudden, something just left me. Whoosh!”

Six months after the doctor cleared her. Tests, ultrasound and exams showed no trace of endometriosis. The doctors were baffled, they had never ever seen anyone healed from this disorder. “What has happened?” they asked. She beamed: “Well, you see, first I felt all warm inside, then it was like an earthquake…”

God’s healing touch. And whoosh! New life begins.

I could have chosen to be offended.
I could have told everyone about this loony preacher who kept on praying for my intimates.
I could have refused to take her to see him.

Maybe God would have healed this woman anyway, what do I know?
The point is, I don’t know. None of us do.
I don’t even know if I had cell changes or another unknown complication at the time when he prayed for me, and it doesn’t matter.

All I know is that when this woman came for the healing touch of God, my loving Father had already shown me how he wanted to heal her. I knew.

Because I didn’t take offense I got to participate in a miracle. I rather enjoyed being a co-laborer with Christ, knowing full well that he did the miracle and I got to go along for the ride. But what a ride!


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Comments

9 responses to “How to Respond to the Prayer You Never Asked for”

  1. Shirley Howard Avatar
    Shirley Howard

    Loved this story. God bless you for sharing it.

    1. Marian Nygard Avatar
      Marian Nygard

      Thank you, Shirley! God bless you too! 🙂

  2. Cindy Avatar
    Cindy

    Wow thank you for sharing. From laughter to tears and everything in between and of course our awesome creator through out!

    1. Marian Nygard Avatar
      Marian Nygard

      Thank you, Cindy! God bless you!

  3. Anne Inghild Avatar
    Anne Inghild

    So strong! Bless you and bring it on!?

    1. Marian Nygard Avatar
      Marian Nygard

      Thank you! Love you! <3

  4. […] How to Respond to the Prayer You Never Asked for […]

  5. Lynn Saint Avatar
    Lynn Saint

    Darling Marian,
    Before opening up anything on my phone this morning, I was remembering a man who insisted I needed a normal delivery for my fourth baby. Having had three C-sections, I wasn’t praying for a regular delivery. I simply wanted a healthy newborn—that I had not previously experienced with my birth children.
    Now, you have posted this story. I feel the embarrassment. ? But, I see you were empty of your own agenda—ready to be filled with His presence. I don’t know if this happened, but it did make me think Peter’s handkerchief that resulted in healing. Healing prayers for your female parts were transferred, like a piece of cloth, when you encountered that young woman with the endometriosis. You definitely had the anointing however God chose to fill you! Praises for her healing and for your grace.
    I did have another C-section—but I also had a healthy baby. I was willing to take any prayer, even the humiliating ones.
    Over the years, I have seen God answer my prayers for others who have been childless—and I am sure I am not the only one praying, so I do not wish to take credit. Out of my own emptiness and brokenness for a child, He permits me to pray for others who have this same need. My older daughter was told her body was too acidic to conceive. We now have a 4-year-old granddaughter. Our newly “adopted” children were told they could not conceive or bear a child. They are expecting a baby in June —after eight years of marriage.
    Thank you for your post —you are always delightful.
    With love,❤️?❤️
    Lynn

    1. Marian Nygard Avatar
      Marian Nygard

      No need to be embarrassed, there’s always grace! <3 I love the fact that God doesn’t fit the box. His character remains the same – always faithful, compassionate, loving, full av grace and truth – but the way he touches us constantly changes. He’s never-changing, and still he surprises us every single time. He amazes me!
      God bless you, Lynn.